Q&A
Commitment to Safety, Professional Development Drives NAPT President Mitchell
With Ryan Gray |
ryan@stnonline.com A
s Teena Mitchell prepared to take over the role of president of the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) last fall, it made complete sense that new professional devel-
opment was coming to members. Granted, NAPT was already prepared for the rebound
from a prolonged COVID-19-forced absence. It used road shows several times to bridge the gap between stay-at- home orders and a return to in-person conferences. Then, in October, the first national conference since 2019 was held. Mitchell as president-elect played a leading role in planning the event, alongside then-president Rick Grisham, NAPT Executive Direc- tor and CEO Molly McGee-Hewitt, and the rest of the NAPT and NAPT Foundation boards. The association has been working on refreshing its Professional Devel- opment Series over the last couple of years. NAPT has since announced the evolution of its road shows, now known as the National Training Academy, the first of which is held this month in Buffalo, New York. Professional development is extremely important to
Mitchell, as she shared with me for this month’s Q&A. In addition to her role with NAPT, she is the full-time special needs transportation coordinator for Greenville County School District in South Carolina. She is also in her second year as an executive board member for the South Carolina Association of Pupil Transportation (SCAPT), serves on the state roadeo committee and is the chairperson for SCAPT Division 5, which represents transportation for students with special needs and who receive service under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
STN: What is your vision for your NAPT presidential
term? Mitchell: It is exciting to begin my two-year journey
as NAPT president. We are expanding, growing and working to enhance every aspect of our association and the foundation. Our mission continues to be to empower and support pupil transportation. One way of accomplishing this mission is for NAPT to further our education opportunities, to update and expand our certifications, and by broadening our curriculum. We are also creating new opportunities in leadership develop- ment for our transportation professionals.
34 School Transportation News • MAY 2024
Our vision is for every student to have access to safe and efficient transportation. Therefore, I envision that NAPT will continue to advocate for public policy and reg- ulatory relief to further the pupil transportation industry. It is also my hope that we will continue to establish
relationships with other professionals, organizations and state associations in our industry. By working together, we can continue to make the yellow school bus the saf- est transportation for our students.
STN: How did you first become involved in student transportation?
Mitchell: I have been involved with commercial transportation for most of my career. I hold a CDL Class A and B, but I became involved with student transpor- tation when my five children were young. It was the perfect solution for me to work and have time off when my children were out of school. Being safety oriented, it was the perfect platform for me to direct my energy to benefit children. Student transportation became a career for me and not just a job. It has enabled me to acquire leadership and management skills and to advance professionally.
STN: What made you gravitate to working with stu-
dents who have Individualized Education Programs? Mitchell: As a supervisor, my director asked me to
switch to the area of supporting students with dis- abilities. Although at the time I did not have much experience in this area, I did accept the challenge. I put all my efforts into obtaining education in transporting students with disabilities to include the laws, policies, procedures, equipment and best practices. I also felt it was important to align myself with industry profession- als who could mentor me with their experiences and knowledge in this field. This advancement in knowledge lead to my current position as a special needs transpor- tation coordinator.
STN: Bus monitors or aides have become a focal point again, especially to help address the driver shortage but also for increased student safety—highlighted by a recent case near you in Chesterfield County, South Car- olina. What is your perspective on using bus monitors?
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