It was an ordinary morning in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. School buses rolled through neighborhoods, picking up students and carrying them toward another day of learning. But for the students on Bus 21, what began as routine turned into a moment they’ll never forget.

Behind the wheel was Dorian Pace, a seasoned school bus driver with over 11 years of experience. That morning, he was transporting 15 middle schoolers to Monticello Middle School when he noticed something wasn’t right. A strange noise. A whiff of burning rubber. Then, smoke.

The fire started near one of the rear wheels. In an instant, smoke began pouring into the bus.

For many, panic might’ve taken over. But not for Dorian.

Years of annual bus evacuation drills had prepared him for this very scenario. Without hesitation, he pulled the bus to the side of the road, opened the doors, and began calmly directing the students out—one by one, row by row.

He kept his voice steady. His focus sharp. His heart raced, but his actions didn’t show it.

“What was going through my mind was, I can’t lose any kids,” Dorian later said.

Within minutes, all 15 students were safely off the bus, standing at a safe distance as flames began to grow. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Dorian had already done what mattered most: he saved lives.

Thanks to his calm under pressure and quick thinking, no one was injured. What could have been a devastating tragedy instead became a story of courage, preparation, and grace under fire.

Dorian doesn’t see himself as a hero. He says he just did what he was trained to do. But to those students—and to their families—he’s more than just a bus driver.

He’s the man who put their safety above all else. The man who stayed calm in chaos. The man who made sure every single child got home safe that night.

And that’s a hero by any definition.