Every morning across the School District of Lancaster, buses roll through neighborhoods near and far through the heart of the city, down quiet side streets, and even across county lines. Behind that massive effort is someone who never seeks the spotlight but is deeply relied upon to make sure students get where they need to be: Vanessa Colón. This week’s staff shoutout goes out to her!
Since joining SDoL in 2012, Vanessa has become a cornerstone of the district’s transportation operations. As Transportation Specialist, she manages a complex web of logistics that includes coordinating daily bus routes for thousands of students from general education to special education, from pre-K to 12th grade, and even for students in temporary housing or foster care. She also oversees mileage reports and transportation billing, works closely with families to solve urgent transportation needs, and handles countless phone calls and last-minute schedule changes with patience and clarity.
“I do a little bit of everything,” she says, “but it all comes down to making sure our students can get to school safely and on time. That’s the goal every day.”
Vanessa’s connection to the district runs deep. She’s not only an employee but also an alum having attended Buchanan ES and Wheatland Middle School- School District of Lancaster before graduating from McCaskey High School. She was part of the first and only graduating class from the Meridian Bank campus, a unique chapter in the district’s history. Her roots in the community and firsthand understanding of the student experience give her work an added layer of insight and purpose.
Her professional journey began in custodial services. She spent years working night shifts, cleaning classrooms and maintaining learning spaces. From there, she transitioned into a support role in the facilities office, where she started taking on more responsibility. It was there that she first observed the energy and complexity of the transportation office. Watching staff members coordinate buses, field parent calls, and build student routes sparked something in her.
“I used to watch Rose do it all, and I thought, ‘I want to be a part of that.’ It was busy, it was challenging, and it was meaningful. I fell in love with it.”
With encouragement from mentors like Rose and Dennis Laporte, Vanessa made the leap into transportation. It wasn’t easy but she brought with her a work ethic shaped by experience and a mindset grounded in service. She learned the nuances of bus scheduling, boundary lines, and state regulations. She developed a deep familiarity with routes, stops, and timing. And she brought something else, too: empathy.
Vanessa’s role often involves working with families in crisis. She partners closely with the district’s McKinney-Vento liaison to coordinate transportation for students experiencing housing transitions. These students, referred to as “FIT” (Families in Transition), may be living with relatives, in shelters, or in other temporary arrangements that take them outside the city. Her job is to ensure those students remain connected to school.
One case still stays with her: a 14-year-old student, living in Reading after a falling out with her mother, didn’t know how she’d get to McCaskey each day. Vanessa stepped in, built a route, and worked with bus providers to ensure the student had consistent transportation. “She was so young, going through so much,” Vanessa recalls. “Getting her to school was one thing I could control, and it gave her stability at a time when everything else was uncertain.”
For Vanessa, transportation isn’t just logistics. It’s about protecting access, especially for those most at risk of losing it.
She brings that same care and attentiveness to every phone call. While she often deals with parents who are stressed, frustrated, or unsure of what options exist, Vanessa never loses her calm. “You can’t take it personally,” she says. “Most of the time, people just want someone to listen. I try to let them know I understand and that I’m here to help.”
And while she credits others for supporting her names like Dennis Laporte and Matt Shields come up often, those around her point to Vanessa’s steady leadership and follow-through as key to the department’s success. “Matt always backs me up,” she says. “But he also trusts me to run my department and respects my judgment. That kind of support matters.”
Vanessa has also become a mentor in her own right. As a single parent raising a teenage daughter, she’s deeply aware of the example she’s setting not just for her family, but for others watching. She teaches her daughter the importance of independence, education, and having a plan for the future. “I always tell her: focus on your goals. Everything else will come in time. Build a life where you don’t have to depend on anyone.”
While she once dreamed of being a classroom teacher, Vanessa now sees that she’s found her own way to shape young lives. “Even though I’m not teaching in a traditional sense, I’m still helping kids every day. Getting them to school, giving them a chance to show up, that’s my way of making a difference.”
Her work is often invisible to the public eye, but its impact is undeniable. She’s the one who notices when a bus needs to be rerouted to pick up a student in crisis. She’s the voice on the phone reassuring a parent that their child will be cared for. She’s the mind behind the spreadsheets, the maps, and the coordination that keeps our schools connected.
Vanessa Colón is someone who shows up every day, figures out the puzzle, and makes sure the buses keep running. She’s not just part of the system, she helps hold it together. Thank you for all that you do Vanessa! We’re glad you’re part of the team.
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For more information about transportation services at SDoL, click here.