By: Krissy Hetherington
With the Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) School Board elections drawing near, former teacher, community trustee, and local postman, Neissen Foster decided to run for the Area 5 spot.
Foster is the son of a neurosurgeon and an art historian with a family of his own and grandchildren who attend schools within VUSD.
He has been on Conyer, Divisadero, and Mount Whitney’s school site councils as well as a part of numerous district committees to help with boundaries changes.
Being a former teacher, he understands the “successes and failures within a classroom,” and wants to assist and represent the teachers especially during unusual circumstances like right now.
He mentioned that he just recently finished campus visits for all 42 schools within the district.
“Every school is different with unique cultures and spirit, I am able to see people’s strengths and weaknesses in the classroom and make decisions that will help ensure success for both the students and the teachers.”
Neissen Foster, Area 5 Trustee Candidate
His three overall goals are simple.
- Continuity and Stability. By visiting one school a week, Foster says, “knowledge of the schools and the district at large is essential during this time as well as getting to know staff personally.”
2. Support the VUSD Superintendent, Dr. Ravalin. He believes stability at this time is crucial for the students, teachers, staff, and their families.
“I respect her transparency, decency, and ability to be serene in an ever-changing environment and her ability to come off in a calm manner when making adjustments and plans across the district.”
Neissen Foster, Area 5 Trustee Candidate
3. Support Ravalin’s vision. Foster is set on “modernizing schools, helping the most vulnerable students within the district, and improving math and science scores.”
He believes he is most fit for this position based on his experience working and visiting with staff across the district.
“I know the job, I have good relationships with staff and I know the process. Right now we need stability, change, and to have the ability to make quick adjustments where they are needed,” said Foster.
Working for the local postal office as a mailman within Visalia has taught Foster a lot about the community and their needs.
He said, “By meeting people daily on my mail route, I can confirm collective wisdom of what the people need then answer those concerns and better represent the community.”
Foster is running for the District 5 seat. Elections are on November 3rd.
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