Ambitious Stone Mill ES Veteran Serves as a Full-Time Media Administrator and Part-Time Bus Driver
Let’s be honest: When the District notification went out, everyone had to think it was a long shot that anyone would consider it, much less do it.
Seriously, what full-time DeKalb County School District (DCSD) employee would sign on to drive a school bus route before school, work a full school day, then get behind the wheel again and transport the students home?
Meet Exavier Frazier. He immediately jumped at the chance.
“I’ve always been interested in transportation. I drive trucks part-time in the summer, so I’ve always been interested in driving the school bus since I started in education,” Mr. Frazier said. “I knew I could help, so I jumped at the chance to drive a bus, and they took me in. I enjoy driving the bus; it’s fun.”
This year, Mr. Frazier is a full-time media administrator at Stone Mill Elementary School and a part-time bus driver at the school, as well as Stone Mountain Middle School and Stone Mountain High School. The Alabama native has been in education for 22 years, all with DeKalb Schools.
The opportunity began last school year when the DCSD HR Division let DCSD employees know of the chance to serve as part-time bus drivers. Mr. Frazier is one of the few who was on board to drive.
It’s not surprising, considering he’s received praise for every role he’s held.
Mr. Frazier spent most of his education career at Jolly Elementary School as a special education teacher. He worked part-time as a media administrator at Jolly and Stone Mill last year before becoming a full-time media administrator at Stone Mill. He spent his summer training to be a bus driver. Dr. Alethea Mack, principal at Stone Mill, said it’s a great pleasure to have Mr. Frazier as a media administrator and bus driver.
“He brings a lot of energy to our staff as well as our students. When he first asked about becoming a bus driver, everyone thought it was a running joke. Because he’s so hyper and energetic, we thought he wouldn’t want to really drive a bus,” said Dr. Mack. “But we needed a consistent driver to ensure that our buses were here on time and that our students could be on time for class.”
Dr. Mack said the students were thrilled to see the talented Mr. Frazier behind the wheel.
“Since he has been here, he has greatly affected our students,” said Dr. Mack. “He walks out with the students in the afternoon, gets them on the bus, and we can move our buses out first. Eighty percent of the students walk to and from school, and it’s important that the buses leave first and the walkers leave after them so that everyone gets home safely.”
Driving the bus and managing the media center aren’t the only tasks Mr. Frazier does. He’s never shy about stepping in to fill other roles at the school, such as monitoring a class or puling cafeteria duty.
“I like helping others. If someone needs anything, they’ll call ole Frazier, and I’ll come,” he said.
“When he was out sick, we could feel the impact,” said Dr. Mack. “The kids were asking, ‘Where’s Mr. Frazier?’ So, they’re always looking for him in the media center or on the bus. Even after he brings them in off the bus, he goes to the cafeteria for morning duty.”
DCSD is still hiring bus drivers, and Mr. Frazier encourages anyone who wants to be a bus driver to give it a try. But only if you want to do the job.
“Driving a school bus is something you must want to do,” he said. “If you’re trying to do it because you want to make some extra money, then you won’t enjoy it. If you’re doing it because you want to do it, you’ll be more into it and care about the job.”
Interested in learning how you can drive one of those yellow beauties yourself? See how to become a bus driver or even peruse other available DCSD positions at www.dekalbschoolsga.org/hr.
“I think it’s a great opportunity that the district has provided our staff to not only serve the students in the classroom but in other areas as well,” said Dr. Mack.