United Van Lines truck driver Sherryll Byrd has been named Trucker Buddy of the Month by Trucker Buddy International.
Byrd has served as a trucker buddy for Carole Sylvester’s second grade class at Oak Grove School in Ojai, California for the last 5 years!
In her nomination letter to Trucker Buddy International Sylvester stated, “Mr. Byrd’s postcards enliven my social studies program and teach my students about the many states of our wonderful country. He sends us a postcard almost every week and always teaches us something interesting about the state he is currently in. He also teaches us about the job a trucker does which complements another aspect of our social studies program: jobs in our community.”
Each time Byrd sends a postcard, the class tacks it to a map and learns about the state the postcard came from.
“Pen pals are a huge part of my curriculum and the children have really enjoyed having an adult pen pal that corresponds with them regularly. Mr. Byrd came to visit my class at Oak Grove School with his wife Jackie in 2008. We had a wonderful time and the
children got to ask him questions in person. He gave us a fabulous tour of his large truck and children that are now in
junior high at Oak Grove School still talk about their trucker buddy, Mr. Byrd,” Sylvester wrote.
Sylvester’s letter went on to say that Byrd’s lessons made learning about the United States come alive.
“He has made studying the USA come alive in a way that would otherwise be difficult. Mr. Byrd has helped them to see the sights of our wonderful country and learn about its plants, animals, historic sites and capitals in a fun and personable way. They really appreciate it when he takes the time to remember the class every week and teach them something new about the United States. They love and save each and every postcard he sends to them.”
Sylvester said that Byrd and his lessons have touched so many lives over his five years of service to her class.
For his efforts, Byrd was awarded the Trucker Buddy of the Month.
Trucker Buddy International is a nonprofit organization that began in 1992, and is dedicated to helping educate and mentor schoolchildren via a pen pal relationship between professional truck drivers and children in grades K-8. Trucker Buddy matches classes of students with professional truck drivers. Every week, drivers share news about their travels with their class. Once a month, students write letters to their drivers.
To join Trucker Buddy, follow this link.