Laura Foster wins Brenner Teacher of Year award

Laura Foster, who has been teaching sixth grade at Pine Street Elementary since 1993, is this year’s winner of the Kathryn L. Brenner Teacher of the Year award.

Foster earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1992 from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree in 1998 from Grand Valley State University, earned a math Minor in 2002 from Western Michigan and an elementary administration certificate in 2009 from Grand Valley State University.

She has taught English, math and science over the years. Before working in Wayland, she took on various substitute jobs, including working one year teaching adult basic education for the Michigan Department of Corrections.

“I really enjoy teaching the crazy, but always lovable ‘tweens that sixth-graders are,” she commented.

Kathy Brenner was an outstanding Wayland student who graduated in 1993, but died that fall from complications of cystic fibrosis. She was the daughter of Bob Brenner, superintendent at Wayland Union for 23 years, and his wife, Sandy, who established the annual award for an outstanding teacher who has committed the extra time and effort to benefit kids in the classroom and/or in extracurricular activities.

Previous winners of the award have been:

• 2003 — Sharon Nelson, Middle School Physical Education.
• 2004 — Kathie Johnson, High School Language Arts.
• 2005 — Susan Boehm, Pine Street Elementary.
• 2006 — Jan Laman, High School Choral Music.
• 2007 — Chris Potter, Middle School.
• 2008 — Robin Seniura, Dorr Elementary.
• 2009 — Judy Mutschler, Steeby Elementary.
• 2010 — Suzanne Jurkowski, Pine Street Elementary.
• 2011 — Karen Nofsinger, High School Orchestra.
• 2012 — Linda Anderson, High School Math.
• 2013 — Lori Howell, Steeby Elementary.
• 2014 — Don Mackey, Wayland High School English.
• 2015 — Aleisa Licari. Dorr Elementary.