By LANCE FLEMING
Abilene ISD Communications

Robert Bloom had already worked two careers when a friend suggested he go to work for Abilene ISD as a bus driver. She told him it would be a perfect job and that he would be good for the children on his bus.

As it turns out, the children have been as good for Bloom as he’s been for them.

Bloom is one of the many volunteers in Abilene ISD who serve the more than 14,500 students in the district, driving buses, helping teachers on campus, and working as a chaperone on field trips. Those volunteers are being celebrated this week as part of National Volunteer Week, and school bus drivers were celebrated within that week (Tuesday, April 23) on School Bus Driver Appreciation Day.

Bloom is one of almost 80 bus drivers who deliver children to school and back home each day, take them on field trips, and ferry them across the state for athletics, fine arts, or other competitions. He joined AISD in 2017 after 43 years of employment: 24 years in the United States Air Force and another 19 years as a supervisor at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Abilene.

At that point, Bloom – who also serves as a minister at a local church – was ready to settle into retirement with his pension from both of his previous jobs. He and his wife took their immediate family on a vacation, and he laid out of work for about one year. Then Bloom’s friend mentioned driving a school bus. Suddenly, he found a new calling.

“My friend told me this would be a good pastime and thought it would be a good job and that I could impact the children,” Bloom said. “I didn’t think it would last long, but I became so attached to the kids. They became embedded in my heart, and I saw what they needed every day when I picked them up or dropped them off. It’s been a loveable interaction every day now for seven years.”

Bloom said he didn’t expect to enjoy driving the bus as much as he’s come to love it. But being outdoors and enjoying the students on his bus has made him fall in love with his retirement job.

“The enjoyment of driving has come upon me suddenly,” he said. “I love the outdoors. I love fishing and being outside. So when I get on that bus, and we’re outside, I love the experience. I love seeing the beauty that God has created.”

Bloom has grown to love seeing the students every morning and every afternoon, pouring into them, and trying to help put a smile on their faces.

“This job has taught me so many life lessons,” he said. “Sometimes I’m the first person some of these kids see in the morning, and it means a lot to them for me to have a smile on my face and maybe try to make them laugh. I’ve learned from them how to give them a better day. How? By interacting with them on their level, singing happy birthday to the kids who have a birthday, or telling a joke. I’ve learned as much from the kids as they’ve learned from me.”

Bloom said he’s got a few more years left in him as a bus driver, but once he’s done, he’ll finally be retired. But he’ll carry the lessons learned from his bus kids with him into retirement.