WINTON – Two dozen or so Hertford County Public School students will be in for a surprise when they board one particular bus on Monday morning to start off the 2017-18 academic year.

There will be two adults on that bus….the driver and Dr. William T. Wright, HCPS Superintendent.

“What better way to greet our students and get their first day back to school off to a good start than to join them on their ride to school,” said Dr. Wright.

The Superintendent said he was approached by Brunet Parker with the idea of riding with students to class on their first day. Parker serves as the Public Information Officer for the school system.

“I jumped at the idea,” Dr. Wright said. “I see it as a great way to continue to show our students and staff that we are living up to the motto of Hertford County Public Schools – ‘All in for learning’.”

Dr. Wright added that he asked the HCPS Transportation Director to select the bus for the Superintendent to serve as a special passenger. He stated the chosen bus serves Bearfield Primary, Ahoskie Elementary and Hertford County High School.

“With that bus I’ll be able to greet and chat with our younger students and high school students at the same time,” Dr. Wright noted.

Dr. Wright said the plan is for the bus driver to pick him up first at the superintendent’s home and then begin the normal route.

“I’ll be onboard that bus for the time period where the first student is picked up to the final stop at the high school,” he remarked. “After that I’ll be making my tours of each school on opening day.

“Our school buses give us the first opportunity of the day to interact with our students. What we’re planning to do on Monday is an example of our commitment to our students and to their parents/guardians that the staff of Hertford County Public Schools is all in, 100 percent, to the overall educational experience. We are looking forward to a great year at all of our public schools here in Hertford County,” Dr. Wright concluded.