His Christmas Kindness Went Viral, But Here’s a Richardson ISD Bus Driver’s Real Gift to Kids

Months after school bus driver Curtis Jenkins became an internet sensation for playing Santa to every child on his Richardson ISD route, this humble man’s steadying daily presence in their lives continues to be the far greater gift.Jenkins’ generosity went viral just before Christmas when Lake Highlands Elementary posted to Facebook a photo of the front of Bus 1693 piled high with more than 70 brightly wrapped gifts. Jenkins not only had bought each of his young charges a present, he made his selections from the kids’ wish lists.The Facebook post was quickly shared more than 13,500 times, and media outlets in more than 20 countries picked up the story. ABC News and Huffington Post wrote about Jenkins. And about 100 or so cards — from Kansas, Africa, California and Australia — arrived at the Lake Highlands campus, all of them expressing thanks to Jenkins. Some even offered financial help.“Mr. Jenkins didn’t want any money. He didn’t really even want the press. He just wanted to show his love for the kids,” PTA President Jennifer Wilcox told me this week.The simple-spoken Jenkins says he just hopes that when these kids look back on their early school days, they will say, “Remember that bus driver — he put a lot into us.”Lake Highlands Elementary is known within RISD for exuding big-hearted generosity, but even here, Jenkins’ quiet passion for doing good deeds and teaching life lessons stands out. Kids can’t escape some amount of education before they arrive at school each day, Jenkins told me. “I want to give them the right kind.”  Continue reading...