Dear Foster Elementary School Community,
I am excited to be starting my 2nd year as your principal! It is an honor to lead a school with such persevering students, an extremely dedicated staff, and a supportive school community. I feel fortunate to be part of this school and to support the students, families, and community. I come to Foster Elementary with 35 years in education, working with students in kindergarten through 8th grades. Although I have always felt at home in the classroom, it is in my position as an educational coach and administrator where I have been most fulfilled in my life’s work. This year, I am excited to continue building our STEAM program in partnership with our PTA and Villa Musica as we are bringing music and the arts to all students. Not only are we adding art through our PTA adoption of Arts Attack and weekly music lessons with Villa Musica, we are also expanding our STEAM program with newly adopted Maker Space programs!
We will continue our work as a No Place For Hate (anti-bully curriculum) campus this year. We are also fostering student leadership as our 4th and 5th graders will be trained in facilitating restorative circles with their younger peers and primary classroom partners. Our Site Governing Team has updated our school-wide Positive Behavioral Expectations Matrix and Restorative Discipline Policy. We have a lot in place to build capacity for the best possible learning climate for all of our Foster Wildcat students, staff and families.
On a personal note, other than my time away at college, I have lived in San Diego County my whole life. I have three amazing sons who have taught me that every child is uniquely different. My oldest son, Jason, is a sociologist, living in Portland, Oregon. My middle son, Matt, is a former force recon Marine, and now an intensive care nurse here in San Diego, and my youngest son, Codi, is a dentist and now in his Orthodontist Residency in Boston. My family’s experiences have given me a great appreciation for the partnerships between school and family that support every child to reach their potential.
I view education as a life-long process and expect that I will continue to learn much about the uniqueness of Foster Elementary and the Allied Gardens community this year and in the years to come. Most importantly, I bring a belief that students are at the center of all school-related decisions. I am eager to unite my experience, my openness to learn, and my child-centered approach, to support our students. Because the relationships between families and the school are vital to the success of our students, I encourage you to become involved in every way possible. I look forward to an amazing year with you and your children.