Yadiris (Yadi) Rodriguez, a beloved driver for North Colonie School district for five years, has shown great care in providing safe transportation for our students. Since emigrating to the United States 10 years ago, her ambition and kindness has really taken her places. That is why it is no surprise that she is the recipient of a scholarship from the Capital Area Chapter of the New York Association for Pupil Transportation. Mrs. Rodriguez will attend the School Bus Driver Instructor course, as well as the annual NYAPT Summer Conference and a one year membership to the Capital Area Chapter meetings series.
“We are so grateful to have Yadi as a valued member of our district team,” said Superintendent D. Joseph Corr. “Each day through word and deed she lives our district mission by providing our students with a welcoming and safe environment when transporting them to school. She focuses not just on maintaining a safe physical environment but on also ensuring the emotional and social well-being of the students under her supervision. Her ability to share this skill set with her transportation colleagues is so valued and appreciated.”
In a nomination letter written by the Assistant Director of Transportation Claudine Beck-Bergin, this is how she described Mrs. Rodriguez.
“Yadi has been a driver in our district since 2016. Yadi was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, where she attended college, earning a degree in Journalism before emigrating to the United States in 2011. Yadi lived in New York City for three years prior to moving to the Capital Region.
Yadi is great with children and passionate about her job. In the first few years of being a full-time driver, Yadi had a very challenging run, with some tough kids. Yadi took the time, was persistent and worked with school administration to get the students to be good bus riders. In the 2019-2020 school year she switched to a special needs run, where she shines. She is a safe and caring driver, who knows that taking time off is disruptive to her students so her attendance is excellent.
Summer 2020 Yadi was asked to join our training program, working with Marcia Gates who was taking a step back from training. Yadi was a natural, she took to the task learning quickly and was a kind, confident and patient instructor. Yadi helped to create our day-to-day training manual.
As a Journalism major she has excellent communications and computer skills, and did not shy away from presenting at our Fall 2020 Refresher (in front of over 100 co-workers). With her sense of humor, confidence and her own experiences, she knocked it out of the park. Yadi is smart, ambitious and willing to put in 110% all the time.
Yadi is a busy mom to two children, her one son attends Blue Creek School, and finds the time to write her own blog, and pursue her passion for photography.”