The Redhound Service Award Communication Winner, Ronnie Prewitt

For a preschool student, the school day begins long before they walk through the classroom door.

It begins when they climb onto the bus.

For many of our youngest Redhounds, Ronnie Prewitt is the first familiar face they see each morning—and the last one they see before heading home. As a preschool bus driver, Ronnie understands that his job is about much more than getting students safely from one place to another. It is about making connections.

Ronnie was recently recognized with the Redhound Way Service Award for Communication during our Classified Appreciation Breakfast. The award celebrates classified employees who bring the traits of The Redhound Way to life through their daily work and service to others.

Ronnie greets students by name, talks with them, learns about their interests, and creates a bus environment where children feel safe, welcomed, and valued. He also builds relationships with their families and colleagues, becoming someone they know they can count on.

But one particular relationship shows just how powerful that communication can be.

Ronnie formed a special bond with a preschool student who communicates differently than his peers. Rather than simply focusing on what the student could or could not communicate, Ronnie took the time to understand him—his needs, his interests, and what brought him joy.

Each morning, the student would become visibly excited when he saw Ronnie. Before entering the preschool, Ronnie would let him pretend to talk on the bus radio, creating a small routine that became something the student looked forward to every day.

But Ronnie's care didn't end when the bus arrived at school.

He delivered Christmas gifts to the student's family. He attended the student's preschool graduation. He celebrated his accomplishments alongside his family and built a relationship that extended far beyond his role as a bus driver.

Those moments may seem small, but they tell a much bigger story.

Ronnie shows us that communication is more than words. It is listening. It is noticing. It is showing up. It is making someone feel seen.

And Ronnie shows up.

He approaches each day with a smile and a willingness to help. Even while working another job and running his own business, he continues to faithfully serve our youngest Redhounds. His consistency and positive attitude have made him someone students, families, and colleagues can depend on.

For Ronnie, every ride is an opportunity to make a connection.

Every greeting matters. Every conversation matters. Every child matters.

And sometimes, a simple conversation on a school bus can become a relationship that lasts far beyond the ride home.

That is the Redhound Way.