COLUMBUS, Miss. (CMSD) – Recently hired Columbus Municipal School District Transportation Director Geneva Summerville knows life can take you down many different roads.
Her path to where she is now started as a single mom and bus driver to nursing homes and hospitals across the country.
“Walking back into this job was like a breath of fresh air. Everyone has been so welcoming,” said Summerville.
Summerville drove a CMSD bus from 1996 until 2009.
“At that time, I was a single parent. I wanted a schedule that would fit around me being a parent and being able to work at the same time. So, being bus driver fit perfectly. You want to make sure that you accommodate the needs of your children but also know that you must work,” said Summerville.
Now, students that she once picked up on her route are driving their own bus. Parents of current students also recognize the former driver. The knowledge Summerville gained after driving for 13 years has not left her.
“We had to talk to a parent the other day, and the mother remembered me. She said, “Hey Mrs. Summerville,” and it helped with the situation because she knew me. That’s why I tell the drivers that when you treat people with kindness, they remember that,” said Summerville.
As her children graduated and started their own families, Summerville wanted to travel. So, she went back to school to become a traveling nurse. She made stops in Colorado, Kentucky, Maine, and most recently New Hampshire. It was a role Summerville only wanted to do for about five years. After that, she knew the time would be right to come home.
“Nursing was good, but it was not my desire. I always had a desire for transportation. So, when I found out this job was coming open, I got excited. I got ecstatic and applied,” recalled Summerville.
While transportation director and nurse seem vastly different, Summerville says there is one big similarity.
“In this job, I’m taking care of smaller kids. In nursing, I was taking care of adults. The common theme is just taking care of people. We are making sure the kids get to school safely to get an education. As a nurse, I took care of elderly people to let them know it was okay to drop something,” said Summerville.
Now, she leads a team of more than bus drivers. The goal is to make sure students know they are cared for and have someone to talk with on the bus.
“I tell the drivers that if they can see a student is having a bad day to ask them about it. I want students and drivers to have a good relationship, where students feel safe and comfortable while going to school and going home at the end of the day,” said Summerville.
Summerville took over the Transportation Director role earlier this month after Michael Love retired.