A Final Route: Community Honors Beloved Bus Driver Tami Shaner After 38 Years

Published 1:30 am Thursday, June 25, 2026

The sound of honking school buses echoed down Forks Avenue last Wednesday as the Quillayute Valley School District transportation fleet rolled through town in tribute to one of its own.

The procession marked not only the end of another school year, but also the retirement of longtime bus driver and Transportation Coordinator Tami Shaner, who is stepping away after 38 years of service to the district.

For nearly four decades, Tami has been a familiar and reassuring presence for generations of students, safely transporting them to and from school while building countless relationships along the way.

In a farewell message shared with parents and community members on social media, Tami announced that it was time to “hang up her keys” and reflected on the many memories she has made throughout her career.

“I’ve been so lucky to spend my days with some of the best passengers around,” she wrote.

Shaner recalled watching nervous kindergarten and preschool students climb aboard the bus on their very first day of school, only to see them years later walking across the graduation stage.

“Seeing them grow up has been one of the greatest privileges of my career,” she shared.

She also thanked parents for trusting her with what she called their “most precious cargo,” their children.

Along the way, Tami said she learned a few important lessons from life behind the wheel: someone will always forget something on the bus, there is no volume limit for a group of excited students, and a simple wave from a child can brighten an entire day.

Her retirement announcement quickly filled with comments from former students, parents, coworkers, and community members offering congratulations and sharing memories. Many noted that Tami had driven multiple generations of their families, becoming a trusted and familiar face in their lives.

While there are certainly aspects of the job she won’t miss, Tami said the people are another story.

“What I’ll miss the most won’t be getting up before dawn or doing a pre-trip inspection in snow, hail, or rain,” she wrote. “It will be the students, families, memories, laughter, and friendships made. It has been a joy and privilege to serve this community.”

As the line of yellow buses rolled through town, their horns sounding in celebration, the tribute served as a fitting farewell to a woman who spent 38 years helping Forks students begin and end each school day safely.

For thousands of students and families, Tami Shaner was more than a bus driver; she was a constant presence, a friendly smile, and an important part of their school journey. Her legacy will continue to ride along with the generations of students whose lives she touched along the way.