Berlin Central School District bus driver Mark Primeau was honored by the Hudson Valley chapter of the American Automobile Association (AAA) with their 2016 Safe School Bus Driver Award. [private]
Primeau was nominated for the AAA award by the BCSD transportation department for his dedication to safety, his exceptional work ethic, and for the great rapport he has with Berlin’s students.
“Mark Primeau loves to be a bus driver and professionally accepts the responsibility of transporting the students of our community. Mark has earned the respect and admiration of the students he transports as well as his fellow drivers and attendants,” said BCSD transportation supervisor Fred Kowalik.
Primeau is a retiree who began driving for Berlin in 2009. His job includes driving on mountainous roads in all sorts of weather, setting positive expectations for student behavior, and keeping a sharp eye out for unsafe motorists and other dangers of the road. He has transported hundreds of students safely to and from school, and to events all over our region and beyond.
“Not only does Mark enjoy being awarded extra bus runs such as sport and field trips, he involves himself in the actualities of the trip,” said Kowalik, who gave as an example the time Primeau stepped in to coach first base when the team was shorthanded, or that he always participates as a volunteer at the NYS Envirothon when Berlin’s students compete there. “The students can sense his support for them and their extra-curricular activities, whether they are scholastic or sporting events. Mark will remember the individual accomplishments of the students, their updated records of wins and losses, their latest performances, and their upcoming schedules for sports and scholastic competitions,” added Kowalik.
Primeau is also a driver trainer and a member of the transportation department’s safety committee.
As part of his recognition, Primeau received a plaque and a free one-year membership at AAA Hudson Valley.[/private]