Superintendent Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., announced Tuesday at the Feb. 10 meeting of the Board of Education of Charles County, the hiring of John Kraft as the director of transportation. He began work immediately.
Kraft is a veteran of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) — and a product of the school system. After graduating from La Plata High School, he earned a bachelor of science from Frostburg State University in health and physical education K-12.
His teaching career started with Prince George’s County Public Schools where he was an elementary school physical education teacher and high school baseball coach. Coming to CCPS in 2000, Kraft spent 13 years as a PE teacher at Gale-Bailey Elementary School before segueing into a supervisor role with the school system’s office of transportation.
Kraft has more than a decade of experience working in transportation. As a supervisor in the department, Kraft oversees daily operations, ensures a smooth workflow, assists in maintaining team efficiency and mentors staff members new to the office.
Kraft believes that truthfulness and the ability to listen are traits of a good leader. “And being able to apply what you hear to support the school system,” he said. In the role of director, Kraft plans to continue to support the goals of CCPS through safe and efficient transportation for students.
As director of transportation for CCPS, Kraft will help oversee the school system’s transportation department and a staff of bus drivers and bus attendants who safely transport 23,000 CCPS students to and from school each day.
Kraft holds a master’s degree from McDaniel College. He and his wife have three daughters, all graduates of CCPS.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,904 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).