By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – Tucker County Schools are fortunate to have two new bus operators as well as a new pre-k instructor in Parsons. Bus operators Dave Bennett and Thomas Harper have both been substitutes and said they look forward to a great school year, transporting their students safely to and from school.
Bennett said he drives Bus 18A, which goes down through Sugarlands. He said he decided to become a bus operator because many of his friends worked in that position.
“Others had always tried to talk me into becoming a bus driver and I decided to do it,” Bennett said. “I am at the age where I needed to think about retirement.”
Bennett said he has always enjoyed working with children and said he has a good bunch of kids on his run.
“I am prepared for the winter – I have lived here all my life,” he said.
Bennett and his wife Beverly have lived in Hambleton and Parsons. He has two kids, Brandon Scott Bennett and Wesley Brian Bennett.
Harper drives Bus 4A which goes to Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School, Tucker County High School and down Route 72, Bull Run, Licking Creek and out to the Preston County line.
Harper and his wife Michelle have five daughters – one still at home who works full time. The other four have left the nest to start their own families.
He said to become a bus operator he had to test through RESA and through the state of West Virginia. He had to take his CDL test and pre-trip test.
One of the items that enticed him to driving a school bus is the benefits, although he said he likes working with the kids as well.
Gafner works as a pre-k instructor in Parsons. Before joining the Tucker County Staff she taught in Morgantown in a Reggio Emilia School called Amplify.
“I moved here to get out of the big city. I am from a small town in Pennsylvania called Centerville. It is even smaller than Parsons,” she said.
Gafner said she really likes the Tucker County School System.
“Everyone is so welcoming,” she said. “It’s like a big family. Everyone treats the kids like family and I love it.”
She said she currently has 14 students and is quite different from where she taught previously.
“Where I came from was a nature based, child directed learning center,” Gafner said. “I am trying to bring some of that here to the classroom. I think it’s good to have a mix of child directed learning in with public school education.”
Outside of school, Gafner said her main hobby is art.
“I love to draw and colored pencil art is my favorite,” she said. “I also enjoy reading.”
Gafner said she likes the area. “It is so beautiful here and I am so happy to be back in a small town. I feel so welcome here.”
