For students in the Western Day Treatment program, every step forward requires hard work, perseverance and growth. So, when one student successfully met his therapeutic goals and earned his transition back to his comprehensive school, his "bus family" decided a quiet goodbye simply wouldn’t do.
Special needs bus driver Miyakayla Thomas and bus monitor Jadyn Jones turned his transition into a triumph, hosting a celebration in his honor alongside his fellow bus riders.
Thomas had been driving the student for just a few months, but they quickly formed a connection during the daily trips to and from school, she said.
“I know that the rapport between grown-ups and children is important,” Thomas said. “We’re the first people they see in the morning and the last people they see before they go home. It’s important to motivate them.”
The Western Day Treatment program is provided at Seven Counties Services in collaboration with Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) for elementary school students working through emotional and behavioral issues.
Knowing how hard the student worked to meet his goals—and how intimidating it can feel to leave behind familiar teachers, classmates and routines—Thomas and Jones decided to make the milestone unforgettable. When they asked if there was anything that would make the celebration extra special, the student shared that he had always wanted a piñata.
So Thomas and Jones got to work.
They pooled their own money, picked out gifts they knew he would love—Spider-Man items, sunglasses, a watch, a backpack filled with surprises—and coordinated with school staff to plan a parking lot celebration before dismissal. They arrived early with pizza, cupcakes, cookies, and, of course, a piñata for the student of honor and his friends to enjoy.
Teachers and school staff also joined the celebration. The gathering honored the student’s hard work and the educators who helped him on his path, Thomas said.
“I absolutely loved it,” said Tina Kelsey, Exceptional Child Education (ECE) teacher at Western Day Treatment. “It’s heartwarming that the bus [crew] took time out of their day and spent their own money to celebrate this student in such a special way.”
For Thomas and Jones, recognizing students’ progress is simply part of the job.
Each day on their route, they encourage their riders, asking about their mornings, celebrating improvements and offering reassurance. For many students, the bus ride sets the tone for the day, Thomas said.
“These kids are future doctors, future lawyers, future teachers,” Thomas said. “We all have to invest as much time as we can to encourage these kids to do better, grow, and be themselves. We always tell them, ‘Just because you’re in a treatment center doesn’t stop you from learning and growing. We are all put in different places at different times for a reason.”