Jean Jensen Named 2026 Special Education Driver of the Year

The Minnesota Association for Pupil Transportation (MAPT) proudly recognized Jean Jensen of Rehbein Transit, serving Centennial Schools, as the recipient of the 2026 Special Education Driver of the Year Award during the annual Train the Trainer Conference in St. Cloud.

The award honors school bus drivers who demonstrate exceptional dedication, professionalism, compassion, and a steadfast commitment to safely transporting students with special transportation needs.

For more than 44 years, Jean Jensen has been a trusted presence for students and families in the Centennial School District, including more than three decades transporting students with special needs. Throughout her career, she has driven nearly every type of special education route, serving students with a wide range of behavioral, developmental, and medical needs with patience, dignity, and unwavering care.

One of Jean's most remarkable accomplishments is her commitment to consistency. She has maintained perfect attendance for more than 20 years, understanding that the familiar face greeting students each morning provides comfort, stability, and confidence for the children and families she serves.

In addition to her daily responsibilities behind the wheel, Jean has become a respected mentor to countless new special education drivers and bus paraprofessionals. She has generously shared her expertise in wheelchair securement, student management, and transportation safety while encouraging others to view student transportation not simply as a job, but as an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a child's life.

Throughout four decades of service, Jean has embraced new technology, equipment, and training opportunities, continually seeking ways to improve the transportation experience for her students.

In her nomination, colleagues described Jean as "the embodiment of excellence in student transportation," praising her compassion, professionalism, and dedication that have impacted generations of students and families.

"There may be no single award large enough to capture the depth of Jean's contribution," her nomination states, "but the Special Education Driver of the Year Award is a fitting tribute to a career defined by service, love, and humanity."

MAPT congratulates Jean Jensen on this well-deserved recognition and thanks her for more than four decades of outstanding service to Minnesota's students and the pupil transportation profession.