President's Message
May 2025
Subject: 9th Inning Hustle– Let’s Go Team!
Dear TAA Members,
Can you believe it? We’re in the home stretch of the school year — and what a year it’s been! As we round third and head for home, let’s take a moment to appreciate just how far we’ve come. Through early mornings, late nights, and everything in between, your dedication has kept the wheels turning (literally!) for students across the state. You’ve made it happen — and we see you.
As we gear up to close out the school year, we want to encourage you to keep going strong through the 9th inning. The finish line is in sight, and your efforts are making a difference every single day.
Meanwhile, your TAA Board has been hard at work behind the scenes, planning an exciting and energizing summer conference that’s just around the corner! This year’s theme is Game Time — and it’s going to be packed with fun, connection, inspiration, and a chance to refill those school bus love tanks after a long and rewarding season.
We can’t wait to see you there — to celebrate, to learn, and to get recharged for the road ahead. So grab your team spirit, bring your A-game, and let’s make this summer conference one to remember.
Finish strong, and we’ll see you at the plate!
TAA Presidency
Mashayla Kleinman- President
Shannon Weber- Past President
Shawn West- President Elect
President's Message
February 2025
Happy New Year to the TAA membership!
Hard to believe February is here - the perfect time to talk about our LOVE for the school bus and fresh opportunities of this new semester! Embrace your purpose and appreciation for the important work we do. The role each of you plays in the student transportation industry is vital to keeping our communities connected and our schools running smoothly.
Though challenges are inevitable, it’s in overcoming them that we grow stronger and more resilient in our LOVE for this work. As we navigate obstacles ahead, let’s remain optimistic, supportive of one another, and determined to make progress one step at a time. Together, we have the strength to turn any challenges into opportunities for improvement.
We are excited for the potential of all the positive change we can create for Arizona’s student transportation operations. Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment. Let’s press forward with energy, passion, and an unwavering belief in the work we do.
In support of this potential , your TAA board has been working behind the scenes to offer learning opportunities in all regions to clarify and collaborate on industry topics, regulations, and changes required to put safety, and students first in all decisions. We aspire to provide tools, networking partners, and resources to support all operations.
If you haven’t attended or signed up for your region meeting opportunities watch the website taa-online.org for dates, locations, and content. We are also in a continued educational partnership with The Trust to offer training, growth, and guidance at a state level.
The 2025 Summer Conference plans are underway and it is a packed agenda with content you won’t want to miss! Early Bird Registration is open NOW!
Here’s to a productive, inspiring second semester.
Happy Love the Bus Month
With appreciation and optimism,
The TAA Presidency
President's Message
Oct 4, 2024
Happy Fall Transportation Administrators of Arizona!
Despite the very warm temperatures most of us have recently wrapped up our first quarter, or are finishing this week. We hope each of you ended your first quarter with improved resources, polished skills compared to the start, and opportunities to use the many tools you acquired from your attendance and participation at the 2024 TAA Conference.
Your TAA executive board is participating in discussions with AZ DPS , The Trust, and your region representatives in planning for your fall region meetings to provide content both specific to your region as it relates to student transportation, as well as state level updates and learning. Please watch for dates and locations in the near future. We look forward to a continued uptick in region meeting attendance as we work to communicate the details further in advance and more frequently. Thank you for putting the word out!
One of the most repeated topics we have heard about from our membership has been the recent notice and its interpretation regarding service hours for school bus drivers. The notice of public information reads as follows.
The Department provides notice to the public that effective August 27, 2024, the Department has rescinded Substantive Policy Statement #HPDCVE-2, School Bus Driver Hours Limitations and the Department will no longer enforce R13-13-104(C) as interpreted in the statement. Substantive Policy Statement #HPDCVE-2 originally appeared in the Administrative Register at 30 A.A.R. 821, dated April 26, 2024.
There will also be an opportunity to ask further questions of our AZ DPS Student Transportation experts at the AAPT Conference on Saturday October 12, 2024. The Arizona Association for Pupil Transportation is holding their annual conference at Moon Valley High School in the Glendale Union High School District. Take a look at the agenda and line up of presenters for more information.
The TAA Board will meet in mid-October to begin planning for our 2025 summer conference. The conference will be held from June 15, 2025 - June 18, 2025. Please visit the TAA website at taa-online.org to learn more as we get closer and to find contacts in your region or otherwise for any support you may need.
We are all here to help and support you to make this the best year yet!
Your TAA Presidency
President's Message
June 2024
TAA Membership-
Happy summer to everyone! I hope you wrapped up your 2023-2024 school year with much to celebrate. It seems to me that each school year passes a little more quickly than the last with more to do in preparation for the next every time!
That said, my thanks for your continued commitment in placing our TAA Summer Conference at the top of your priority list. What a perfect reset, and this year, your opportunity to equip your team with tools for this trade in ALL areas. Our hope and goal as we planned the content and events was that each of you obtain tools and resources in all areas of student transportation to take back to your teams, your districts, and your daily practices for the best success. We wish to equip you with some of the simple but effective tools that you may not have, as well as more involved processes and protocols for the bigger jobs that you may face.
