‘Miss Sparkles’ is the school bus driver we all wish we had

Lori Brooks AKA Miss Sparkles is a school bus driver in Michigan where the students and parents all love her.

Brooks, a 60-year-old grandmother, was recently featured on a viral TikTok posted by Teresa Weakley, TODAY reports. In the video, you can see Miss Sparkles greeting students for their first ride back to school. She knows their names, their parents’ names and she even knows what they did over the summer!

@teresa_weakley She remembers every kid’s name, every year (and their brothers and sisters) #bestbusdriverever #backtoschool ♬ original sound – Teresa Weakley

“Hello, Eliana!” Brooks says. “I missed you. Did you have a good summer?”

When a little girl named Kathleen gets on the bus, Brooks comments that she saw her over the summer doing flips at the beach. She gives hugs and spreads positivity and love to each child. It’s so wholesome to see.

Weakley has a sixth grader and a third grader who ride the bus with Brooks. Weakley describes Brooks as a “ray of sunshine,” to TODAY. “What you see in the TikTok video is how she is every day. She’s just incredible at making everyone feel special.”

Weakley also mentioned that Brooks shows up for the kids as more than just their bus driver. Brooks even gives them advice and is a helpful listening ear when the kids need it. Weakley’s own daughter confided in Brooks about navigating friendship issues.

“I just asked if she needed someone to talk to,” Brooks says, “I’m good at reading facial expressions. I can see in their eyes when they’re struggling and I let them kmow they can come to me.”

“No matter what you do, I think you can change the world a little bit,” Brooks continues. “Everybody has such value in this life.”

Brooks also cheers them on at their games. She remembers tiny details about each child on her route so if a child forgets their glasses, she reminds them to go back and get it. How special is that?

“I let them go back in the house to grab them,” she says. “They have to be able to see at school!” 

“My job brings me so much joy—these kids bring me so much joy,” Brooks says, “I tell them that kindness is the cure for everything.”

No wonder she’s been given the name Miss Sparkles. She truly is a gem for the whole community.