Ride & Drive Lunch N’ Learn with Blue Bird
The Ride & Drive Lunch N’ Learn with Blue Bird was a high-energy highlight of NAPT ACTS 25, giving attendees a hands-on look at Blue Bird’ s latest vehicle innovations. Pre-registered participants enjoyed a provided lunch and headed out for an immersive ride-and-drive experience, where Blue Bird’ s team walked through new features, performance capabilities, and safety enhancements. The limitedcapacity format allowed for direct interaction with product experts and ample time behind the wheel, making it both educational and engaging. Attendees left with practical insights into vehicle operation, emerging technologies, and how Blue Bird’ s solutions can support their districts’ evolving transportation needs.
Bellamy guided the NAPT audience through a series of interactive exercises designed to illuminate how each person experiences fear. He emphasized a simple but transformative mindset shift:“ fear less,” not“ be fearless.” Rather than trying to eliminate fear, his goal is to teach participants to acknowledge it, trace its root, and then act despite it. According to Bellamy, inaction is far more dangerous than fear itself. In his framework, fear becomes a kind of internal checkengine light. It is a natural response to change, not a signal to stop. To help people move past their“ fear loop”( those moments of stress, dread, or panic), Bellamy offered practical tools. He introduced what he calls“ fear intelligence,” a four-step process that involves: tracing your fear( identifying it clearly), embracing it( managing how you respond), acting in spite of it, and granting yourself“ grace” when things don’ t go perfectly. As part of the experience, every attendee was invited to privately share a fear in writing. In return, they received a FearLESS Inside bracelet, a tangible symbol of courage and community. The bracelet serves as a reminder that while fear may be unavoidable, it doesn’ t have to control us. Throughout his talk, Bellamy’ s energy was infectious. He balanced humor, storytelling, and emotional honesty to create a safe space for self-reflection. His message landed particularly well in an audience of student transportation professionals, who are accustomed to high responsibility, constant change, and a commitment to safety. By the end, many in the room expressed feeling seen, validated, and empowered to lead more courageously. Sponsored by Transfinder, the keynote was an invitation into the broader FearLESS Inside community. Bellamy’ s words reaffirmed that acknowledging fear isn’ t a sign of weakness; it’ s the first step toward real leadership.
Keynote Presentation: FearLESS Inside with Darryl Bellamy
Darryl Bellamy, founder, author, and“ fear researcher” behind FearLESS Inside, delivered a deeply resonant keynote that challenged attendees to rethink their relationship with fear. In an era defined by rapid technological change, shifting organizational dynamics, and evolving social norms, Bellamy reminded the audience that fear isn’ t something to be eradicated but understood, leaned into, and leveraged as a catalyst for growth. Drawing on a vast personal archive of more than 60,000 written fears submitted by people across five generations globally, Bellamy revealed that many anxieties are universal. Though these worries come from different backgrounds and life stages, they often echo common themes: fear of judgment, uncertainty, failure, and loss. By bringing these fears into the open, he illustrated how fear signals where we care deeply, and where growth is possible.
Michelle Summers, CSPT, won the Continuing Education Award, presented by Thomas Built Buses.
Annual Awards Presentation
The Annual Awards Presentation at NAPT ACTS was a heartfelt celebration of excellence, service, and heroism across the student transportation profession. Each year, NAPT recognizes individuals and teams whose contributions elevate safety, professionalism, and leadership within the industry. This year’ s honorees embodied those values at the highest level. The ceremony began with the Continuing Education Award, sponsored by Thomas Built Buses. This award highlights professionals strengthening their expertise through ongoing learning and applying that knowledge to advance their districts. Presenters invited attendees to congratulate Michelle Summers, CSPT, assistant director of transportation at Lamar Consolidated ISD( TX), as the 2025 recipient. Summers was recognized for her commitment to professional development and her work supporting continuous improvement in her department.
16 | SCHOOL-BUSRIDE. COM | NOVEMBER 2025