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School bus driver fired for sign directing students to speak English

December 22, 2025 | | Print Article

A sign aimed at civility landed a Pennsylvania school bus driver out of work, and now the Department of Justice is looking into whether “DEI wokeness” was involved.

(Video Credit: CBS 21 News)

In February of this year, 66-year-old Diane Crawford had her contract terminated with the Juniata County School District after serving over three decades as a bus driver. Last week, she sought to set the record straight on her “English only” demand of passengers, earning the attention of the federal government.

“I didn’t mean to be racially insensitive or anything like that,” Crawford explained to CBS 21 News after she’d been fired for a sign on her school bus that read in all capital letters, “Out of respect to English-only students, there will be no speaking Spanish on this bus!”

Now, living off of benefits including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), she lamented that the situation had led her to being prescribed antidepressants.

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As an owner/operator, the driver was subcontracted to work for the district by Rohrer Bus, and she explained the sign had been an attempt to address one particular student who allegedly had a reputation for riling up others on the bus.

“I didn’t know if he was bullying somebody, telling them to do something that they shouldn’t do. I thought I heard him saying, ‘gordo’ and — I understand some of (the words) — I don’t know who he was talking to, but I assume he is directing at me,” Crawford told CBS 21. “Maybe I should have worded it differently. Maybe it should have said, ‘… No bullying in any language.’ But I didn’t mean to be anything but to correct him.”

While she was asking for $30,000 to cover the expenses of the bus and route she had bought in 2024, coverage of her story caught the attention of Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who posted to X, “This is deeply concerning. I have directed @CivilRights to open an investigation into this situation implicating DEI wokeness.”

In addition to seeking to cover the debt, the former bus driver conveyed what she wanted from the district and bus company, telling CBS 21, “I would like them to admit that they were wrong. I don’t want to be in debt because what they did was wrong.”

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Renewed focus on the story found the district and Rohrer Bus Service releasing a joint statement indicating they, “are aware of the claims being raised regarding this matter and would like to clarify the record.”

They detailed a review and investigation that included Crawford’s admission of placing the sign and that, “Based on those facts, and after careful consideration, the District and Rohrer determined that the conduct did not align with the standards and expectations for student transportation providers.”

“While initial communications referenced a suspension pending investigation, the matter progressed quickly once the written statement was received, and a final decision was made without delay,” continued the statement as transportation providers were subsequently given formal training by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in April. “This training focused on employer responsibilities, professional expectations, student equity, and appropriate response protocols.”

As of Monday, a crowdfunding page had raised more than $2,600 toward a $20,000 goal, and a Change.org petition had garnered more than 1,200 signatures in favor of her returning to the route. Likewise, she earned support from social media users certain an injustice had been committed.

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Kevin Haggerty
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