With tons of wins under his belt, Danny Reed still feels that competitive rush when he competes in the National Pupil Association’s Best Bus Inspector competition.
“Oh yeah, it’s still exciting,” Reed said. “But I’ve got to go get that first place again.”
Reed brought back a second place win, his third, top three finish in five trips to the national event.
Reed has participated in the state-level competition six times. Of those, he has won four times – 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
The competition was held at the Cummins Engine Plant’s Training Center in Battleboro, just outside Rocky Mount.
Thirty-one participants, both mechanics and inspectors, represented 19 states during this year’s event.
The competition consisted of two portions, a written event and a hands-on inspection.
Reed has competed four times as a bus inspector and once as a mechanic. Next year’s national competition will be held in the state of Washington, and he is ready to check airfare.
“Danny’s enthusiasm for this competition is just a reflection of how he views his job,” said Dr. Don Phipps, superintendent of Beaufort County Schools. “We are fortunate to have Danny, and his equally talented co-workers, as a part of the Beaufort County Schools’ family. Our transportation department is charged with the safe travel of our most precious commodity and they all take that assignment very seriously.”