Bus driver in Utah brings the joy of Christmas to students

HIGHLAND, Utah — The holidays are stressful, especially for student-teacher relationships. But one Utah school bus driver is helping kids feel festive rather than stress.

Scott Russell has been driving a bus for Freedom Elementary for years.  He hopes to remind kids what the holidays are all about — joy. 

This year he dressed as a train conductor and decorated his bus to resemble the “Polar Express,” a classic Christmas movie.

According to Freedom Elementary, Russell welcomed each of the students on his bus with a Polar Express ticket and a bell. The next day, he greeted them with hot cocoa and a candy cane. 

“He does something like this every single holiday every single year,” said Russell’s daughter Riah. 

Other locals in the area expressed their appreciation for the bus driver and his festivity. Jerie Murie Olsen works with Russell at Alpine School District.

“This man is incredible. He doesn’t just do the Polar Xpress for the kids. [Scott] also dresses up as Santa and gets out full-size candy bars that are wrapped,” said Olsen.

“He also dresses up on St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, and always has fun treats for the kids. My kids have [ridden] his bus before and absolutely love him.”

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