FOR THE VERY SPECIAL MOMENT. IT’S A TOUGH JOB IN THIS DAY AND AGE, MAKING SURE KIDS GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL SAFELY. BUT FOR THE LAST 20 PLUS YEARS, DENISE FONTANAZZA HAS BEEN DOING JUST THAT, AND TODAY SHE GOT QUITE THE SURPRISE. SMILING FACES GETTING OFF THE BUS ARE A COMMON OCCURRENCE AT NORVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THEY GET ON WITH A SMILE. THEY GET OFF WITH A SMILE. IT’S FANTASTIC. ESPECIALLY WHEN DENISE FONTANAZZA IS BEHIND THE WHEEL. THE DMA TRANSFER STATION BUS DRIVER HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR NEARLY 25 YEARS, AND SHE’LL TELL YOU IT’S MORE THAN JUST A JOB. I LOVE THEM ALL. THEY’RE ALL GOOD. SHE’S KNOWN FOR HER POSITIVE ATTITUDE, HER SMILE, AND FOR HANDING OUT STICKS. IF THEY’RE GOOD, THEY GET A STICK WHEN THEY GET OFF THE BUS. IF THEY’RE BAD, THEY DON’T GET IT. ONE. SO THEN THAT WAY THE PARENTS KNOW THAT THEY’VE BEEN MISBEHAVING. ONCE YOU COLLECT FIVE STICKS, YOU GET A PRIZE. IT’S SOMETHING DENISE HAS DONE FOR YEARS. OUT OF THE KINDNESS OF HER OWN HEART, AND WITH MONEY FROM HER OWN POCKET EVERY PENNY SHE MAKES DRIVING THE BUS, SHE GIVES BACK TO THE KIDS. BUT TODAY, THE ROLES WERE REVERSED AND THE MOUNT PLEASANT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND DENISE STUDENTS REWARDED HER, PRESENTING HER WITH A CERTIFICATE AND A PRIZE OF HER OWN. NOT ONE OF THEM WAS THERE. IT’S NOT FOR ME. THOSE BEHIND TUESDAY’S SURPRISE SAY IT’S A SIMPLE GESTURE FOR A WOMAN WHO HAS DEDICATED HER WHOLE LIFE TO SERVING OTHERS AND SPREADING POSITIVE THE T. SHE TRULY GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND. SO WE WE REALLY APPRECIATE HER AND EVERYTHING THAT SHE DOES FOR US. AND DENISE SAYS SHE WAS CERTAINLY SURPRISED THIS MORNING, BUT SHE HAS NO PLANS OF STOPPING ANYTIME SOON.
Bus driver gets surprise honor
A bus driver known for rewarding her students with prizes, received a surprise reward of her own
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Updated: 7:24 PM EST Mar 3, 2024
One by one, each student getting off Denise Fontanazza's bus had a smile from ear to ear Tuesday morning. That's nothing new, according to their parents, because they love their bus driver. "They get off with a smile, they get on with a smile," said Andy Sebek, whose son Rocco is in kindergarten at Norvelt Elementary School in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, which is around 42 miles outside of Pittsburgh."Especially with the little kindergarten kids and first-graders, they're terrified to get on the bus usually," said Sebek before adding, "But not ours, they love it because they're excited to see Denise!"It's a tough job in today's day and age, making sure kids get to and from school safely each day. But for the last 20-plus years, it's a job that Denise Fontanazza has been doing with pride – and always with a smile on her face. "I think what's so important nowadays is to have positivity in the room, and she always has a smile," said Eric Poole, the director of Mount Pleasant Area School District's Transportation Committee. Poole added, "She truly goes above and beyond. So we really appreciate her and everything that she does for us."Fontanazza is known for handing out "sticks" on her bus. If a student is good, they get a stick when they get off of the bus at their home each afternoon. Once they collect five sticks, a student is rewarded with a little prize. It's something Denise has done for years, out of the kindness of her own heart and with money from her own pocket. "Every penny she makes driving the bus, she gives back to the kids," said Sebek. But on Tuesday, the roles were reversed, and the Mount Pleasant School District and Denise's students surprised her with a certificate and a prize of her own! "I love them all," Fontanazza said."I knew something was up, 'cause so many of them were missing this morning! I just love you guys," said the long-time bus driver when she realized the surprise was for her. "I'll see you guys later," said Fontanazza as she drove away from the school Tuesday morning with more sticks in the cupholder of her bus, ready to go for the ride home. See more in the video player above
MOUNT PLEASANT, Pa. — One by one, each student getting off Denise Fontanazza's bus had a smile from ear to ear Tuesday morning. That's nothing new, according to their parents, because they love their bus driver.
"They get off with a smile, they get on with a smile," said Andy Sebek, whose son Rocco is in kindergarten at Norvelt Elementary School in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, which is around 42 miles outside of Pittsburgh.
"Especially with the little kindergarten kids and first-graders, they're terrified to get on the bus usually," said Sebek before adding, "But not ours, they love it because they're excited to see Denise!"
It's a tough job in today's day and age, making sure kids get to and from school safely each day. But for the last 20-plus years, it's a job that Denise Fontanazza has been doing with pride – and always with a smile on her face.
"I think what's so important nowadays is to have positivity in the room, and she always has a smile," said Eric Poole, the director of Mount Pleasant Area School District's Transportation Committee.
Poole added, "She truly goes above and beyond. So we really appreciate her and everything that she does for us."
Fontanazza is known for handing out "sticks" on her bus. If a student is good, they get a stick when they get off of the bus at their home each afternoon. Once they collect five sticks, a student is rewarded with a little prize. It's something Denise has done for years, out of the kindness of her own heart and with money from her own pocket.
"Every penny she makes driving the bus, she gives back to the kids," said Sebek.
But on Tuesday, the roles were reversed, and the Mount Pleasant School District and Denise's students surprised her with a certificate and a prize of her own!
"I love them all," Fontanazza said.
"I knew something was up, 'cause so many of them were missing this morning! I just love you guys," said the long-time bus driver when she realized the surprise was for her.
"I'll see you guys later," said Fontanazza as she drove away from the school Tuesday morning with more sticks in the cupholder of her bus, ready to go for the ride home.
See more in the video player above
