December 21, 2023
MONTEREY — In a county as small as
Highland, it’s no surprise to find multiple
members of one family working for the
same employer. When you add that factor to a family of educators, it was almost
destined that Mariam Foster would follow
her mother, Ann Foster, into teaching at
Highland Elementary School.
Still, it wasn’t a straight path.
Ann taught third and fourth grades for
four years before taking a break to have her
children. While her children were young, she
spent seven years at Little Rock Preschool,
instilling a love of learning in her children
and students.
Many members of Ann’s family were
teachers, including her grandmother and
aunt. “School was stressed to us, at a very
young age, of how important it was,” Ann
said. Her grandmother stressed that to Ann’s
children, too. “When my kids were little,
she would say, ‘Come and read to me,’”
Ann said.
“I remember that,” Mariam said with a
fond smile.
“I hope I established a love of reading
within my children,” Ann said.
Once Mariam was in the upper elementary grades, Ann returned to Highland Elementary as the kindergarten teacher. And
she got help from young Mariam.
“She was always studious,” Ann recalled,
and Mariam willing to stay after school to
help her mother make things for her students
and work on projects. “I felt like I burned
her out,” Ann said, adding she had to ensure
Mariam pulled away for a while.
“I just saw how much you put into it,”
Mariam said. “You put well beyond 200
percent. I had such respect for that.”
“I can remember thinking, ‘Don’t be a
teacher,’ because of the demands,” Ann said.
After graduating high school, Mariam
earned a BA in psychology. She considered
specializing in counseling but realized that
wasn’t the right fit. “I still wanted to do
something helpful,” Mariam said. She put
her art skills to work at the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, but education was
calling her even there.
“We started something called The Museum School,” Mariam said, where she
worked with children and adults. “I had to
start connecting Virginia SOL skills with the
exhibits. It was like, ‘I wish I was doing this
in the classroom.’ It just seemed like every
step made me lean toward teaching.”
As Highland Elementary School restructured teaching and learning for the first fall
of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first-grade
teacher position opened at the last minute.
“I just jumped,” Mariam recalled. “It was
a good fit immediately.”
Mariam moved back in with her parents
in Highland and threw herself into teaching.
For the past two years, she also did a yearround master’s program to earn her degree
in education.
“Coming back here, you realize the
impact you have because it is so small,”
Mariam said. “This is the classroom I went
to first grade in,” she said, as she looked
around the room where she is now the
teacher. “I feel like it all comes full circle.”
In addition to teaching, Mariam now
helps her mother coach the high school cheer
and dance team — another example of life
in Highland going round and round.
“She was in middle school, and we saw
a need and started the dance team,” Ann
recalled.
Though Ann had past apprehensions
about Mariam undertaking such a demanding career, she is fully supportive and
happy to have Mariam on the HES teacher
team. The two often collaborate, working
at home in the evenings on school plans.
“Sometimes, we have to say, ‘No more!’”
Mariam said.
However, Mariam has relied on her
mother’s experience as she starts her teaching career.
“It’s just been really nice to have someone with this experience,” Mariam said.
“I’m very grateful to have her as a mentor.”
Ann stressed that it’s a two-way street.
“I have learned already from her so
much,” Ann said.
In particular, Mariam was able to put
her technology skills to use and help Ann
incorporate that aspect into her curriculum.
The pair sees a benefit in the motherdaughter, two-year teacher package, which
Ann dubs “The K-1 punch.” The school
has implemented a new phonics program
throughout the elementary grades, focusing
on the science of reading. The skills build
each year.
“It has really helped,” Ann said. “We’re
much further than we’ve ever been this time
of year.”
Mariam says the HES curriculum includes plenty of flexibility to incorporate
art, play, music, and other learning modes.
As their students memorize different pieces,
Ann and Mariam bring the classes together
so one can be the audience for the other.
As students move from kindergarten to
first grade, they realize their new teacher is
the daughter of their former teacher.
“I think the kids think it’s wild,” Mariam
said, who added that most parents are happy
with the family approach.
“It’s really rewarding to me when I send
them on to her,” Ann said. Ann said knowing
Mariam will be teaching them next eases
some of the worries she feels as a teacher,
letting go of children she becomes attached
to over the year.
“You do grow to love them,” Ann said.
“The end of the year is sad,” Mariam
agreed.
“It has just felt so natural from the start,”
Mariam said.
But even as the year ends, Ann and
Mariam said they look forward to the next,
making plans together.
“It’s double-special,” Ann said.
“I feel like it’s so much fun,” Mariam
said.
“It’s the best thing in my life,” Ann said,
a proud mama smile lighting up her face.