San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) Transportation Director Marie Espinoza, who has dedicated her career to the safety of students who ride the bus to and from school, has won state recognition for her work.
On Friday, July 9, the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators (CALSA) honored Espinoza with the Classified Administrator of the Year Award for region six, which includes San Diego, Orange, Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties.
Espinoza, who has worked for SBCUSD since 2004, has devoted herself to ensuring that the 9,000 District students who ride the bus have a safe and positive experience. Although students spent the last school year in distance learning, Espinoza adjusted to the unpredictable changes by remaining flexible and hopeful as she transitioned to serving as logistics chief for the COVID Incident Management Team.
“In my environment, change is constant,” Espinoza said. “I am accustomed to embracing change, and I look for different opportunities to improve systems and processes. I get to make a difference in a child's life every day. It may not be known, but I know I make a difference.”
Espinoza, a 2011 recipient of the District’s prestigious Golden Apple Award, strives to guide the Transportation Department staff to success for the benefit of students and the SBCUSD community.
For her, the greatest reward is the trust parents and guardians afford her to ensure the safe transport of their precious children to and from school.
“Not one day is ever the same,” Espinoza said. “There is never a dull moment. There is always an opportunity to do something for someone, whether it be students, parents, administrators, or staff. Every day I can do something meaningful and potentially impactful for somebody else.”
Despite the constant changes throughout the year, Espinoza has efficiently directed transportation services, bringing an innovative insight.
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