Rachel Elizabeth Foster

Rachel Elizabeth Foster, 30, passed away suddenly on February 29, 2024, in Seattle. Rachel was a passionate special education teacher who transformed lives at Roosevelt Elementary School. Born with a congenital heart condition that limited her physical activities as a child, she developed extraordinary empathy and patience qualities that made her an exceptional educator. After earning her master's degree from University of Washington, Rachel created an innovative inclusive classroom model that was adopted by schools across the district. Her 'Every Child Shines' approach focused on identifying and nurturing each student's unique strengths. Parents marveled at her ability to connect with children who had struggled elsewhere, and colleagues sought her guidance on challenging cases. Rachel is survived by her parents Robert and Diane, her brother Michael, and her fiancé David. Though she and David had planned a June wedding, they had secretly married in the hospital a month before her passing when her health declined. In her memory, her family established the Rachel Foster Inclusion Fund, providing resources for special education classrooms. As she often told her students: 'Different isn't less it's just different, and often wonderful.'