Northwest Transportation Center
6351 Pinemont Drive
Houston, TX 77092
District Mail Rt. 10
Main: 713-613-3040
Fax: 713-613-3092

Who Handles What in Transportation
-- List of telephone numbers of who handles what in Transportation Services.

Transportation Web Site:
For general comments, suggestions or additional information about Transportation Services contact Olivia Torres via e-mail to OTORRES1@houstonisd.org.

Aaron Hobbs was previously employed with Dickinson ISD, where he served as Assistant Director for Transportation. He has been in public school transportation for over 28 years. In 1991 he was certified as a Texas Pupil Transportation Supervisor. In 1994, he became the fourth person in the nation to receive his national certification as a Supervisor of Pupil Transportation. In 1997, he received his certification as a Texas Pupil Transportation Official. Mr. Hobbs is a past President (2002-2003) for the Gulf Coast Chapter of Texas Association for Pupil Transportation and is also a past President (2005-2006) of the TAPT. He continues to serve as member of the TAPT Certification Committee and is also an instructor. Mr. Hobbs began his career with the Houston Independent School District in January 2002 as the Delmar Terminal Manager. In December of 2006 he became the Manager of Motor Pool Operations. He is currently the Interim General Manager for Transportation.

Aric Taylor holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Montana.   Shortly after graduation, he began his career with Education Logistics Inc.  As a software implementer and trainer, he spent the next 5 years working with more than 100 different school transportation departments in the United States and Canada.  He has also worked with more than 25 Texas school districts including Dallas Public Schools, Klein ISD, Humble ISD, Ft. Bend ISD, and Alief ISD.  He joined the Houston Independent School District as the Manager of Routing and Scheduling in March of 2001.

John Leija graduated from Milby High School in Houston, Texas in 1964.  He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Houston in 1970.  He joined the Houston Independent School District in 1998 as the manager of the Barnett Terminal after a long affiliation with the Houston Community College System.  

Elizabeth A. Williams graduated from Kashmere High School in Houston, Texas in 1974. She initially attended Houston Community College in 1977.

Ms. Williams joined the Houston Independent School District in 1980 as a bus operator and later moved to the transportation safety department as a safety officer.  She has also worked for the department as a terminal supervisor.  In addition to her duties as a superivsor in the routing and scheduling division, Ms. Williams oversees the development of critical operational data required for the preparation of periodic Texas Education Agency reports.  She also develops complex documentation required to substantiate approximately $18 million in annual reimbursement funding from the State of Texas.

Mark Swackhamer graduated for Wyoming Technical Institute with a degree in Diesel Technology in 1982.   He joined the Houston Independent School District in June 2003 as Central Shop Supervisor II and was promoted to Fleet Operations Manager in March 2004.   He has 23 years of extensive experience with large fleet management and maintenance.  Mr. Swackhamer holds a degree in Diesel Technology and has earned 22 ASE certifications in automotive, heavy truck and school bus applications.  He is also a member of the Texas Association of Pupil Transportation.

Paul Youngjohn graduated from Memorial High School in Houston and holds a B.S. in communications from the University of Houston.  He worked at Spring Branch ISD and Nacogdoches ISD before joining Durham Transportation in Los Angeles in 1986 as Director of Safety & Training for 3,300 drivers.  In 1994, he joined with the Texas Engineering Extension Service/Texas A&M and TAPT in starting the "Train-The-Trainer" course for Bus Driver Instructors.  In 1995, he became Transportation Director for Willis ISD and then Transportation Director for Tomball ISD from 1996-2001.  Joining the Houston Independent School District in 2001, Mr. Youngjohn served as Quality Assurance Manager over Bus Repair, Maintenance, and Driver Safety and Training of all four terminals.  Currently, he serves as Special Trips and Projects Manager.

Rickey Thomas graduated from South Park High School in 1977.  He attended Rice University where he earned a B.A. in Managerial Studies in 1981.  He the worked for Pepsi Cola Company from 1981 to 1988.  In 1988 he joined Nabisco Brands as a manager of inventory control and later became a manager of sales and routing and scheduling.  Mr. Thomas began his career with the Houston Independent School District in 1998 as the manager for the Butler Terminal.  In September of 2000, he assumed the manager's position at the Central Terminal.