A bus driver from Pennsylvania, who lost her job over a controversial sign that discouraged speaking Spanish, now acknowledges she could have phrased her message differently.

Diane Crawford, aged 66, was dismissed by the Juniata County School District after she displayed a notice on her bus prohibiting bilingual pupils from conversing in Spanish.

The handwritten message stated, “Out of respect for English-only students, speaking Spanish on this bus is not allowed,” and was signed by “ownership/management.”

The abrupt and unsigned note sparked an investigation by the school district, leading to Crawford’s termination on February 1, just a week after the sign appeared.

Now, after remaining silent for ten months, Crawford is finally speaking out to explain her actions.

‘I didn’t mean to be racially insensitive or anything like that,’ she told CBS 21 on December 18. 

The note was directed at one bilingual student who reportedly had a history of ‘riling up’ other kids. 

‘I didn’t know if he was bullying somebody, telling them to do something they shouldn’t do,’ Crawford added.

The controversial message reads: ‘Out of respect to English only students there will be NO speaking Spanish on this bus’

Diane Crawford, 66, was fired in February after posting the note in her bus 

‘Maybe it should have said, “No bullying in any language,” but I didn’t mean it to be anything but to correct him.’

At the time, the county claimed to have suspended her as a ‘precautionary measure’ while they conducted the investigation. 

Rohrer Buses and Junita County said it wrapped up quickly when she admitted to putting up the sign, which they condemned as ‘racially insensitive.’

But, Crawford said neither the suspension nor the investigation ever existed, per CBS 12. 

‘I would like them to admit that they were wrong,’ she said she is asking for $30,000 to cover her losses. 

She bought her bus in 2024 after being subcontracted for the route by Rohrer Buses for almost 12 years. 

‘I don’t know what else to do. I’m on Medicare and Medicaid now and SNAP,’ she said to CBS 21. ‘I had to go on antidepressants because of this.’ 

The Juniata County School District alongside Rohrer Bus are investigating the note, which was allegedly written and posted by a ‘separate entity’ (pictured: one of the district’s schools) 

A ‘racist’ note left on a Pennsylvania school bus prohibiting students from speaking Spanish has sparked fierce outrage from community members 

Rohrer Buses and Juniata County responded to Crawford’s claims on Thursday. 

The agencies said that her ‘conduct did not align with the standards and expectations for student transportation providers.’

‘Juniata County School District and Rohrer Bus stand by the decision made in this matter and remain committed to providing a safe and inclusive transportation environment for all students,’ they wrote.

After Crawford was fired, the district conducted professional training for all transportation providers in April. 

‘This training focused on employer responsibilities, professional expectations, student equity, and appropriate response protocols,’ it said.

Ninety four percent of people living in Juniata County are white, according to US Census data. Just over 900 residents are Hispanic or Latino. 

Crawford was a bus driver for the school district for more than 30 years. 

‘I dedicated everything I had to driving the bus,’ she said. ‘And it was for the kids I loved the kids.’