Susan Foster earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Purdue. She then returned to her alma mater to get her master’s in special education, and today uses both degrees throughout the Region. She works as the special-education instructional coach for children in grades K-eight within the Valparaiso Community Schools.
Foster grew up in Lowell, and it’s where she went to high school. Following her years studying at Purdue, she was employed in a similar role to the one she’s currently in at Parkview Elementary School. There she worked with kids the same ages as the ones she does now.
One of the primary principles of Foster’s job has to do with remaining supportive. She serves as a beacon of guidance in the classrooms she frequents, offering direction where she can. Her duties aren’t exclusively related to helping children. Instead, she assists other educators locally.
“I help to support special-education teachers throughout the district, supporting them with different interventions for their students,” she said. “I provide them with any support they may need. When I hear about it, I go and help them.”
While there are additional instructional coaches in her district, Foster is the only one in special education. She gets to travel between the district’s buildings to assess how educational matters pertaining to her vocation are going in other places. She shares ideas whenever possible, and she finds the collaboration processes awesome.
Foster has always been passionate about helping people, and that’s been the case her whole life. She’s wanted to become a teacher since the third grade, and at this point she has nearly 20 years of teaching under her belt. Her passion has transformed itself into her career.
“I’ve said for many years I thought we could use an instructional coach for special ed because we have others in the district. This is something I’ve been passionate about—to be able to help others,” she said. “Now I get to help adults, and I get to see a variety of things and am able to share them with others.”
Though she no longer directly facilitates classroom environments, Foster misses the kids she once used to teach. However, she still does get to see them, making an effort to visit with them when she goes into the schools. Those check-ins make profound differences in her life and the lives of whomever she stops to talk with.
Living in an ever-changing world, Foster understands the importance of educators. She appreciates the opportunities she gets to collaborate with those sharing her profession. For her, working together is the name of the game. Doing just that has the power to alter the way professionals like her go about their jobs.
“My job is important because we all need teachers. All of us need to collaborate together,” she said. “I get the chance to do that with teachers every day, and that’s important because it’s healthy to cope with new ideas with people. Developing relationships with the kids and their families is also rewarding.”
Outside of work, Foster enjoys boating with her family. She loves to read during the quiet moments. On the weekends, her two boys and her husband go fishing. They actually prepared their boat for the summer recently.
Foster will soon have both a middle-schooler and a high-schooler on her hands as her sons further their education. She and her husband travel with them occasionally, having even gone to Pennsylvania this past spring to visit her older brother, whom she cites as one of her greatest motivators due to his undeniable drive.
Balancing the necessities that come with work and family, Foster’s improved her grip on her personal work-life balance. She allocates time appropriately. The deep love she has for both her occupation and loved ones trumps everything else.
“I try to set aside time at home with my family. As a teacher, you’re bringing stuff home all the time, so I’ll try to take a couple hours on Sunday to ask myself, ‘What do I need to do to prepare for the week ahead of me?’ Saturdays are for my kids, since they’re involved in lots of activities, and we’re busy,” she said. “I don’t like to miss any of their stuff, so it does come first.”
Valparaiso isn’t only the city where Foster works; it’s also her home. She’s grateful for the powerful community it is and the strong sense of unity she’s found within it.
“Community is special to me, and I feel like everyone comes together here,” she said. “The Valparaiso schools have been amazing—not just for me, but for my children. There’s always something to do in Valpo.”