With an unwavering belief in public education and exuberant energy to change her community, Anne W. Foster founded a local nonprofit organization, Realtors Supporting Richardson Schools, to help thousands of students in the Richardson Independent School District (RISD) community.

As a public education advocate and former elected school board member, she has profound respect and commitment for supporting parents across the country in diverse public education systems. She believes that in order to have quality public education, it takes support from all parts of the community. Parents are a vital part of that support. Parents must be involved, and schools must welcome them.

Most recently, Anne served as the first executive director of Raise Your Hand Texas (RYHT), a public education advocacy organization. While establishing the organization’s office in Austin, Anne coordinated lobbying efforts for RYHT’s legislative agenda focused on public school improvement and reform. Under her leadership, the organization’s membership expanded to nearly 20,000 members. Determined to enhance statewide advocacy efforts, she developed a 200-person Speaker’s Bureau. Anne traveled and spoke frequently throughout Texas about key education reform issues, creating a new statewide accountability system, and improving funding for pre-kindergarten.

Prior to joining RYHT, Anne had a successful residential real estate career in the Dallas/Richardson area. In 1998, she merged her real estate career with a passion to advocate for public education by founding Realtors Supporting Richardson Schools, to bring the real estate community into active support for public schools. With a desire to enhance local education policies, Anne served three terms on the Richardson Independent School District board, with seven years as the board President. As a board member, she was keynote speaker to various groups in the community and state. Also, she worked with the Texas legislature on legislation to give immigrant students a reasonable amount of time to prepare for the state-mandated testing.

While living in Texas, Anne was a commentator on KERA-FM, a Dallas public radio station, on public education issues. Her articles on public education issues have been featured in the Dallas Morning News and other publications. She is the recipient of the Outstanding Communicator Award by the National School Public Relations Association, one of 17 presented annually in the United States.

A native Mississippian, Anne is a former public school educator whose parents also worked in public education. She is a graduate of the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, MS. Anne and her husband, John are proud parents of two graduates of the public school system.

Opinion Editorials

Anne W. Foster, "Funding, Community Support both Critical for Public Schools", Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, February 9, 2009.

Anne W. Foster, "Anne Foster: Abolishing Public Schools not an Option", The Dallas Morning News.