Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

5/14/07

NEWS RELEASE
Auburn School District's Board of Directors to Honor
Staff Member Nate Pratt

The Auburn School District Board of Directors will recognize Nate Pratt, a full-time bus driver in the Auburn School District, for his outstanding service on Tuesday, May 29, at 7 p.m. in the board room at the James P. Fugate Administration Building.

In Nate Pratt’s 17 years of service as a bus driver for Auburn School District, he can’t remember a day without laughing. “The kids are a blast; they are so funny,” exclaims Nate. There is never a dull moment on school bus #53.

Nate has had the same run for about 15 years. He transports two children with special needs to Kent and the rest of his time he drives children with special needs in-district. “My run is a perfect fit. It allows me to have closer relationships with the kids and families,” says Nate. “Parents are more apt to tell me what is best for their children.” Because of many of the children’s conditions, Nate is more than a driver, he is also an advocate. “We know the kids so well. We can sense when a child is out of sync and be able to communicate that to the child’s parents and teachers,” remarks Nate.

Nate and his driver assistant, Eileen Plantz, create programming for the kids so they are productive on the school bus. Ilene is available to read stories to the children or help them with their homework. Other times a fun activity will be planned, like when the tooth fairy comes and gives 50 cents to the child who loses a tooth. “It’s not just a ride to school,” says Nate. “It is an interactive environment where kids are meant to laugh, play and have fun.”

Nate has built many close and lasting relationships with the children’s families. Nate began driving one student 15 years ago when the student was only 4 years old. Last year one of Nate’s students was in intensive care. Nate went to visit the child but the hospital staff said only family could visit. The child’s mother told the staff he was family to them, so Nate had the chance to visit. Nate also sees some of his students over the summer months. Recently Nate received a picture his kids drew of him and his bus after he injured his knee on the job. “It almost made me cry,” says Nate.

Nate in turn deeply cares for his students and believes in providing them with encouraging mementos. On Thursday’s run, Nate and Eileen treat the kids to gummy worms if they have had a good week at school. “We’ll ask the teachers every day if their student had a good day. If by the end of the week they’ve had positive progress reports, we reward them with gummy worms,” says Nate.

At a district level, Nate has been a member of the executive board, which works on contract negotiations. He is grateful to be in a job where he works with great people—from administration on down. Nate also represents the driver’s union on a scholarship committee, helping to select students to award with the drivers’ scholarships. Nate also praises the good works the transportation department does for staff members who need additional assistance.

Nate is married with a 23-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter. He lives in Graham and enjoys riding horses with his wife and daughter. He grew up in beautiful Saranac Lake, New York, and plans to travel back there this summer with his daughter to visit relatives and participate in a carp tournament. “My daughter and my son fish and hunt with me,” says Nate. While all of Nate’s siblings and extended family live 3,000 miles away, he has added to his family since relocating to the area years ago. “I have my district family,” smiles Nate.

For more information contact Amy Spence, public information officer, at 253-931-4713.