Stanley Harris: May 2012 Employee of the Month
May 01, 2012
Stanley Harris, Employee of the Month for May, is a response team operator in the Transportation Department. He began his career with HISD straight out of high school after moving to Houston from Beaumont in 1980. Harris worked as a dispatcher with the HISD Police Department for 12 years before leaving to become a manager at a chemical plant, but returned to the district as a bus driver in 2004. Within a year, he had been promoted to his current position, which he has held ever since.
As a response team operator, Harris' primary duties consist of managing a fleet of approximately 230 buses and assisting with routes in the Central Motor Pool. He assigns drivers, makes sure vehicles are properly equipped, and monitors any maintenance issues that may arise. He also sometimes covers routes himself when drivers are sick or injured, and he was among the 300 district employees who gave up their Labor Day weekend plans in 2005 and drove all night to rescue Hurricane Katrina survivors from flooded areas in New Orleans.
Harris lives in Houston with his wife of 18 years. When not working, he enjoys completing outdoor projects and spending time with his friends and family. He also serves as the pastor of the Peace in the Valley Church in Beaumont, where he commutes every weekend.
"Stanley Harris is one of our greatest employees. He is very committed to our students, and he is always making sure that my bus fleet is well-maintained. I know that I can rely on him, even on his day off."
Gerardo "Jerry" Marquez
Team Leader
Transportation Services
"Mr. Harris takes his job very seriously. He gets here every morning at 4:30—much earlier than he has to—just to get a jump on the status of his buses in the shop. He wants to make sure everything is perfect so his drivers don't have to walk around looking for a bus if theirs is still out of service. His dedication to making their jobs easier makes his easier, too—and that's good for everybody."
Kenneth Malone
Team Leader
Transportation Services
"I have worked with Mr. Harris for about 10 years and he is a dedicated problem-solver. He will do whatever it takes to get a job completed, even if it requires him to go beyond the required standard. He is friendly, down-to-earth, and approachable, too. Very accessible."
Curtis Harris
Field Safety Investigator
Transportation Services