Grandma Bus Driver Who Reprimanded Disrespectful Kids Gets Over $124,000 In Support

May 01, 2023

Help continues to pour for Jackie Miller, the 68-year-old bus driver from Amherst in Ohio, who had to resign from her job after her video admonishing some disrespectful student passengers went viral in April 2023. 

Despite her harsh words towards the students, the grandmother received support from the people who donated to the fundraiser opened for her by Jeff Grob, a stranger from her hometown. Grob felt that the elderly bus driver should receive financial help when she quit her job due to her outburst. 

The video of that outburst, which happened on March 29, 2023, received over 330,000 views on YouTube, along with thousands of divisive comments. While some viewers applauded Miller for disciplining the students, others felt she should not have used such harsh language on the kids. 

Miller could be heard on the clip telling one student that she would put her foot "so far up your a** it's gonna dangle out your f*****g nose." She was unaware that someone had been filming her as she went off a rant.

The grandmother filed her resignation immediately after the video went viral, and Mike Molnar, the school district's superintendent, issued a statement addressed to the parents saying that her behavior would not be tolerated. According to The Washington Post, Miller was offered a paid administrative leave while under investigation, but she thought it best to step down from her job. 

However, days after the incident, the public rallied behind the elderly bus driver. Aside from the fundraiser, a local custom apparel company also designed a shirt quoting Miller's tirade, which sold like hotcakes across 50 states. Part of the proceeds of the shirt's sales went to Miller. 

"I'm nobody. I'm just a little old granny bus driver," Miller said.

In an interview with WKYC Channel 3, Miller expressed her surprise over the outpouring of support from the public. She also relayed what actually happened on the day she lost her cool. 

Miller explained that she was suffering from asthma, and one of the triggers was perfume. A student passenger apparently acted out and sprayed her, causing the grandmother to stop the bus and reach out for her inhaler to prevent her lungs from closing up.

The bus driver said that the children were aware of her condition, but there was always a group of kids who misbehaved on her bus. Unfortunately, she reached her breaking point that day but admitted later on that she should not have used such crass language.  

"I don't agree with the language I used either. I really do regret that, but like I said before, I won't take a word of that back," Miller said. 

Grob also believed that the grandmother might have behaved out of character, but every adult has been in her situation with unruly children. The kind stranger wanted the fundraiser to raise awareness about the challenges and hardships faced by bus drivers, janitors, and teachers who have to deal with the way some kids treat them. 

Meanwhile, Miller told The Washington Post that she would use the money given to her to pay off her car loan and then save the rest for her retirement. She is also considering going back to work as a bus driver but has some second thoughts about working with children again. As for the unruly kids on the bus, the school issued sanctions but did not detail how many children were involved and what were the particular consequences. 

Do you agree with how Jackie Miller handled the kids? Was her outburst warranted? Let us know what you think of this story, and then pass it along to a parent or teacher for awareness!