Sonny's BBQ

Sonny's Team Member Makes a Difference

An interview with Barbara Czipo, or Miss Barbara as she is known to the students who ride on her bus, has been driving school buses in Northwest St. Johns County for over 20 years. During that time Czipo has driven students to Julington Creek Elementary, Cunningham Creek Elementary, Switzerland Point Middle School, Bartram Trail High School and Nease High School. She enjoys driving the bus so much she has never once thought of it as a job.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:   

Ms. Monique Yeager
Director of Corporate Affairs & Marketing
Sonny’s Franchise Company
407- 660-8888
myeager@sonnysbbq.com

MANDARIN, FL, Aug 18, 2008 - Barbara Czipo is a server at the Sonny's Bar-B-Q in Mandarin, Florida. Below is an interview with her, which recently appeared in My St. Johns Sun.

By: MAC MITCHELL

Barbara Czipo, or Miss Barbara as she is known to the students who ride on her bus, has been driving school buses in Northwest St. Johns County for over 20 years. During that time Czipo has driven students to Julington Creek Elementary, Cunningham Creek Elementary, Switzerland Point Middle School, Bartram Trail High School and Nease High School. She enjoys driving the bus so much she has never once thought of it as a job.

Have you driven the same route all 20 years?

I had the same route for 16 years, but four years ago I switched to an open route for special needs students. I ride with an aid who is just super. Now I drive to Cunningham Creek (Elementary School) and Switzerland Point (Middle School). I only do two schools now because we drive door-to-door to pick up the students.

What is your favorite part of driving a school bus in the Northwest?

Definitely the kids. Getting to know them, and seeing them every day is almost therapeutic. They provide a familiar face every morning and afternoon each day. I see them in the grocery store and the library and have even had kids call me at home to go to a movie night with them. It's really, really enjoyable. I have been very fortunate because I've gotten to know the parents and the kids really well. I've always had very, very good students on my bus.

Is there one student or experience that really stands out during your time as a driver?

I had one young man attend the last day of school so he could bring me a present and thank me. He gave me a dragonfly candle. For a high school kid to come on the last day was really special. Now he's a Marine and has been to Iraq.

Did you ever drive your own children to school on the bus?

Yes. All my kids graduated from Nease (High School) so we would all get up together in the morning and go to school. And I always got to go on all the field trips.

How long do you plan on continuing to drive?

Probably for another 10 or 15 years. I'm not tired of it and I really enjoy it. It's very rewarding.

Floyd “Sonny” Tillman founded Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q in 1968 in 
Gainesville, Florida. Today, Sonny’s has more than 138 restaurants with over 7,000 team members in nine southeastern states. To view a menu or to learn more about Sonny’s Bar-B-Q, visit www.sonnysbbq.com.

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