As the opening of traditional-calendar schools approaches, the Wake County Public School System is once again faced with a shortage of bus drivers.
So, the school district hosted a career fair Saturday at Carroll Magnet Middle School to entice more people to climb behind the wheel of a big yellow bus.
Other WRAL Top Stories
"No. 1, I like driving. I love kids. It's just a great job," said Charlene McGowan, who's been driving Wake County students to and from school for nine years.
McGowan was driving adults interested in joining her on Saturday. The school district is looking to hire about 100 more drivers in the next month to be ready for the start of the 2018-19 school year in late August.
The job offers classroom and on-the-road training, starting pay of more than $13 an hour for six hours of work each weekday and school district benefits.
For McGowan, the biggest benefit is the smallest children.
"They're running to the bus, and they're like, 'Hi, Miss Charlene!'" she said. "It brings a lot of joy to you to know that you're doing something well."
Driving a school bus is no harder than driving an SUV, she said.
"To me, I can drive this bus better than I can drive my vehicle because I’m on the bus so much," she said.
"It’s really one of those things where, the more you do it, the more comfortable you get with it," said Jason Kennedy, a recruiter for the district.
"You start realizing the impact you're making on those kids' lives and getting them to and from school in a safe and orderly manner," Kennedy said. "Then that bus becomes pretty easy to drive."
Felicitas Hernandez said she's ready to go after attending the career fair.
"I always wanted to be a bus driver," Hernandez said. "I love to work with kids. I have four kids, and I really love the kids."