DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — In honor of National School Bus Safety Week, the Dekalb County School District recognized its bus drivers with a breakfast Wednesday outside of its headquarters.
Director of Student Transportation Bernando Brown said district leaders think of these men and women as heroes, rather than employees.
“We just wanted to feed them some breakfast this morning after they finished their route. We want them to know how much we truly appreciate them," said Brown.
Many of the drivers said they love their jobs because of the students.
“I’ve seen them grow through elementary, middle, and high and when I see them again – they remember me," said one driver.
Another shared his bond with a group of special needs students.
"I teach them in the morning to know that they're going to be somebody," he said.
While many have been teaching in the district for decades, only one driver could say he'd been doing it for most of his life.
Henry Mercer has spent the last 43 years transporting thousands of children in Dekalb County Schools and said he takes pride in his job.
“One day, students were getting off the bus. One stopped at my seat and said 'Mr. Mercer will you help me with me math?' And she said 'Mr. Mercer, you’re the closest thing I have to a dad."
Mercer said he doesn't have any plans to quit any time soon.
"When I get the children home and I get them to school, that’s me and that’s what I love to do," he said.