Written by Merari Acevedo | merari@stnonline.com W


hat does it take to become a rising star in pupil transportation? For some, it means stepping into leadership when opportunity calls. For others, it is finding new ways to support em-


ployees, improve safety or strengthen the communities they serve. What connects them is a commitment to the students, colleagues and families who depend on school transportation every day.


✰Bowen Mitchell Director of Transportation, Entiat School District, Washington


At 24 years old, Bowen Mitch- ell is already responsible for an entire school district’s transpor- tation operation. But his path to the director’s chair started long before he was old enough to drive a school bus. By kindergarten, Mitchell was al-


ready fascinated with school buses and how they are numbered and organized. That childhood curiosity followed him through school. While a senior at Entiat High School in Washington, Mitchell completed a mentorship with former Entiat School District transportation


coordinator Vickie Jacobs-Stanton. “My biggest milestone that pushed my interests was


my senior year mentorship,” Mitchell said. “I was given the opportunity to spec and order a bus however I liked for my district. This not only made me want to pursue fleet management but pushed me into wanting to become [who] I am today.” Mitchell continued building his knowledge three years


later in 2022 through an internship in the Wenatchee School District transportation shop. In April 2025, he re- turned to Entiat School District as its first-ever director of transportation. Mitchell said he is also one of the youngest transportation directors in Washington. As the district’s sole transportation administrator, Mitch- ell handles fleet management and maintenance, routing and dispatching, supervision and evaluations, training and even driving, when needed. During the winter, he evalu- ates road conditions and makes recommendations to the


42 School Transportation News • NOVEMBER 2026


superintendent. His interest in the technical side of school buses has


also continued. A self-proclaimed “bus nerd,” Mitchell regularly studies vehicle specifications and tracks school bus orders across Washington through manufacturer portals. He has used that knowledge to help neighboring districts track ordered buses and develop five-year fleet plans. Mitchell even assisted the Washington State Patrol in identifying where an older school bus had previously operated. That attention to detail extends to Entiat’s own operation.


Mitchell has been working to expand the district’s fleet while replacing aging buses. The district purchased one new bus last year, and another was ordered in May. He has also brought more maintenance work in-house. “Last year, my district saved almost $11,000 due to my


new in-house maintenance program, and I want to see that number go up even more,” Mitchell said. Mitchell credits several people with helping shape his


career: Jacobs-Stanton; Cashmere School District 22 Direc- tor of Transportation Cassidy Miller; Wenatchee mechanics Kory Blankenship, Jake Quilter and Brandon Martin; and former Wenatchee transportation director Jenn Sea. Still, the fleet that first captured his attention as a child


remains at the heart of his work. “My favorite part of my job is my fleet,” Mitchell said.


“I love the personalities that each bus has, and they are like my babies. I take great pride in caring for them and keeping them pristine.” Looking ahead, Mitchell said he wants to continue


expanding and modernizing the fleet while bringing more training and maintenance in-house. His goal is to show that even a small district can operate an efficient, safe and fiscally responsible transportation program.


The 10 individuals profiled in this month’s issue


represent different roles, backgrounds and paths into the industry, but each stood out to the editors at School Transportation News for their leadership, innovation, dedication and impact on pupil transportation. STN had a total of 95 nominations. Find the full list online at stnonline.com/go/rs26.


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