Ken George

When Powell kids go back to school this month, they’ll miss seeing some familiar faces.

Bus driver Ken George and special education paraeducator Sudie Thormahlen retired in May; the school board accepted their resignations in June.

George drove Powell school buses for 27 years while also running his trucking company most of those years.

“He loves children and has a huge heart,” said Stephen Janes, transportation supervisor for the district. “The students all really liked him and respected him.”

George often drove fifth-graders on their class tour of Yellowstone “and was able to maneuver that great big bus through some of the tightest areas of tourist congestion,” Janes said.

“I figured he had logged over a million miles with the district between routes and activities,” he said.

George’s years of trucking and bussing experience played a large role in training new bus drivers, Janes added. “He was willing to help out other drivers, and they often had questions for him.”

Describing George as “a very kind man,” Janes said the bus driver built relationships with students and parents.

“... Many of the parents he drove to school in years past, so if there were any issues he wouldn’t hesitate to call the parents and inform them,” Janes said. “Then he usually would end up reminiscing a bit.”

Children’s safety was always George’s top priority.

“For me, I always knew the students were in good hands when Ken was at the wheel,” Janes said.

Even though George is retiring, he still will help out as a substitute driver.

“If you Google up great bus driver, I’m pretty sure you would see Ken mentioned near the top of the searches,” Janes said.

Sudie Thormahlen

Described as “a very nice person all the way around,” Sudie Thormahlen was an “amazing asset” to Southside Elementary School, said Principal Scott Schiller. Thormahlen worked in education for 26 years.

“She is going to be missed,” Schiller said. “Not only as a paraeducator, but as a colleague, mentor and cheerleader for kids.”

Thormahlen had a knack of dealing with all situations in a very calm manner, the principal added.

“She always delivered her lesson in a fun way, helping students understand a concept or skill in a very friendly, student-centered manner,” he said.

Even if it took several attempts for a student to learn the material, she kept calm, and the students appreciated that.

“It was her gift to reach the ‘hard to reach’ students,” Schiller said. “Her expectation was that every student could learn at a high level. She never gave up on a student.”

Thormahlen also has “a tremendous love for writing” and volunteered to sponsor an after-school poetry/writing club, he said. Students’ work would often be published in Southside’s school newsletter.

“It was amazing that her [Thormahlen’s] career in education could end at the same time that her first children’s book was published,” Schiller said. “... It was a very fitting end to an excellent career in education. We’ll miss her dearly.”

(Editor’s note: Several other retiring school employees were featured in an article in June.)