(Shelbyville, KY) Mr. Stone has been a fixture at Painted Stone Elementary for six years. His ability to relate to students, colleagues, and the community is outstanding. 

Beginning Monday, August 7th, Mr. Mannie Stone will transition to Area Transportation  Coordinator for Shelby County Public Schools. In this new role, Mr. Stone will administer a transportation program that will meet the requirements of the instructional programs and the extra-curricular programs for the district. 

“At the bus garage, we are going to provide safe and efficient transportation to all students while fostering positive relationships,” said Mr. Stone. 

As Assistant Principal, Mr. Stone worked closely with the bus drivers for his school regarding behavior issues. He also believed in showing appreciation to the drivers who ensured the safety of our students daily. Mr. Stone is known for working WITH people and developing rapport among the staff, bus drivers, and administration. 

“I want our community and our peers to respect the transportation staff for their critical work and to build solid connections between the drivers and the communities they serve.”

Mr. Stone has a strong background in education and knows the Shelby County community well. During college, he would come home to work with SCPS in the maintenance department, completing jobs in the summer. He finished college and returned to Shelby County to teach Social Studies at West Middle School. Mr. Stone emerged as a teacher leader as a PBIS Coordinator at Painted Stone and a Principal Mentor at the University of Louisville. Moreover, Mr. Stone serves on the Shelbyville Human Rights Commission, and the Board of Directors of the Shelby County Community Theatre, and is in the first cohort of the  Kentucky Executive Leadership Academy for Aspiring Principals program through the Kentucky Association of School Administrators ( KASA).

Coordinating schedules, routes, and bus drivers are just one part of the job of a Transportation Area Coordinator. Working with local officials to ensure that school zone lights come on and off at the correct times, that fuel for the buses is readily available and ensures that our substitute staff is ready to go when needed. Finally, when inclement weather arrives, Mr. Stone will be out on the county roads with other SCPS administrators checking to see if the roads are safe for students and staff. 

When asked about snow days, Mr. Stone said, “I think when the decision is made about school closings due to inclement weather, we need to ensure that our buses and our students can get to school safely. Also, keep in mind our staff and make sure that they can get in safely. If we are questioning the safety of students and staff, then we should not have school. I also know we don’t want students out of the classroom for long and not in front of a teacher.  We have to work with our city and county governments to ensure that roads are clear for school to take place. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good old fashion snow day! But, we have to take student and staff safety into account in our decision-making.”