A Most Rewarding Job

A long the Puget Sound coastline, the Olympic Mountains peek out from across the water. It’s a clear day, and the snow-capped range looks more stunning than ever. This seems like something that should be printed on a postcard.

Sam Nakkour gets to enjoy this view from his office every day. Not behind a desk, but behind the wheel as a school bus driver. “I’ve worked many different jobs, owned my own businesses for a long time, and this has been the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. I never thought I’d say that.”

School bus drivers in Edmonds transport about 7,000 students daily and cover about 1.6 million miles annually, according to Edmonds School District Transportation Director Ben Mount. The district runs 117 routes, down from 154 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nakkour, originally from Lebanon, has been a school bus driver for the Edmonds School District for four and a half years. His day begins early: 5 a.m. He grabs his morning coffee and catches up with fellow drivers at the bus yard in Lynnwood. After completing a safety check, he sets out for his route: Meadowdale High, Middle and Elementary, as well as Spruce Elementary. In the afternoon, he does the same trip in reverse, bookending the students’ day. He’s home by 5 p.m.

With a set schedule, it’s the interactions with students that make each day unique, he said. As students climb aboard after school, he greets each by name and asks how their day was. On the ride home, they take in that magic view, sharing the moment together. “Look! It’s so pretty,” said a group of middle schoolers on a recent ride-along. It was a Friday afternoon, but the students weren’t antsy to get home. They calmly stepped off the bus, each thanking Nakkour for the ride.

Nakkour has built a connection with students by investing in their lives. He spends their short time together listening to what the students have to say. His conversations range from resolving conflicts to helping students with issues in their personal lives. “I’ve got students that I’ve been driving for two and a half years now, and I’ve seen them grow. I see the trust in their eyes when they talk to me.”

Though he’s curated relationships with his students, there’s no way to predict what baggage students might bring onto the bus. Patience is key in meeting students where they are. “I don’t know what their lives look like. I always give them the benefit of the doubt. I sit and listen to them. I’ve learned how to deal with younger humans, and it’s rewarding to say that.”

Even after the tough days, Nakkour reflects on his impact. For him, it’s not just about helping kids get to school – it’s also helping kids grow. “You get to have a positive mark on kids’ lives. There’s a lot of value in everything we do, and I wholeheartedly believe that.” He gets even more out of his job beyond the connections he’s made with students.

Not all of his time is spent with his students. Even with eight-hour days, there is plenty for other pursuits. In the middle of the day when students are in school, he can make appointments, run errands, or return home to cook a meal. And, with summers off, he has plenty of time for activities he loves, including camping, yard work, and traveling. His wife is the principal at Spruce Elementary. They have two children in college. With the way his time off falls throughout the year, he’s able to spend quality time with his family. “As a family man, this job is perfect for me.”

But if he wants more work, it’s there for him. Edmonds School District students can take technical education classes like woodshop at other schools, with district transportation getting them there. There’s also daytime field trips and after-school sports needing transportation. All this transportation means there are many moving parts to manage. With that, safety is a key priority for Nakkour and district transportation services.

New bus drivers are put through about 160 hours of training, including driving on courses with obstacles and cones. At the end of their training, drivers earn their commercial driver licenses and Washington state school bus authorization.

“If today’s your first day and you go out and try to drive (a school bus), it’s pretty scary,” Nakkour said. “After a while, you get comfortable and you get that feeling.” Training prepares drivers for unfavorable weather and hilly terrain. The transportation office supports drivers during inclement weather by shifting routes and delaying or canceling school.

But school bus drivers aren’t just up against the weather. Other drivers are a concern for keeping students safe. “You have drivers that don’t know the complete law,” he said. “You have drivers that just don’t care.” According to Washington state law, drivers traveling in the same direction as a school bus must always stop when the bus has its stop sign out. Drivers traveling in the opposite direction of a school bus are not required to stop on roads with three or more lanes or when there is a turn lane or a median.

Keeping students safe requires effort from all drivers on the road, not just school bus drivers. “The number one thing is to be more aware of your surroundings. Look at the big picture. There’s a ton of things that come up in split seconds.”

After all the students have safely arrived home, he reflects on how being a school bus driver fits into his career. “Growing up, I never thought I’d do something like this. But now that I do, I’m glad that I do it.”

According to Edmonds School District Transportation Director Ben Mount, the Edmonds School District is always looking for bus drivers. In Edmonds, the starting pay after training is $35.57 per hour. Mount encourages people to apply who have a good driving record and who want to work with kids. Those interested can find the application at edmonds.wednet.edu.

In the Everett School District, school bus drivers with their CDL start at $31 per hour; in the Mukilteo School District, school bus driver starting pay is $33.93. Those interested can find applications at everettsd.org and mukilteoschools.org. n