Canterbury Woods Elementary School graduate Kristen King and McNair Upper Elementary School student Saanvi Vangapalli have been recognized by the American Automobile Association (AAA) as Safety Patrollers of the Year. Kristen, who served as a captain on her school’s safety patrol, was responsible for overseeing the travel patterns of 18 buses at Canterbury Woods, including those used by deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Her duties included ensuring that buses did not wait unnecessarily for absent students or leave anyone behind.
Kristen took the initiative to learn basic sign language to better communicate with the students she supported. “I don’t speak sign language fluently, but I tried to learn signs relevant to buses,” she said. Debbie Rozek, AAA School Safety Patrol adviser and Canterbury Woods instructional assistant, praised Kristen’s dedication: “She cares deeply for the young students with special needs, and they look up to her.”
Saanvi Vangapalli also received recognition from AAA for her work as a safety patrol captain at McNair Upper Elementary School. She managed a crowded bus environment by ensuring students followed safety rules so that drivers could focus on driving safely. “We would make sure everyone was seated on the bus,” Saanvi explained.
Kristen Luck, AAA school safety patrol adviser and physical education teacher at McNair Upper, nominated Saanvi because “Saanvi leads with patience and flexibility.” Luck added that Saanvi prioritizes safety and remains calm in challenging situations.
Both Kristen and Saanvi are set to attend middle school next year—Rachel Carson Middle School and Frost Middle School respectively—and hope to continue providing leadership in their new communities.
