Mary Polk
Mary Polk is a dedicated community leader, retired education professional, and advocate for students and families in the Antioch area of Nashville. She began her career in the payroll office at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she worked for approximately 16 years. While the experience provided valuable administrative skills, Mary realized it was not the right fit for her long-term goals. Seeking a role that offered greater personal fulfillment and the freedom to engage with her community, she decided not to return to office work and explored opportunities that would allow her to be active, outdoors, and connected to people.
Mary discovered school bus driving—a role that would become both a career and a calling. After training and earning her Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), she drove school buses for the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) and, for a three-year period, worked in the MNPS Transportation dispatch office. Returning to the bus line afterward, she continued driving for approximately ten additional years. For Mary, the job was far more than transportation: it provided a unique platform to mentor and support students, engage with parents, collaborate with teachers, and witness firsthand the educational environment in schools. Field trips across the city and state, along with daily conversations with students, allowed her to build meaningful connections and advocate for their well-being.
Mary is currently pursuing a new chapter as a candidate for the District 6 seat on the MNPS School Board. She is motivated by a desire to contribute to school governance, including policy-making, budgeting, and superintendent oversight—areas that directly influence student experiences. Beyond her professional life, Mary serves as an associate minister at Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church and enjoys gardening, DIY projects, and cooking. Her approach to both career and civic engagement reflects a thoughtful, determined perspective: she evaluates opportunities carefully, stands firm in her convictions, and seeks roles where she can make a tangible difference while finding personal fulfillment.
• CDL (Commercial Driver's License)
• Cosmetology License
• Associate Minister at the Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my family. I'm a mom of two sons, and they both have huge families, so I have 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. When I call in on Sunday and say I'm cooking dinner today, my house could get to have anywhere from 10 to 20 people in it really quickly. They've kind of always been there for me, providing that support system that has helped me through everything.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say take the time to look at everything that's maybe in front of you. Put it out there, if you will, like the food on your table. What is it that I like most to do? What is it that I can do? What is available to me? And when you're looking for a career, you want to make sure that it's just not something that you hate going to every day. You want to enjoy going to your job, or at least feel like when you go there, there's something that you can accomplish in that day. And if each day is the same day, you may not like that. Every day driving the school bus was not the same day, and that's what made it fulfilling.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is my top value. I require it from my family as well as the children I drove on the school bus. I always told them to just be honest - if you did something, assume you did it, and we'll figure out the consequences for that. But when you lie, that's a whole different prospect of what needs to happen. That means you're trying to hide something and you're trying to do something really deceitful. So honesty is on top there for me.
Locations
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS)
Antioch, TN 37013