School Training Solutions (STS) would like to thank all members of our military for their service both home and abroad. If you know someone who has served, or is currently serving, in the U.S. Military, take the time to recognize his/her dedication to our country.

The NAPT Professional Development Series can help pupil transporters build upon current driving/school transportation skills or expand knowledge of other jobs within the pupil transportation industry.

NAPT offers a variety of certifications for Transportation Directors, Supervisors, Specialists, and Instructors. Online courses are available to anyone in the pupil transportation industry and ready for immediate enrollment. Each course is self-paced, and can be completed when and where it is convenient, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Please pass this information along to anyone who may be interested in school bus driver or pupil transportation training!

To view the entire catalog or obtain more information, visit http://www.napt.org/online/

Online training is becoming increasingly popular for its many benefits. Many of the common obstacles of conventional training are made obsolete with online training. The flexibility of online training allows participants to complete the training at their own pace and in their own time-frame. Documentation and reports are readily available, thus reducing the amount of paperwork and making it easier to track progress. Students receive instant feedback, and the presentation of information is consistent. Online training is also significantly less expensive than classroom instruction. Take a look at our Benefits of Online Training Comparison Chart. When compared to conventional classroom training, it is easy to see that the advantages of online training are numerous.

At the risk of sounding like an old-timer, I entered my first administrative position on a college campus in the late 70s – fresh out of graduate school and ready to take on the world. My fancy title was Coordinator for the Office of Personal Development and I was in charge of continuing education and special events at the University of West Florida. Though I had acquired a quality education to that point in my life, what I didn’t know about the dynamics of serving as an administrator in a campus environment would have filled many volumes.

Even though I was in charge of implementing a far-ranging continuing education program, that fresh-faced version of Andrew Metzger would have benefitted greatly from a little continuing education of his own. Comprehensive online professional development programs like those offered by School Training Solutions didn’t exist thirty-plus years ago. Heck, “online” didn’t exist thirty-plus years ago! This might come as a shock to the students with whom I work daily – lucky youngsters who have never lived a day without being mere keystrokes away from just about any life-enhancing information imaginable.

Let’s rewind to the late 70s. Back then, we depended largely on effective mentoring and good old-fashioned “learning on the job.” Don’t get me wrong, these are still very important elements in becoming an effective and efficient school administrator, but a little online help would have enriched my experience greatly. These days, my campus environment is Pensacola State College, and I am also honored to devote a certain amount of my time and energy as a consultant for STS.

Does STS have the perfect solution for individuals serving in school administration? You bet they do! The 14.3-hour Administrative track offered by STS is packed with useful, applicable information. This program teaches administrators how to manage workloads; build workplace relationships; create and maintain safe, effective work environments; and ensure that they are working within the law.

Many different topics are covered in this far-ranging Administrative program designed by the professionals at STS – from the technical, to the interpersonal, to the legal, to the downright visionary!

School administration can be a tricky business. My particular version of the profession requires me to interact with employees, volunteers and students in many different capacities. Quality continuing education such as that offered by STS brings administrative tasks into much clearer focus.

Wish I’d had it “back in the day.” Glad its here for me now!

Andrew Metzger
Guest blogger
School Training Solutions

We wanted to remind everyone that Mother’s Day is in a couple of days! Think about how many “Moms” you see each day. Take to time to wish them all well and show your appreciation for what they do on a daily basis.

Have a Happy Mother’s Day!