BROOKINGS — Mickelson Middle School Principal Todd Foster is writing the final chapter in his career as an educator.
Foster, who has led MMS for 12 years, announced that he is retiring at the end of the current school year.
Foster has served at various jobs in the education system for 40 years in South Dakota and Minnesota.
His first job as teacher was in the 1986-87 school year in Hitchcock, shortly after graduation from Dakota State University, He has served as a teacher, administrator or counselor for schools ever since then.
The Estelline High School graduate was a double major in business education and business administration.
He has since earned master’s degrees in counseling and administration from South Dakota State University
Foster, who will turn 62 in August, says he has no immediate plans following retirement.
“I’m going to quietly walk out the door and enjoy something,” he said.
He said something else may come along down the road, but until that happens he’ll enjoy life.
He said his decision to become an educator was made early on in his life.
“I think ever since I was little I always enjoyed being around people. I enjoyed helping others. When I was in high school I did a lot of tutoring of students in the mornings before school and stuff. And people told me I would be kind of good at it. I enjoyed sports so I knew I want to possibly coach,” Foster said.
Foster and his wife Jolynn, who is also a teacher, were in Flandreau when the opportunity to serve as assistant principal at MMS in the 2014-15 year. His wife taught first grade at Medary and later became a reading specialist in the school system.
He said things came full circle for his wife — her father was a principal in Arlington.
“She grew up with a principal and then I end up becoming one,” Foster said
He was assistant principal for six years under Tim Steffensen and he took over after Steffensen retired six years ago.
During his tenure at MMS the school has been expanded and remodeled.
“We added 14 new classrooms and did a lot of remodeling,” Foster said.
He said that changing the landscape of the building changed the dynamics of the school.
“It’s one of the nicest middle schools in the state,” Foster said.
He said he’s proud of the relationships he’s built with students, staff and families — and that’s what he will miss the most.
“You come and you put a lot of time and effort into trying to make this place as best as it can be. … working with different staff and having a team of 80 people that you work with on a daily basis — I’m proud of that,” Foster said. “You hope that you leave the place better than when you got it. That’s probably not for me to say, but I’m hoping that what others say,” he added,
He said he’s seen many changes during his career. Technology and social media have brought about many changes to student life. But he said kids are still kids.
“Kids still do the same things we did when I first started and when I was growing up,” Foster said.
He said he feels fortunate to work in a great school in a great district in a great community.
The Fosters have two adult sons, Spenser in Michigan and Mitchel in Sioux Falls and two grandson.
Brookings Superintendent Summer Schultz said in a release “Mr. Foster has served our community exceptionally well. He has established an educational environment that supports middle school students while also welcoming families and community members to participate with pride.”
Schultz said a verbal agreement has been reached with Matt Christie, current assistant principal at MMS, to assume the role of principal after Foster’s departure,
Once the Brookings School Board approves Christie’s contract, the school district will search for a new assistant principal.
— Contact Doug Kott at [email protected].
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