Every morning in Douglasville, Georgia, long before many of us have had our first cup of coffee, Ms. Camille Perry is already on the road. She’s checking mirrors, greeting sleepy students, and preparing for a carefully choreographed route that carries some of Douglas County’s most special passengers — children with a wide range of learning and developmental needs.
This Love My Bus Month, Georgia Commute Schools is proud to celebrate Ms. Camille for the dedication, compassion, and consistency she brings to the job every single day.
From Brooklyn to Douglasville
Ms. Camille’s story starts in Brooklyn, New York, but Georgia has been home for nearly 15 years. She and her family have spent most of that time in Douglasville, where her husband works and their two sons attend Douglas County schools. Her path to becoming a school bus driver wasn’t something she planned – it was something life aligned perfectly.
”“I call them my babies,” she said. “I know their names, their diagnoses, and when something’s just a little off.”
Both of her sons, ages nine and five, are autistic. Like many families navigating special needs schedules, she and her husband were trying to figure out a job that would allow her to be available when her children needed her. After-school programs weren’t always the right fit for her oldest son, who often felt overstimulated and ready to go home after the school day.
So, the family brainstormed. “My husband said, ‘Why don’t you look at the school system?’ I said, ‘I don’t have a degree to be a teacher.’ Then he said, ‘What about driving a bus?” She applied online, received a call the next day, and began training. The district helped her earn her commercial driver’s license (CDL), and soon she was behind the wheel.
Today, that decision feels like exactly the right one.
Driving with Purpose
When Ms. Camille interviewed for the job, she shared her experience raising two autistic children. The transportation team offered her the option of driving either a general education route or a special education route. She chose special education — a decision that allows her children to ride with her and gives her the chance to support students who share similar needs.
Her route is anything but simple.
In the morning, she transports students from preschool all the way to high school, carefully coordinating drop-offs at multiple schools. Many of her youngest riders sit in specialized safety seats which she calls ‘star seats,’ while older students may require mobility equipment like wheelchairs. She works alongside a bus monitor who helps secure students safely while Ms. Camille focuses on the road.
In the afternoon, her schedule includes a midday preschool route and transportation for a student traveling across town to therapy before returning to finish the day’s middle school route. It is a complex schedule that requires precision, patience, and constant awareness. But for Ms. Camille, the most important part isn’t the logistics. It’s the children.
“I call them my babies,” she said. “I know their names, their diagnoses, and when something’s just a little off.”
A Job That Fills Her Cup
After her first year behind the wheel, she knew she had found something special. “This is really a job that I love,” she said. Even on the days when students test boundaries or mornings start early, the smiles, hugs, and waves make it worthwhile.
Sometimes students who’ve moved to another bus will spot her in the parking lot and run over to say hello. Those moments remind her that what she does matters. She’s not just driving a bus. She’s part of a community.
Small Moments, Big Impact
The moments that matter most to Ms. Camille often happen quietly. A student who starts the year nonverbal might say “bus driver” for the first time. Another child may progress from using a wheelchair to walking. Those milestones stay with her. “When that happens, I try not to cry,” she said. “But sometimes I’m just a puddle of water.” They are reminders that every child grows at their own pace.
And every victory – no matter how ‘small’ – deserves to be celebrated.
What Drivers Sharing the Road Should Know
Ms. Camille also has a gentle reminder for drivers who share the road with school buses. Sometimes, buses move slower than traffic would like. But there’s always a reason. “We’re not driving slower to irritate anybody,” she explained. “The bus feels every bump in the road. Some of my babies have seizures or medical conditions, so I try to make the ride as comfortable as possible.” Sudden lane changes or cutting in front of a bus can make that job much harder — and potentially unsafe for the children on board.
Her request is simple: a little patience goes a long way.
Celebrating Love My Bus Month
Love My Bus Month gives communities a chance to recognize the school bus drivers who work quietly behind the scenes to keep students safe. Drivers like Ms. Camille show us that the role goes far beyond transportation.
It’s about trust.
It’s about patience.
It’s about showing up — every single day.
And as Ms. Camille says: “No matter what… I’m going to be there.”
Georgia Commute Schools encourages healthier students, schools, and communities through air quality education and innovative community programs, aiming to instill values around sustainable transportation behavior, reduce single-occupant vehicle use, and improve regional air quality and community health. Learn more and download our free resources: Georgia Commute Schools | GCO