August 17, 2022
By JAMES EVANS
Rutherford County Schools
After serving as the interim during July and August, longtime transportation department member Wanda Barnett has been named the new director.
Barnett previously served as assistant director and has worked as a member of the department for more than 16 years.
“We do a great job but we can improve on some of the things we’re doing and I think I can help do that,” Barnett said. “I have a good relationship with the bus contractors, drivers and principals, and I will always put students and their parents first.”
The transportation department oversees 310 buses provided through an owner-operator system. The department designs routes and schedules for all buses serving 50 Rutherford County schools.
The department reports to Trey Lee, assistant superintendent for Engineering and Construction.
“Wanda is a long-term Rutherford County Schools’ employee who has worked her way up through the system and has earned the right to be director, having spent the last year as assistant director,” Lee said. “Wanda has wonderful people skills and has the respect of a number of bus contractors. We look forward to Wanda doing a wonderful job.”
During her tenure, Barnett has served as a distinguished member of the transportation department, overseeing routing and working with students in the ATLAS program who need special transportation arrangements. The ATLAS program serves students who are homeless or lack fixed, regular living arrangements.
In addition to serving in the transportation department for more than 16 years, Barnett previously served for 10 years as an education assistant at Christiana Elementary and Christiana Middle.
Barnett succeeds Jason Everett, who left the department in July.