My name is Charles Ashby, but most people call me Charlie. I started my career at Gladewater ISD in October 2021 as a bus driver. I began driving school buses in 2017 for Bossier Parish Schools in Bossier City, LA. I have also driven trucks for Ivan Smith Furniture and JB Hunt. My family and I moved to Gladewater, TX in August 2020 to pastor Gladewater Church of the Nazarene, of which I am the current pastor. Although I am originally from a small town just north of Shreveport, LA, my family and I have fallen in love with the Gladewater community. For almost 20 years, I've served in the ministry in various roles, from youth pastor and church planter to senior pastor. I am currently pursuing a master's degree in ministry with a focus on leadership. My primary goal as transportation director is to ensure that our students are safely transported to and from school. While I am a proud Texan, getting the Louisiana roots out of me is hard. That said, Geaux Bears!

Mission Statement

The main priority of the Gladewater ISD Transportation Department is the safety of the children we transport. Every child on a GISD bus deserves to feel safe and secure and our drivers work daily to see that this is accomplished. Each driver goes thru a rigorous training process, is required to complete a 20-hour Bus Driver Safety Course and is CPR certified.