Bobby Rush and Leslie Teston have worked together at the Effingham County Board of Education’s bus shop for the past two years.

The veteran Rush has been the shop foreman for 28 of the 29 years he’s been employed by the BoE, and the newcomer Teston is wrapping up his second year with the BoE after working 14 years with Robert’s International Trucking in Richmond Hill.

The two men went head to head recently at a regional bus technician competition sponsored by First District RESA.  After taking individual written tests with 50 questions, the men had to inspect six to eight different school buses, identifying and repairing broken parts.

Not only was this was the first year Effingham Board of Education mechanics participated in the competition, but Rush and Teston ended up tied for third place.

Sharing this honor has created a friendly rivalry among the two technicians and depending on the results of the other region competitions, Rush and Teston could advance to the state competition held in June.