Steve Foster
President
Board of Education

Appointed on 11/12/2003
Term Expires 2025

Meet Steve Foster

Steve and his wife, Cherie, have lived in Greenville their entire lives.  Steve graduated from Greenville High School in 1966 and became the first recipient of the A.F. Allinder Scholastic Athlete Award.  The plaque honoring him still hangs in the high school honor hall today.  

Steve went on the University of Michigan where he was a pre-engineering student.  After one year, he returned home to become a member of the first graduating class at Montcalm Community College.  He was the first student to receive an Applied Arts & Science degree and he played on their first men's basketball team.  Steve completed his education with a BA in Business Administration from Michigan State University.  

In 1982, he began a 32 year career at Greenville Tool & Die as their Director of Human Resources.  He was responsible for personnel, purchasing, safety, community outreach, and the coordinator of their apprenticeship program.  As technology evolved, he also became their media manager.  

Over the span of his career, Steve was involved in countless committees, boards, networks, and volunteer initiatives, many of which related to the skilled trades and development of career and technical programs in Montcalm and Ionia Counties.  He is devoted to education, with years of volunteer service on advisory committees for Greenville Public Schools, Ionia Heartlands Institute, Montcalm Area Career Center, and Montcalm Community College.  In 1999, he received the School Bell Award from Greenville Public Schools in recognition of his volunteer service. in 2010, Montcalm Community College honored him with their Stanley & Blanche Ash Distinguished Service Award.  He serves on the board of the Education Foundation of Greenville and is an honorary members of the American Apprenticeship Round Table.  

Steve is an avid sportsman and owns Foster Outdoor Productions.  He is a freelance videographer and currently produces "Legendary Trails" which began airing on TV in 2023.  

Steve and Cherie have three children and seven grandchildren.  

Mark Christensen
Vice President
Board of Education

Appointed on 6/25/2009
Term Expires 2025

Kurt Peasley
Treasurer
Board of Education

Elected 7/1/2015
Term Expires 2027

Andrea Tabor
Secretary
Board of Education

Appointed 2/13/2019
Term Expires 2023

Meet Andrea Tabor

Andrea spent the majority of her professional life at the Mid-Michigan District Health Department where she served as the Director of Community Health and Education.  She retired in September 2019 and is enjoying her time occasionally subbing at Carson City-Crystal Area Schools, reading books, and traveling with her husband.  

She obtained a Bachelors of Nursing degree from Grand Valley State University and a Masters of Public Health from the University of Michigan.  Andrea served two terms on the Board of Education at Carson City-Crystal Area Schools prior to her service on the MAISD Board of Education.  

Andrea and her husband, Troy, live in Carson City.  They enjoy outdoor activities such as kayaking, hiking, camping, downhill skiing as well as traveling.  They have one son, Ted, who is a Prenatal Genetic Counselor at the University of Texas Hospital in Houston.   

When asked what she most enjoys about being a board member, she reflects on her role.  " I have an interest in doing what I can as a Board member to support the MAISD staff in their efforts to provide quality education and programs for current and future students.  I enjoy serving with the other board members to work towards a sustainable future by adopting sound governance and financial management policies, as well as making sure there are adequate resources to advance the MAISD's mission."

Susan Sunden
Trustee
Board of Education

Appointed 10/7/2019
Term Expires 2023

Meet Susan Sunden 

Sue was born in Carson City and attended Vestaburg Community Schools for her K-12 education.  She is a Montcalm County resident through and through and currently resides in Howard CIty.  She is dedicated to her county and deeply committed to making a difference in education at the local level.  Sue strongly believes it is a privilege to serve and she is proud to be a member of the MAISD Board of Education.  

Sue is an Associate Professor at Grand Valley State University.  She holds a Doctorate in Leadership/Higher Education, a Masters’ in Education/Biology and a Bachelors’ in Recreational Therapy. She has spent most of her career either as an educator or as a therapist working with children with disabilities. She  is  passionate about children and families, and supporting the family as they negotiate education services, especially special education services.

Sue has two grown sons, one of whom has Autism and
received his education at Tri County Area Schools. She has  literally sat on “both sides of the table" as a service provider and a service receiver/parent.  She believes this allows her to have a balanced perspective regarding what districts and families need.

In her true fashion, Sue shares a message of thanks, "I want to express my sincere gratitude and thanks  for the opportunity to serve as a member of our MAISD Board of Education on behalf of our staff , students, and the families we serve."