LAKE ALFRED, Fla. — The wheels on Shirley Walling's Polk County bus have gone round and round for 50 years, and counting.  

And when she started with Polk County Public Schools in 1974, Walling admits that she didn’t think this would be her lifelong career. 

At the time, she said it was a job that allowed her to work the same hours her own boys were in school.

“I wanted something that I could be home when they were home, off summers,” Walling said.

Things have changed a lot since Walling first started — she says her first bus was a stick shift and didn’t have any of the gadgets she has now that make the job easier.

But she says at least one thing that’s stayed the same.

“My children, my school bus children, they can be challenging," Walling said. "They’re like everyone else, but I just love children."

With school districts across the country facing bus driver shortages, Walling understands that it’s not a job for everyone, but said it provides a solid income and good benefits.

“I am a three-time cancer survivor, and during this time ... I have never missed a paycheck because of our benefits,” she said.

Polk County Public Schools is looking to hire 100 school bus drivers for the 2024-2025 school year. If a person is looking to make a positive impact on students and have a rewarding career for many years to come, Walling encouraged them to apply.

“Not everybody is cut out for a certain job, but this one was cut out for me," she said. "And I’ve enjoyed it and I’ve been very blessed over this 50 years, and I hope I have a few more left."

Polk County Public Schools is hosting two hiring events for school bus drivers:

• July 1-3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Jim Miles Professional Developmental Center, located at 4270 Wallace Road in Lakeland
• July 4 at the Fourth of July celebration in Davenport from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Lewis Mathews Sports Complex, located at 400 E. Palm St.