Mark Christensen
President
Board of Education

Appointed on 6/25/2009
Term Expires 2025

mchristensen@maisd.com 

Meet Mark Christensen

Mark is a proud resident of Sidney, where he has lived his entire life.  He is deeply rooted in the Central Montcalm community.  He graduated from Central Montcalm High School as did his two children.  His mother served the district as a teacher and school administrator until her retirement.  Mark also served as a school board member for Cental Montcalm Public Schools prior to joining our MAISD Board of Education.  

Mark is the Managing Director of the Montcalm County Road Commission, a position he has held since 2012.  He started his career with the road commission in 1998 as a mechanic, eventually working his way through several positions until he became the director.  

Mark and his wife, Evon, have been married for more than 30 years.  They have two daughters.  In his free time, Mark enjoys hunting, farming, and being with his family. 

Steve Foster
Vice-President
Board of Education

Appointed on 11/12/2003
Term Expires 2025

sfoster@maisd.com 

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 was a founding member of the Education Foundation of Greenville and is an honorary member 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.  

Andrea Tabor
Secretary
Board of Education

Appointed 2/13/2019
Term Expires 2029

atabor@maisd.com 

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."

Amy Thomas
Treasurer
Board of Education

Elected 7/1/2023
Term Expires 2029

athomas@maisd.com 

Meet Amy Thomas

Amy is the Director of Central Dispatch and Emergency 911 Services for Montcalm County.  She has held this position since 2017, although she has been employed there since 1998.  She served in the roles of emergency communications officer from 1998 to 2007 and then department supervisor from 2007 to 2017 when she was appointed as the director.   Amy worked as a paramedic for Montcalm County Emergency Medical Services from 1995 to 1997.  She is a graduate of Ionia High School. 

Amy loves to cook and enjoys spending time with her family.  In the summer time, you will find her camping with her grandchildren.  She resides in Greenville. 

Deborah Snyder
Trustee
Board of Education

Appointed 10/19/2023
Term Expires 2027

debsnyder@maisd.com 

Meet Deborah Snyder

Deb Snyder lives in the community of Millbrook which sits in the district of Montabella Community Schools.  She retired in 2022 from her position as the Assistant Superintendent of Clare-Gladwin RESD, a role she held for 16 of the 20 years she was employed there.  She also served two years as the elected chair of the state-wide General Education Leadership Network, known as GELN, which is comprised of curriculum and instructional leaders from ISDs throughout the state.  

Deb is well familiar with Montcalm County and Montcalm Area ISD.  During the course of her career, she was an elementary teacher and then elementary principal at the former Webb Elementary School in Montabella.  She served as the preschool director for Great Start Readiness Programs at Montabella and Lakeview.  Deb has served on various advisory and community boards and has been active in many mentoring and training programs.  

Deb has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in elementary education, Master of Arts Degree in early childhood education, and an Educational Specialist Degree in administration with central office emphasis.