We hope to provide a confidence in the best ways to expect the unexpected! To fill those tool kits to the top with so many new and necessary things for your day to day efforts.
Most of all to gather , collaborate, and learn from each other in preparation for another school year which is right around the corner. There will be something for everyone and lots of fun and engagement mixed in.
Thank you for spending a small part of your summer with us and for your ongoing support of Transportation Administrators of Arizona. Remember if you are looking to pursue a position in the organization opportunities in Regions 2, 4, 6 as well as President Elect offices will be voted on.
Shannon Weber, President
Mashayla Kleinman, President Elect
Mike Ajemann, Past President
President's Message
Happy Spring Transportation,
I trust each of you are well into the groove of the 4th quarter and are looking to the finish line of 2023-2024. I hope the last break of the school year offered rest, rejuvenation, and reflection for each of you and your teams.
The TAA 2024 Summer Conference is just two months away and we can’t wait to see you! This year we hope to fill your transportation tool box with any missing pieces. We aspire to leave you fully equipped for all that can come our way.
If everyone learns just one new thing of value and takes it back to their closest student transportation circle imagine the impact on student transportation and Arizona students!
The conference registration is open and a tentative agenda is available on the website at https://taa-online.org/conference.
The TAA board is working hard to ensure your conference experience is a positive one. We are excited to share the use of a new event application that will offer all attendees access to the conference agenda, and real time updates or changes leading up to, and during the conference. You will also have notifications of any special event details, and instructions throughout the week. Watch for the link to the app in the coming few weeks or click the EVENT button on the conference page of the website to see the agenda, and presenter list!
Last, remember to keep an eye out for the annual TAA Conference scholarship application and criteria for consideration.
My hope is that you are as excited as we are to come together with colleagues to collaborate, celebrate, and collect information valuable and critical for feeling equipped for success in the new year.
TAA Presidency
Shannon Weber
Mashayla Kleinmann
Mike Ajeman
President's Message
January 16, 2024
TAA Membership,
We made it to the halfway point of 2023-2024! I hope each of you has had the opportunity to reset and rejuvenate for the second half of the year. I also encourage you to celebrate the successes of the first half. It has been said that the second half of things(games, events, movies, races) are often where we reveal skills, polish processes, and rise up to get to the finish with quality and purpose. I wish you a second half filled with things to milestone and celebrate.
Many of you are approaching your 100th day of school and working to collect and finalize data for your data for submission to the state. Some of us have a trusted process, and some of us are either new to this step or are still working to find what works best. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your TAA board members should you have questions. We are happy to support and guide wherever we can.
Regional meetings have been underway with collective content from your region and our educations partners at The Trust. Everything from regional day to day challenges and hot topics, to the ongoing findings with use of the new AZ Student Transportation DPS Portal and all of its steps. Please look forward to meeting dates, RSVP the attendance for your team members, and respect the time and resources contributed to the preparation of the meeting by being committed to attend. I promise your participants will come away with something valuable for your transportation team and daily operations. Even if its refresher its important. As always, if you have items you would like to see covered please let your region representative know. We are here to serve you.
The 2024 Summer Conference planning is underway! We look forward to bringing you a packed agenda filled with tools for your use in all areas of your operation. Early bird registration, as well as the agenda format will be available to you on or before February 1, 2024. Planning decisions are inclusive of all feedback from last year’s survey results.
Please check the website at TAA-online.org as well as follow on social media to see the upcoming regional meetings as well as conference details.
As you kick off your second half, rally your teams and refocus your energy on all things school bus safety, students, and staff. Remember to care for your departments in all areas. No one cares what we know unless they know that we care.
Happy Second Half,
TAA Presidency
Mike Ajeman, Past President
Shannon Weber, President
Mashayla Kleinman, President Elect
President's Message
Oct 23, 2023
TAA Members,
Despite the triple digits, fall has arrived. Most of you are back in school from fall break, and have hit the ground running. Our mornings are a little darker, and reminders for all school bus riders related to safety are being shared. Timely for sure as last week we celebrated National School Bus Safety Week “Rolling Safely to our Destination”. It is always a perfect time to share safety reminders with your community.
The TAA Board has scheduled the region meetings for the first semester and many are right around the corner. Please visit the TAA website at taa-online.org to confirm your region meeting date and location. With contributions from our educational partners at The Trust and input from your region representatives we have prepared relevant state level and region level content that will keep you informed and equipped to navigate through the ever changing requirements and expectations with some excellent tips and tricks thrown in.
The TAA Board will be meeting in early November to continue planning for our 2024 summer conference. Please be on the lookout for information regarding the planning efforts, early bird registration, content consideration, and what you can expect for the event. Contact information for board members is available on our website and we encourage you to reach out with any questions, concerns, or suggestions that you may have. Remember, it is your feedback that best helps us to build the experience for you.
As you continue your efforts into Q2 I wish you success with your most challenging obstacles, and a sense of humor along the way,
Happy Fall,
TAA Presidency
Shannon Weber, Mashayla Kleinman, Mike Ajeman