Staff Spotlight: Heidi Van Loo is Driving Smiles

This post is part of the Lynden Schools Staff Spotlight series

Heidi Van Loo loves the smiles she gives and receives every day as a Lynden Schools bus driver. And it happens twice a day. 

The Role

“I appreciate that I get to be the first and last smile,” Van Loo says, “fist bump or hug that the kids see and get each school day. I absolutely love the connections I make not only with the kids but with their families.”

Van Loo has served in the district for eight years as a bus driver—she also spent some time as a para educator—and knows her role, first and foremost, is about ensuring the students get to and from school safely. She also wants the students to feel loved, safe and respected when in her care. 

Getting to Know Heidi

When not ferrying Lynden students around town on buses, she’s busy with her family. Van Loo is married to Greg and the mother of three adult sons, a stepmom to an adult daughter—she says that all the children have “amazing spouses”—and she has six grandkids. “My time spent with my family and friends is priceless,” she says. 

Van Loo stays connected to the community by keeping in touch with what’s going on around her and attending sporting events and town celebrations, festivals and parades. 

Each school morning and afternoon is the same, though, time safely spent handing out smiles.