Teacher Spotlight: Maria Foster

Meet Mrs. Maria Foster, our seventh and eighth-grade history teacher. Read Ms. Foster’s unique journey to becoming a teacher at Livingston Classical Academy below. 

What has your experience been like at Livingston?

Livingston Classical Academy students make teaching a pleasure!  They are engaged, curious, clever, and respectful. I really enjoy seeing how passionate and opinionated they become during our class discussions. They are also smart, well-informed, and keep me on my toes. The LCA Upper School has the best learning environment that I’ve ever experienced, and I am grateful for the privilege of working with terrific students and staff daily.

How did your journey at LCA start?

After graduation, I taught marketing and business at the secondary level for five years and loved everything about it; however, I left that position once I had my first daughter and ultimately homeschooled my three children for more than 10 years.  

As a homeschool educator, I used some of the resources used by Hillsdale Academy and followed a classical education philosophy.  Once Livingston Classical Academy opened, I enrolled our youngest daughter in the fifth-grade class. 

I also went back into the classroom as a substitute teacher at LCA and elsewhere.  

Being a substitute teacher confirmed my desire to teach and have my own classroom.  With the hope that LCA would be adding a history teaching position as the Upper School grew,  I took the necessary coursework to add the history endorsement to my teaching certificate. Thankfully, my timing was good, and last year I became full-time staff at LCA.

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

Teaching was not my first career choice. After graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan, I was not satisfied with “the business world.” I made an appointment to meet with the Business Education department at Eastern Michigan University to possibly pursue teacher certification.  

It was a life-changing day! I showed up for my fact-finding appointment and left several hours later enrolled as a full-time graduate student and graduate assistant.  

Two years later, I had earned my teaching certification and a Masters of Business Education. Dr. Earl Meyer, the professor for whom I was a graduate assistant, provided me with amazing professional experiences and was a fabulous mentor, teaching how me to be a professional educator. 

What do you do when you are not teaching?

I love spending time with my family. I have been married to Ken for 26 years, have three wonderful daughters (Abby 22, Anna 19, and April 13), and am a “dog mom” to a 2-year-old Goldendoodle (Emmet). I love to spend time outdoors, power walk, workout, worship, travel “Pure Michigan”, read, visit with family and friends, and root for the Wolverines!