First Student Bus Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Role Type: Part-time (August-June 10 hours per week)*

Location: Washington, DC

FLSA Status: non-exempt

WHO WE ARE

DC Prep is a high-performing network of public charter schools serving over 2,100 preschool through 8th-grade students across six campuses in Wards 5, 7, and 8. We're proud of  the high bar we set for ourselves to achieve results-our students deserve our best! We recognize that how we support our students to be successful is just as important as the results we achieve, which pushes us to reflect on questions such as: 

• How can we facilitate our students' academic, social, and emotional development?  
• How can we support our team members' professional growth and personal ability to do this work long-term? 
• How can we engage our students' families as our own? 

While this work is hard, it's worth it - we believe in the transformative power of education, the can-do-itness of our students and staff, and the joy that comes from engaging in meaningful work with people we care about and trust!  

Here's how we drive results: 

• Rigorous academic focus.  Our Preppies receive the highest level of academic preparation through standards-based instruction, daily targeted interventions, and meaningful assessments.

• Social-emotional learning. We have always had a dual mission of academic and social-emotional skill development.  Our research-based SEL curriculum is integrated into daily instruction, helping students leverage their personal values to strengthen their self-awareness, social awareness, and responsible decision-making skills and create a school-wide culture of empathy and reflection.

• Commitment to reflection and refinement.  Our results tell us that we are moving in the right direction, but there's further to go to ensure that every student receives a transformative education. As a team, we regularly reflect on our programmatic model to see what's working and where we can get better.  

Are you interested in learning more about the DC Prep Way? If so, check out our website to find out more about what we're working towards and how we're doing it.

WHO YOU ARE

You are a reliable, student-centered professional who understands that safety, consistency, and care matter deeply in every moment of a student's day-including during their commute to and from school. You bring a calm, steady presence and strong judgment, allowing you to manage student behavior with clarity and respect while maintaining a positive and orderly environment. You are attentive to detail, highly punctual, and take pride in following through on responsibilities with accuracy and consistency.

You are a strong communicator who knows how to build trust with both students and families. You engage warmly and professionally with caregivers at bus stops while maintaining clear boundaries about your role. You are also comfortable using technology in real time-logging attendance, tracking timing, and communicating updates to school staff promptly and accurately. You understand the importance of being the "eyes and ears" of the school during transit and take that responsibility seriously.

Above all, you are committed to supporting students and families with empathy and respect. You believe in educational equity and understand the broader context in which students and families navigate school systems. You are a team player who collaborates closely with school staff, communicates proactively, and adapts to changing circumstances with flexibility and professionalism.

THE ROLE

DC Prep will be conducting a pilot for providing before- and after-school bus transportation for students whose parents attend an adult alternative school located in Columbia Heights. The Bus Monitor supports the pilot by meeting students at the pickup point and riding to the Edgewood campus each morning, ensuring that students travel safely, arrive on time, and are properly received at school each morning. Each afternoon, the Bus Monitor will ride the bus from the Edgewood campus to the designated stops. This is a part-time, hourly position built around the school day's edges - early morning and late afternoon - and and may be a strong fit for caregivers and community members with flexible schedules who are interested in supporting students

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS:

Safety and Supervision

Ride all assigned routes, maintaining a calm and orderly environment from first pickup to final drop-offEnforce student behavior expectations consistently and de-escalate minor conflicts in the momentEnsure proper student loading and unloading at each stopVerify that students are released only to authorized adults at afternoon drop-off stops

Attendance and Ridership Tracking

• Take attendance at every pickup and log no-shows in real time using the designated tool
• Reconcile ridership against the expected manifest before departing each stop
• Flag discrepancies immediately to the school operations contact

Time and Issue Logging

• Record departure and arrival times at each stop and at school, every run, no exceptions
• Log any incident, near-miss, behavioral issue, or route problem using the designated form on the day it occurs
• Maintain accurate, factual records - logs may be used for parent communication, discipline decisions, or program evaluation

Communication with School Staff

• For any issue that occurs in transit - student conflict, injury, emotional distress, significant behavioral incident - notify the designated school liaison by phone or text before the bus arrives, not after
• Provide a verbal handoff to receiving school staff each morning, flagging anything the academic team needs to know to manage the student's day appropriately
• Coordinate with school staff on early dismissals, schedule changes, or students not riding on a given day

Family and Community Interface

• Maintain professional, welcoming interactions with parents and guardians at stops
• Relay time-sensitive parent concerns to school staff promptly; do not serve as the primary resolver of family grievances

SCHEDULE:
This is a part-time role of approximately 2 hours per day, split between morning and afternoon routes.

