2026 Bus Monitor - Part time

DC Prep•Washington, DC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

DC Prep is piloting a before- and after-school bus transportation service for students whose parents attend an adult alternative school. The Bus Monitor will be responsible for supporting this pilot by meeting students at pickup points, riding the bus to the school campus in the morning, ensuring safe travel and timely arrival, and overseeing student reception. In the afternoon, the Bus Monitor will ride the bus from the campus back to designated stops. This is a part-time, hourly position focused on the early morning and late afternoon, suitable for individuals with flexible schedules who wish to support students.

Requirements

Experience working with children, youth, or families, with a demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships and engage caregivers as partners in students’ educational journeys.
Strong commitment to educational equity and a demonstrated awareness of historic and current racial and economic inequities impacting families and communities.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to connect effectively with diverse audiences, especially families and school staff.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and follow-up skills, with careful attention to detail when managing family information and outreach activities.
Comfort using a phone and/or a tablet to complete logs and communicate in real time.
Reliable, punctual, and comfortable working independently in the field without direct supervision.
Ability to remain calm and firm in managing student behavior.
A collaborative, team-oriented mindset, paired with the ability to take initiative, think creatively, work independently, and adapt in dynamic, community-based environments.
Alignment with DC Prep’s mission, values, and belief in the potential of all students and families.
CPR/First Aid certification preferred (or willingness to obtain).
Valid ID; background check required.
Must be able to board and exit a school bus multiple times per route, including stepping up and down bus stairs safely.
Must be able to stand and move within the bus aisle while the vehicle is stopped to support student supervision and ensure safe boarding/unloading.
Must be able to remain seated for extended periods while maintaining active supervision of students during transit.
Must be able to visually monitor all students on the bus and at bus stops, including scanning for safety concerns and student behavior.
Must be able to communicate clearly and effectively in a potentially noisy environment (e.g., bus in motion, students talking).
Must be able to respond quickly to student needs, including de-escalating behavior or addressing minor safety concerns.
Must be able to walk short distances at bus stops and school sites to supervise student transitions and ensure safe handoff to authorized adults or staff.
Must be able to use a phone or tablet for real-time logging, communication, and documentation, including repetitive hand/finger movement.
Must be able to work outdoors briefly in varying weather conditions (heat, cold, rain) during student pickup and drop-off.
Must be able to lift up to 15–20 lbs (e.g., student backpacks or materials) if needed to support safe transport.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred; relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Responsibilities

Ride all assigned routes, maintaining a calm and orderly environment from first pickup to final drop-off.
Enforce student behavior expectations consistently and de-escalate minor conflicts in the moment.
Ensure proper student loading and unloading at each stop.
Verify that students are released only to authorized adults at afternoon drop-off stops.
Take attendance at every pickup and log no-shows in real time using the designated tool.
Reconcile ridership against the expected manifest before departing each stop.
Flag discrepancies immediately to the school operations contact.
Record departure and arrival times at each stop and at school, every run.
Log any incident, near-miss, behavioral issue, or route problem using the designated form on the day it occurs.
Maintain accurate, factual records for potential use in parent communication, discipline decisions, or program evaluation.
Notify the designated school liaison by phone or text before the bus arrives for any issue that occurs in transit (student conflict, injury, emotional distress, significant behavioral incident).
Provide a verbal handoff to receiving school staff each morning, flagging anything the academic team needs to know to manage the student's day appropriately.
Coordinate with school staff on early dismissals, schedule changes, or students not riding on a given day.
Maintain professional, welcoming interactions with parents and guardians at stops.
Relay time-sensitive parent concerns to school staff promptly.
Supervise students during assigned bus routes, ensuring a safe, calm, and orderly environment from pickup through drop-off.
Support safe and efficient student boarding and unloading procedures at all designated stops.
Monitor and manage student behavior in alignment with school expectations, using de-escalation strategies as needed.
Take accurate daily attendance during each route and maintain real-time ridership records using designated tools.
Verify student ridership against assigned manifests and promptly report any discrepancies to school operations staff.
Record and track route timing, including departures and arrivals at each stop and at school.
Document all incidents, behavioral concerns, or safety issues accurately and in a timely manner using required systems.
Communicate urgent or significant in-transit issues (e.g., student conflict, injury, or distress) to the designated school contact before arrival.
Provide clear and timely handoff communication to school staff regarding any relevant student updates or concerns.
Coordinate with school staff regarding schedule changes, absences, or transportation adjustments.
Maintain professional and respectful interactions with families and caregivers at bus stops.
Ensure students are released only to authorized individuals during afternoon drop-off.
Utilize a phone or tablet to complete required logs, communication, and documentation in real time.
Adhere to all DC Prep policies, safety protocols, and expectations related to student supervision and transportation.
Perform additional duties as assigned to support the success of the transportation program.