Ryan Pokraka
Fitchburg
Summary
14+ years experience working under pressure with deadlines, requiring attention to detail and task completion. Maintaining professionalism with clients and coworkers. Communicating needs of the project and working with others to ensure proper completion of all tasks. Thinking outside of the box to problem solve issues that may arise.
Experienced Special Education Bus Driver with background in safe transportation of students with special needs. Developed skills in effective communication, problem-solving, and crisis management while maintaining a calm and nurturing environment on the bus. Demonstrated ability to build rapport with students, parents, and school administrators. Made significant impact in previous roles by ensuring safety and comfort for all passengers coupled with strict adherence to transportation policies and regulations.
Highly-motivated employee with desire to take on new challenges. Strong work ethic, adaptability, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Adept at working effectively unsupervised and quickly mastering new skills.
Hardworking employee with customer service, multitasking, and time management abilities. Devoted to giving every customer a positive and memorable experience.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
4003
4003
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Special Education Bus Driver
Van Pool
Fitchburg
06.2024 - Current
- Operate special needs vans safely and efficiently for various routes.
- Assist students in boarding and disembarking the van daily.
- Monitor student behavior to ensure a safe transportation environment
- Help coordinate routine maintenance schedule and maintain the fleet of vans to ensure all vehicles were safe and reliable.
- Communicated effectively with parents and school staff regarding student needs.
- Conducted routine safety checks on the bus before each trip.
- Maintained accurate records of student attendance and incidents during transport.
- Collaborated with transportation team to optimize route planning and scheduling.
- Inspected bus for mechanical defects before and after each route.
- Assisted students with disabilities in boarding and exiting the bus safely.
- Communicated effectively with dispatchers and other personnel regarding trip delays, medical emergencies and issues.
- Transported students to and from school, field trips, athletic events, or other activities as assigned.
- Promptly reported any incidents or accidents involving students or other vehicles immediately upon arrival at destination.
- Assisted in loading, unloading of wheelchairs, scooters onto buses if needed.
- Delivered messages between schools, staff members, parents and guardians as requested by supervisor or administration personnel.
- Provided appropriate behavior management strategies to special needs children while driving the bus.
- Responded quickly and appropriately in emergency situations such as medical emergencies or accident scenes.
- Attended training sessions related to special education transportation services as required by employer.
- Completed all required paperwork accurately and promptly.
- Monitored student behavior on the bus to ensure their safety at all times.
- Ensured safety of students by following district policies and procedures.
- Communicated regularly with parents regarding any issues that arose during transportation services.
- Followed established routes and schedules according to designated times.
- Conducted post-trip inspections of vehicle interior and exterior ensuring cleanliness was maintained throughout the day.
- Operated wheelchair lift equipment when necessary to assist passengers with mobility impairments onto the bus.
- Maintained appropriate behavior on bus and reported policy infractions to professionals for immediate remediation.
- Adhered to all laws, regulations, and rules governing the safe operation of a school bus.
- Inspected vehicle tires, brakes, windshield wipers, lights and fluids to verify safe operation.
- Enforced safety rules as students boarded and exited buses and crossed streets near bus stops.
- Maintained order among passengers and explained safety rules and hazards.
- Reported bus malfunctions or repairs needed.
- Monitored traffic during bus stops to provide safe boarding by students.
- Cleaned and sanitized bus interiors to lessen germ spread.
- Reported inappropriate and disruptive student behaviors to school administration.
- Read maps and followed written or verbal driving directions.
- Performed work assignments according to instructions received.
- Adhered to strict time requirements for bus route scheduling and reported delays to dispatch.
- Reported accidents, hazards or transportation delays using mobile two-way radios.
- Made small repairs to vehicles for safe operations when necessary.
Assistant Scout Master
Boy Scouts of America
Fitchburg
04.2023 - Current
- I help scouts with earning merit badges.
- I teach them how to use skills related to life, teamwork, and survival.
- We camp in a tent, cabin, or Adirondack during all seasons, in all weather, once a month.
- We have a week long scout camp every August.
Carpenter
Pokraka Remodeling
Pepperell
01.2010 - 07.2024
- Demonstrated expertise in framing, roofing, siding, drywalling, and finishing work, contributing to the successful completion of various construction projects.
- Proficient in operating a wide range of power and hand tools to efficiently complete carpentry tasks.
- Collaborated with team members and project managers to meet project deadlines and ensure high-quality craftsmanship on all carpentry projects.
Education
Diploma - All
North Middlesex Regional High School
Townsend, Main Education - behavioral science and education
Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg, MaSkills
- Attention to detail
- Customer Service
- Handling delicate and expensive product
- Task completion
- Blueprint interpretation
- Framing
- Roofing
- Siding
- Drywalling
- Finishing work
- Operating power tools
- Operating hand tools
- Carpentry
- Collaboration
- Project management
- Meeting project deadlines
- High-quality craftsmanship
- Vehicle operation
- Safety compliance
- Behavior management
- Emergency response
- Fleet maintenance
- Communication skills
- Record keeping
- Time management
- Team collaboration
- Problem solving
- Conflict resolution
- Instructional delivery
- Patience and tolerance
- Safe driving techniques
- Disability awareness
- Student supervision
- Adaptive equipment operation
- Wheelchair handling
- Flexibility
- Vehicle maintenance
- Route planning
- Disability sensitivity
- Wheelchair securement
- Passenger assistance
- Traffic regulation compliance
- Defensive driving
- Efficient navigation
- Wheelchair lift operations
- Autism awareness
- Patience and empathy
- Google maps
- School bus policies
- Self motivation
- Child behavior management
- Adaptability
Volunteer Experience
Boy Scouts of America, Assistant Scout Master, Fitchburg, MA, 04/01/23, Assistant Scout Master for Troop 41 in Fitchburg, MA. I help scouts with earning merit badges. I teach them how to use skills related to life, teamwork, and survival. We camp in a tent, cabin, or Adirondack during all seasons, in all weather, once a month. We have a week-long scout camp every August.
Timeline
Special Education Bus Driver
Van Pool
06.2024 - Current
Assistant Scout Master
Boy Scouts of America
04.2023 - Current
Carpenter
Pokraka Remodeling
01.2010 - 07.2024
Diploma - All
North Middlesex Regional High School
in Education - behavioral science and education
Fitchburg State University