Mari Culleny makes every day extra special for her students as she picks them up on her daily bus routes through Bridgewater – but it’s not just her personality that sparkles, it’s also her bus.
Culleny takes great pride in decorating her bus both inside and out to make it more exciting for her students and their parents. She and bus number 65 stand out wherever they go and in any season.
“I like to make people smile, especially when they are having a so-so day,” Culleny said. “I noticed when they see my bus there is a big smile on their faces. My biggest fans are the students, they always let me know how much they enjoy it.”
It all started when she saw another decorated bus and decided to do the same.
“I thought my students would enjoy having their bus decorated also,” she said. “I started decorating the outside the first year, and then after that, I started decorating the inside. Each month there is a special occasion to decorate.”
Her decorating begins on the front grill of her bus. Then she continues the theme throughout, on the walls, windows and ceiling, wrapping all the way to the back of the bus.
Her monthly themes include fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, snowflakes, valentines, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, spring and graduation. She said she doesn’t have a favorite theme, she just enjoys decorating for each occasion every month.
And every card she receives from either students or parents is displayed in a place of honor right above where she sits, each holding significance and a special honor.
Culleny gladly offers tours of her bus to anyone walking by.
“It’s been eight years now that I have been driving my bus, and I look forward to many more years to come,” she said, as she currently drives to Crim Primary School and the Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
Culleny’s directors speak of the difference she has made for her students.
“Mari is a beautiful person, her dedication, enthusiasm and love for her job is truly an inspiration,” Philomena Moeller, transportation director for S.C.E.S.C., said. “The time and effort that Mari puts into decorating her bus is a reflection of who she really is. When you see her bus, it makes you smile. At Christmas, we asked Mari if she would take her bus over to the Somerset Academy so the students could see it, and the smiles on these kids’ faces were priceless.”
Culleny said she decided to become a bus driver due to a change in circumstances when she had to change her career path.
“I always wanted to drive a bus, but was unable to until I had an opportunity to pursue driving as a career,” she said.
When she was in high school, she said, she dreamed about being a truck driver, but she said her dad didn’t think she could make it because her legs were too short to reach the pedals.
“Now, everything moves, there’s buttons where the pedals and seats are that go up and down,” she said, adding that her dad has since passed and never knew she became a bus driver.
Summer offers her another opportunity to decorate a smaller bus that she drives for Meadowbrook Day Camp, in Long Valley. Weekly, the camp has a new theme, including color wars, magic, zoo, music, beach, island, Harry Potter, aquarium and the 1950s.
“Mari works very hard to be the best driver she can be and is always looking to raise the spirits of her students,” said her sister, Susan Smith. ”This past year has been very difficult for the kids and she really cares about their feelings. Celebrating every day and getting a smile makes it all worthwhile. By decorating, they can be reminded that they will always have something to look forward to.”
The Link LonkMarch 30, 2021 at 08:36PM
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Bus 65 Driver Makes Students Smile With Holiday Decorations - TAPinto.net
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