• Morning route: Approximately 7:20-7:40 AM
• Afternoon route: Approximately 3:50-4:10 PM

Bus Monitor is expected to arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. For morning routes, this includes a report time of 7:10 AM at the assigned pickup location to ensure timely arrival, effective  student supervision, and coordination.

Bus Monitor is responsible for their own transportation to and from the assigned pickup and drop-off locations. This may include traveling to the school site between routes or returning for the afternoon route. Candidates should consider this when determining overall time commitment and fit.

You will report to the Director of Operations and coordinate directly with a school-based liaison for academic handoffs. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with children, youth, or families, with a demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships and engage caregivers as partners in students' educational journeys.
• Strong commitment to educational equity and a demonstrated awareness of historic and current racial and economic inequities impacting families and communities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills,  with the ability to connect effectively with diverse audiences, especially families and school staff.
•  Strong interpersonal, organizational, and follow-up skills, with careful attention to detail when managing family information and outreach activities.
• Comfort using a phone and/or a tablet to complete logs and communicate in real time.
• Reliable, punctual, and comfortable working independently in the field without direct supervision
• Ability to remain calm and firm in managing student behavior
• A collaborative, team-oriented mindset, paired with the ability to take initiative, think creatively, work independently, and adapt in dynamic, community-based environments.
• Alignment with DC Prep's mission, values, and belief in the potential of all students and families.
• Bachelor's degree preferred; relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred (or willingness to obtain)
• Valid ID; background check required

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Supervise students during assigned bus routes, ensuring a safe, calm, and orderly environment from pickup through drop-off
• Support safe and efficient student boarding and unloading procedures at all designated stops
• Monitor and manage student behavior in alignment with school expectations, using de-escalation strategies as needed
• Take accurate daily attendance during each route and maintain real-time ridership records using designated tools
• Verify student ridership against assigned manifests and promptly report any discrepancies to school operations staff
• Record and track route timing, including departures and arrivals at each stop and at school
• Document all incidents, behavioral concerns, or safety issues accurately and in a timely manner using required systems
• Communicate urgent or significant in-transit issues (e.g., student conflict, injury, or distress) to the designated school contact before arrival
• Provide clear and timely handoff communication to school staff regarding any relevant student updates or concerns
• Coordinate with school staff regarding schedule changes, absences, or transportation adjustments
• Maintain professional and respectful interactions with families and caregivers at bus stops
• Ensure students are released only to authorized individuals during afternoon drop-off
• Utilize a phone or tablet to complete required logs, communication, and documentation in real time
• Adhere to all DC Prep policies, safety protocols, and expectations related to student supervision and transportation
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the success of the transportation program

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands and environmental conditions described below are representative, but not exhaustive, of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the role. All of these physical requirements must be able to be performed with clarity, coherence and connectedness to DC Prep's vision. A reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals who have an ADA qualifying disability to perform these essential functions which include:

• Must be able to board and exit a school bus multiple times per route, including stepping up and down bus stairs safely
• Must be able to stand and move within the bus aisle while the vehicle is stopped to support student supervision and ensure safe boarding/unloading
• Must be able to remain seated for extended periods while maintaining active supervision of students during transit
• Must be able to visually monitor all students on the bus and at bus stops, including scanning for safety concerns and student behavior
• Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in a potentially noisy environment (e.g., bus in motion, students talking)
• Must be able to respond quickly to student needs, including de-escalating behavior or addressing minor safety concerns
• Must be able to walk short distances at bus stops and school sites to supervise student transitions and ensure safe handoff to authorized adults or staff
• Must be able to use a phone or tablet for real-time logging, communication, and documentation, including repetitive hand/finger movement
• Must be able to work outdoors briefly in varying weather conditions (heat, cold, rain) during student pickup and drop-off
• Must be able to lift up to 15-20 lbs (e.g., student backpacks or materials) if needed to support safe transport

JOIN US

Do you believe that Learning Has No Limits? Are you eager to join a supportive, innovative, and collaborative community of educators? Are you committed to growing your strengths as an educator through individualized professional development and coaching? Apply today!

We're an equal opportunity employer and hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability. We strongly encourage diverse candidates to apply.

*Disclaimer: Current DC Prep employees are not eligible to apply for this role, and referral bonuses do not apply.