Kathy Foster: Her legacy is elementary

JCPS assistant superintendent for elementary education winds down her career after 35 years

Kathy Foster poses Friday at the Jefferson City Board of Education office. Foster will be retiring from the Jefferson City school district after decades of service. She is currently the assistant superintendent for elementary education.
Kathy Foster poses Friday at the Jefferson City Board of Education office. Foster will be retiring from the Jefferson City school district after decades of service. She is currently the assistant superintendent for elementary education.

Jobs were few and far between in 1981, when Kathy Foster graduated from University of Missouri.

After interviewing all over the Mid-Missouri area for a teaching position, she got a call from Jefferson City Public Schools for a kindergarten-through-sixth-grade art position at Moreau Heights Elementary.

She came home to the district she grew up in, and it became the place where she built her legacy, serving the district for 35 years. Foster is retiring as assistant superintendent for elementary education.

Foster taught art for four years at Moreau Heights before transferring to Thorpe Gordon Elementary to teach fifth-grade language arts and science and social studies to fourth- through sixth-grade students.

Her first several years as a teacher weren't what she expected, but they taught her she could be happy working with students in any of the grades.

She especially cherished her time at Thorpe Gordon - an at-risk building - where she was promoted and worked as principal for five years.

"I understand the power and possibility of being in an at-risk building and how that's so critical," she said. "I've been fortunate to work with all kinds of populations of students. The public school system is the backbone of the country. It's the equalizer of the country, and without that, we wouldn't be the same country.

"We need to have the same opportunities for all students regardless of their background. Academic achievement is the goal, but what we do is so much more. We're teaching them to be happy, successful adults."

One of her proudest moments was when the school was recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. It was a lengthy and involved process, including site visits by representatives from the department to observe the school's daily practices.

"We worked really hard and did some great things for kids," she said. "It was a validating moment for students and teachers of that building."

She's also proud of the Southwest Early Childhood Center opened during her tenure while Bert Kimble was superintendent. The center fell under her umbrella as assistant superintendent for elementary education and provided a much-needed support for the district's preschool-aged students.

The district looks quite different than it did when she began. The two middle schools were approved in 1990, and Pioneer Trail Elementary in 2007.

Education has changed drastically since she started, too. But a few things stick out to Foster.

During her early years as an educator, the state had yet to mandate a state standardized test. Teachers instead used various standardized tests used nationwide, but the government mandates were nothing like they are now.

Testing has had a huge impact on all schools. She said it's not a good or bad change, but created some "much needed" consistency.

The other obvious difference is the technology used in classrooms and how schools are evolving to adapt to the technological world.

"I think we need to step outside and look at content and curriculum critically," she said. "We have a responsibility to do that. What kinds of jobs will be available? Is what we're focusing on still relevant for what they'll need when they enter work?"

Her "bittersweet" decision to retire came with a lot of contemplation, she said.

"A lot of people retire when they hit 30 (years), and I wasn't ready to do that," she said. "I will leave behind a big part of my heart here. It wasn't an easy decision."

Her children live in the Kansas City area and her parents are in their 80s; she wants to spend more time with them, especially since her first grandchild was born this year.

She purposely hasn't put too much thought into what she'll do during her retirement. As a person who likes to have her "ducks in a row," it's been difficult not to plan it all out. Foster said she has a few options in mind and wants to keep busy.

Her family has planned a vacation to Hilton Head this summer, and she'll decide what she wants to do next once she returns.

After Foster packs up her office and closes the door for the last time, Brian Shindorf will take her place in July. Shindorf is currently at the St. Joseph School District serving as director of elementary education.