Zack Jones: Leading With a Servant’s Heart Service Manager | Robertson County Schools, Tennessee
future managing a repair shop or owning one himself. A conver- sation with a family member about an opening for a school bus technician
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changed that path and ultimately revealed what he now calls his life’s calling. Jones joined pupil transportation a decade ago after working in independent repair shops and at a Volkswagen dealership. He spent five years as a technician in his home dis- trict before broadening his experience with a neighboring school system. He later returned to Robertson County Schools as transpor- tation shop foreman and was promoted to transportation service manager in 2022. Throughout his career, Jones has embraced opportunities to grow. A graduate of Nashville Auto Diesel College, he currently holds the following certifications: ASE Master School Bus Technician Certification, ASE School Bus Air Conditioning Certification, MACS Section 609 EPA Vehicle Air Conditioning Certifica- tion, and a Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL) with Passenger (P) and School Bus (S) endorsements. One of the biggest influences on his career has been Joshua Hinerman, his former transpor- tation director and the current state director of student transportation at the Tennessee Depart- ment of Education. “Joshua’s passion for the yellow school bus
was contagious,” Jones said. “He taught me that school buses are far more than vehicles, they are rolling classrooms of safety, opportu- nity and hope.” Jones oversees the maintenance of ap-
proximately 120 school buses and 110 district support vehicles. His responsibilities include assigning work orders, mentoring technicians, assisting with complex diagnostics, managing purchasing, and coordinating fleet assignments. No matter the task, his focus remains the same.
46 School Transportation News • AUGUST 2026
hen Zack Jones entered the auto- motive industry, he envisioned a
“Every decision I make ultimately comes back
to one question: Does this help ensure our stu- dents are transported safely today?” he said. Jones said the greatest strength of his de- partment is not found in its equipment but in its people. His team of five technicians and an inventory clerk is built on collaboration, con- tinuous learning and a shared commitment to serving students. The shop has also embraced new technology in recent years through mod- ern diagnostic equipment and updated repair tools, allowing more repairs to be completed in-house while reducing downtime. Jones credited the team’s willingness to combine traditional mechanical skills with emerging technology as a key factor in maintaining a safe and reliable fleet. Outside of work, faith and family remain
central to Jones’ life. He plays guitar and sings at church, and he enjoys camping and barbe- cuing. He even converted a retired school bus into a family RV. When asked if there was any- thing he wanted to add, Jones shared a deeply personal reflection on the role school buses have played in his life. “School buses have always been more than part of my career. They have been part of my family’s life,” Jones said. “My wife has driven a school bus for many years, and our three children have all grown up riding school buses, beginning when they were just seven months old. The yellow school bus has carried my own family just as it has carried thousands of others. Working in pupil transportation has shown me that our mission extends far beyond transportation. “Every morning, we deliver students to
places where they will discover new ideas, build friendships, overcome challenges, and prepare for their futures,” he continued. “That responsibility is both humbling and inspiring. It reminds me daily that while people often no- tice the bus driver or see the bus itself, behind every safe trip is an entire team of transporta- tion professionals working tirelessly to protect what matters most, our children.”
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