Who we are

Staff

Karen Davis - Director, English Conversation Class Leader
 Some of Karen's favorite topics for her English Conversation class include her students' country of origin and various holidays. Her favorite place in St. Louis is Forest Park. Her hobbies include camping, gardening, kayaking, and anything in, on or under the water.
 
Vicki Jameson - Assistant Director, English Conversation Class Leader
 Vicki enjoys sharing kindness, hospitality and friendship with international students and helping other St. Louis residents do the same. Her favorite things about leading English Conversation groups are the friendships that develop among the group members and sharing our various cultures. Her hobbies include listening to music, creating and viewing art, reading, cooking, walking and spending time with family and friends.
 

Volunteers

Becky Shaw - Women's Bible Discussion Leader
 My name is Becky Shaw. I have been a Christian all my life and in eighth grade through a missionary speaker felt God calling me to serve Him full time. I graduated from Concordia College in St. Paul, MN with a degree in education and worked at a church in Iowa for three years. In 1980 I went to Hong Kong as a short-term missionary. Then I served as director of the short-term program in Taiwan for five years. During that time I met my husband Paul. He taught at the college level in several schools in Taiwan and served as pastor at Eternal Life Lutheran Church in Taiwan. Since July 2006, my husband has been the pastor at Light of Christ Lutheran Chinese Mission connected to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Olivette, MO. We have three children. I really enjoy preparing for and leading Bible studies, as well as helping people grow in their faith. I enjoy walking to work and any place when the weather is nice. I also enjoy reading and spending time with my family.
 
Bob Lange - Bible Discussion Leader
 Bob's favorite Bible topics to discuss include: A. Any of the four Gospels because they tell about Jesus; B. The book of Romans because it clarifies the teachings of Christianity; C. Genesis because it lets us know how everything began -- the world, people, sin, God's plan of salvation, etc. Bob's favorite place in St. Louis is Forest Park. Some of his hobbies are golf, yard work, swimming and recording family genealogy and history.
 
Bruce Morrison - English Conversation Leader
 
Chelsea Madden - English Conversation Leader
 Chelsea's favorite topics for English conversation class are current news events or traditions for Americans. Her favorite place in St. Louis is the Missouri Botanical Garden. Some of her hobbies include photography, painting, crafting, hiking and adventures.
 
David Pelsue - Bible Discussion Leader
 
George Moellenhoff - Bible Discussion Leader
 George's favorite topic for conversation is God's Word. His favorite place to eat is Pietros. Some of his hobbies are electric vehicles and square dancing.
 
James Lange - Bible Discussion Leader
 Some of James' favorite topics for Bible discussion include reading through the Book of Matthew and Psalms. He also enjoys discussing God of Wonders, Creation, Conscience and the Glory of God, and a look at the four cardinal virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude. His favorite places include Jefferson Barracks County Park and Lafayette Square. His hobbies include maintaining family history, walking, bicycle riding, playing games, raising flowers, sewing embroidery, reading, choral singing, working crossword and picture puzzles, baking cookies, corresponding, taking trips, attending retreats, playing water volleyball, gathering small ceramic collectibles, maintaining photograph albums, participating in Facebook and watching televised sports. He is retired so he has time for hobbies!
 
Ron Schuette - English Conversation Leader
 Ron's favorite topics for English Conversation class include learning about where students are from, current events, idioms, famous quotes, and planning "field trips" with his students. His favorite places in St. Louis are Forest Park, the Cathedral Basilica, Busch Stadium, Missouri Botanical Garden, Grant's Farm, any golf course and his home. His hobbies include golf, traveling, camping, reading (especially history, news magazines and Christian books) and taking walks with his wife, Sandy.
 
Sarah Coppersmith - Mom & Baby Playtime Leader
 I have enjoyed working with ISM in the past years and look forward to the chance to work again with parents and children as we converse over a variety of topics. I enjoy learning about where families are from and am currently working on my own family history. Family history includes the "places" people are from, so we will often talk about places and the geography of the world to explore the journeys people have traveled. To supplement our conversations we will use music, which is a universal language enjoyed by all.
 
Susan Spitz - English Conversation Leader
 Susan has been a volunteer with ISM for over a decade. She is originally from Boston, and loves meeting new people, especially those from other countries and cultures. She is self-employed as a business consultant. Her favorite activities are rock climbing, hiking and kayaking. She also loves travel and photography. Her favorite class conversation topics are idioms and quirks of the English language, as well as finding which common expressions exist in many cultures. “I like to ask the class members to describe what surprised them the most, when they first arrived to the U.S.”
 
Tonya Peter - Mom & Baby Playtime Leader
 My name is Tonya Peter. I'm looking forward to spending time with moms and their young children, learning about their countries, and discussing American customs and traditions. I enjoy traveling, riding my bike, spending time with my family, and writing. My favorite place in St. Louis is Forest Park.
 

Events