NASDPTS Elects Charlie Hood
as President-Elect

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (April 23, 2007) — The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services announced today that Charlie Hood, Florida’s state director of transportation, will replace Charley Kennington as president-elect of the association.

“He understands the key issues facing our industry and is rarely satisfied with the status quo, always looking for ways to improve,” said NASDPTS President Derek Graham about the newly elected Hood. “His experience is unique as he had the opportunity to work with many different associations and suppliers and is well respected across our industry.”

The announcement was made less than a month after Kennington offered his resignation to become the director of transportation services for the Region 4 Education Service Center in Houston, Texas.

“Kennington is a very dedicated professional and is highly committed to safe transportation to students. We were disappointed to lose him as a state director, but are very pleased that he will continue to work in our industry,” said Graham.

“We are losing the considerable experience and leadership that ‘Charley K’ provided the association. We are losing a sunup to midnight kind of worker whose knowledge of the industry and its people is a valuable commodity,” said Hood of his predecessor.

Although Hood was the only nominee for the position, he requested that the association’s members still vote, which all did unanimously.

“I am humbled by the trust my colleagues have placed in me and want to continue the forward momentum of President Derek Graham and his predecessors within the association,” said Hood. “Like Derek, Pete Japikse, and others, I hope I can continue the consensus building we have all seen within the student transportation community in recent years.”

Hood believes having been a customer of the leadership and services offered by NASDPTS since 1989, when he first became the state director in Florida, will benefit him in this new role. The experience of guiding representatives from all over the country to two successful National Congresses on School Transportation will also be valuable.

“I have come to know many of the delegates, and I respect their professionalism, their dedication to safety, and the varied challenges we all face in maintaining our enviable safety record,” said Hood.

During the next year and a half of Graham’s presidency, Hood hopes to learn the ropes of serving the association and its members. He also mentioned developing a peer review program for each state’s office operations.

“As an example, we in Florida can probably learn a lot from states with more extensive school bus driver training programs. In turn, we may be able to help our colleagues in areas like volume school bus purchasing, where we are strong,” added Hood.