Dr. Kayne Smith, left, CFISD director of transportation, is honored as the Director of the Year for 2021 by the School Transportation News (STN). Dr. Smith poses with Tony Corpin, president and publisher of STN, at the STN EXPO Reno, held Dec. 4-9 in Reno, Nev.

Dec. 13, 2021—Dr. Kayne Smith, CFISD director of transportation, was named Director of the Year for 2021 by the School Transportation News (STN). Dr. Smith was recognized for the accomplishment at the STN EXPO Reno, which was held Dec. 4-9 in Reno, Nev.

Dr. Smith was featured in STN’s November magazine, which included a full-page front cover photo and 10-page story spread. A number congratulatory advertisements from industry and business partners ran alongside the magazine article.

An additional article on Dr. Smith’s background in school transportation is posted on STN’s website (stnonline.com), while he was also featured on the School Transportation Nation podcast.

“I have been blessed during my 19-year career in education and in student transportation,” Dr. Smith said. “I was honored to serve as the Texas Association for Pupil Transportation President for the 2020-2021 school year. I have been able to teach and present at state and national conferences. For me, being named Director of the Year is not because of any of that—it is because I am surrounded with caring and dedicated individuals who understand the importance of their work for the 85,000 CFISD students we serve every day. It is an honor to be recognized on a national level and I look forward to continuing to serve CFISD and the student transportation industry for years to come.”

Dr. Smith is in his fourth year back with CFISD, returning to the district in 2018 after previously serving as assistant director of transportation, human resources from 2014-2016. He then served as senior director of transportation at Beaumont ISD and executive director of transportation at Dallas ISD before returning to CFISD.

Dr. Kayne Smith, left, CFISD director of transportation, was named Director of the Year for 2021 by the School Transportation News (STN). Dr. Smith attended the STN EXPO Reno, held Dec. 4-9 in Reno, Nev., where he was recognized for the accomplishment.

His career in school transportation however, began years before. Dr. Smith applied and was hired as a bus driver on his 18th birthday for Port Neches-Groves ISD. He even trained his father to be a driver when the district suffered through a bus driver shortage.

Dr. Smith continued driving as he began his career teaching.

That feeling to be behind the wheel has stayed with him even as he moved into operations and director positions. The same sentiment and desire to help is spread across many in the CFISD transportation team.

Dr. Smith credits those team members in helping serve students on a daily basis.

“Drivers and attendants have consistently volunteered to assist wherever possible,” he said. “Technicians and fleet maintenance staff are driving every day. Supervisors and dispatchers come in early to drive and make sure all 750 bus routes are covered. Many employees have consistently been working 10-12 hours per day since August. The dedication of our team to our students has shown this year as we face the nationwide critical driver shortage.”