Staff Spotlight: Jim Greeley, Assistant Director of Transportation

Each day, the dedicated transportation department at Osseo Area Schools works to get students to and from school safely despite the rain, snow and ice so common in Minnesota. One key member of the transportation team is Jim Greeley, assistant director of transportation. 

“My favorite thing about my job is how the service we provide in transportation benefits families and students,” Greeley said. “We can get caught up in the day to day grind of our jobs and it can be frustrating, but when it all comes down to it what we do is pretty impactful, helping students get to and from school safely.”

Greeley has worked in the district for 13 years after working as an athletics facilities manager at a college and at a national sports center as programming director. Greeley started in the district in Community Education, working in facilities scheduling and with volunteers for seven years before transitioning over to be the coordinator at the Enrollment Center. After five years of helping families enroll their students in the district, Greeley recently jumped at the opportunity to work with the transportation department.

“I may have only been in this role for six months, but this transportation team is awesome. They do so much, and they are all dedicated and passionate about their work. I was lucky to be able to come into this team,” Greeley said. 

One of Greeley’s favorite parts about his job is the great people he gets to work with, both in his department and across the district. He has seen how people are unified in their desire to serve students and their families.

“I think people work in this district and stay here because of the great relationships and the passion people have for their work. I like that close-knit feel that this district has and what it stands for.” Greeley said. “To me, that is a highlight every day showing up for work.”

There is no typical day for Greeley in his role, as every day brings something different depending what is happening on the buses. He enjoys how one phone call can send his day in a totally different direction. Any given day, he can be in several meetings with district and school leadership, working on a project with his team or out at a school helping with dismissal, staging the buses or dealing with any behavior incidents that occur. He is constantly having conversations with families and staff and building relationships.

“I never have a day where I don’t feel like I did something good for a student or a family,” Greeley said.

In his free time, Greeley enjoys camping and hiking with his family and spending time with his sons, helping to coach their sports teams.