Meet The Founder

My name is Laken Foster, and I am a married mother of two and the Founder of VinePath Mentoring. I hold a Bachelor of Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington, earned in 2012, and I bring over a decade of experience across social work, counseling, and education.

I began my career in family crisis counseling, supporting foster youth and leading court-ordered groups focused on anger management, life skills, and personal growth. I later transitioned into public education, where I spent ten years teaching in the DFW area before moving to the Tyler area in January 2026. During that time, I taught middle school science for six years and high school future-ready electives for four years, including interpersonal studies, child development, culinary arts, interior design, hospitality and tourism, fashion design, and fashion marketing.

Much of my work has centered on real-world readiness—helping students build communication skills, professionalism, resume writing, networking, and career exploration. I also served as an FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) advisor, building a program from the ground up to over 100 students within 2.5 years. Through FCCLA, students developed skills in entrepreneurship, leadership, public speaking, debate, interviewing, and career pathways, with multiple teams advancing to national-level competition under my leadership.

I have also trained and mentored future educators through the University of Texas UTeach program, supporting aspiring teachers as they developed classroom readiness and instructional skills. My experience across multiple subject areas has strengthened my adaptability and ability to design interdisciplinary, project-based learning experiences that connect leadership, career exploration, communication, and creativity in meaningful ways.

These experiences, along with my personal journey as both an educator and a parent of a child with autism and ADHD, have shaped my approach to teaching. I understand firsthand how differently children learn, process information, and engage with the world, and I am committed to creating flexible, supportive environments where students are seen as individuals rather than expected to fit a single model of learning.

VinePath Mentoring was created from both my professional experience and my personal journey as a first-generation college student who understands the challenges of navigating education, career pathways, and future planning without clear guidance. Rooted in my faith in God and the belief that every child is uniquely created with purpose, my mission is to provide students and families with the mentorship, practical skills, and confidence they need to move forward with clarity, preparation, and purpose as they pursue the future God has planned for them.