06/05/2026
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of our beloved bus driver, Miss Kim, from the Central Linn family.
Miss Kim has been a joy to know and has touched the lives of countless students, families, and staff members throughout her years of service. Her kindness, dedication, and warm spirit will be greatly missed by all who have had the privilege of knowing her.
As she begins this new chapter, Miss Kim would like to share a personal letter with our Central Linn families:
Hi, Iโm โMiss Kimโ, school bus driver for CLSD, and at the end of the 2026 school year, I will be retiring. I started driving a school bus for CL in 2018, subbing the first year and then getting my own route until COVID hit. During the COVID years, I helped transport meals, laptops, and homework. Finally, that lifted, and I could carry on with my route.
My husband and I spent 18 years overseas, 8 years in New Zealand (my husband had a job in forestry), and 10 years in Australia (we both worked in mining, 4 years in gold and 4 years in iron ore).
Though my husband was born and raised in Brownsville, I was raised in Albany. So when we moved back, I was looking for a job that would help me connect with the community, and being a school bus driver was just that.
It has been such a joy getting to know the students and their parents. I am particularly fond of this 2026 class as I have spent the most years with them. We have traveled a lot of Oregon together on sports, band, choir, cheerleading, and FFA trips, just to name a few. My โKangarooโ route kids will be missed the most, watching them grow up, then get their driver's license and find their own way in the world. It has always been about the students having the best, most memorable school years for me.
Although I have loved this job, it is time for me to move to the next stage of my life. I just got a greenhouse and am planning on spending time in it, planting and taking care of my houseplants and outdoor flower beds. I also plan on catching up with old high school friends who are also retired. We love to travel and hope to get started on that again. We have traveled to Samoa, Bali, Singapore, Hawaii, and of course, NZ and Australia. Australia is in the works for this fall.
Thanks to all the staff and parents who helped me along this wonderful journey.
โMiss Kimโ