We are blessed with an incredibly talented staff that provides our students with a world-class Lutheran education.
Matthew Foster
Principal
Mr. Foster joined the Salem Lutheran team in the summer of 2023. He previously served as the Principal of Christ Our Savior High School (LCMS) in Evansville, IL. Mr. Foster's tenure in Evansville began with his first call upon graduating from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, in 2010. He was originally a teacher, assuming responsibilities as principal eight years ago.
Pam Stricklin
Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. Stricklin received her degree in Elementary Education from Concordia University Chicago in 2013. She loves teaching and sees it as a way to connect with her students and help them learn.
Krista Kimmich
1st & 2nd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Kimmich earned her teaching degree from Fontbonne University. Before teaching 1st grade, she was Salem's Preschool 3 teacher, a Special Education teacher with LASE, and a teacher for the deaf.
Laurie Dunnette
3rd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Dunnette earned her degree in Education from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL, and her Colloquy from Concordia Chicago. Aside from being an active teacher, Mrs. Dunnette also loves to participate in the different organizations in the school.
Kaylee Osborne
4th Grade Teacher
Ms. Osborne graduated from Missouri Baptist University with a Bachelor's of Elementary Education. She is full of creativity and innovation and has worked with children since she was 12, when she started volunteering at her church.
Terry Umphenour
5th & 6th Grade Teacher
Mr. Umphenour has taught at Lutheran Schools for over 35 years. He earned his Master's in Elementary Administration from the University of Missouri and was awarded the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod Teacher of the year in 2015. He especially loves teaching science to middle school students.
Brian Geldmacher
7th Grade Teacher
Mr. Geldmacher earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences & Secondary Education from Missouri Baptist University. He is in his eighth year of teaching and fifth year here at Salem. During his time in education, he has taught middle school social studies, literature, and language classes.
Cori Bair
8th Grade Teacher
Mrs. Bair received her B.S. in Education from McKendree University and completed the Colloquy Program through Concordia University- Chicago. She has been teaching for over 20 years and is passionate about helping her students grow academically and personally.
Woody Babb
Art Teacher
Mr. Babb received his Master of Art (Drawing and Painting) from Fontbonne University. He has been teaching for over 30 years and has enjoyed it. Mr. Babb's favorite thing about teaching is watching his students grow and develop their own creative style.
Diane Carney
Physical Education Teacher
Mrs. Carney completed her degree in Health Education with a PE Minor/Coaching Emphasis from Illinois State University. She has been a physical education teacher at Salem for over 20 years, where she also coaches volleyball, basketball, and track.
Dawn Praechter
Speech Therapist
Mrs. Praechter received her Bachelor's degree and her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Fontbonne University. She has worked in speech therapy for over 35 years and has helped countless students improve their communication skills.
Kim White
Resource Teacher
Miss White’s favorite Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 “Love is patient, love is kind…It always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” She has shared her love of teaching with students and staff members for 35 years. Miss White previously taught for 25 years and then worked as an Assistive Technology Specialist for 8 years for Special School District. This is her first year at Salem as the LASE Education Specialist in the Learning Center.
Adalee Chaffee
School Counselor
Adalee received her undergraduate degree in Art and Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) and her master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis in School Counseling from the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL). She believes that every child is unique and approaches counseling with a flexible, innovative, and compassionate style.
Deaconess Ruth McDonnell
Religion and Music Teacher
Deaconess McDonnell has a Bachelor’s degree in music education from James Madison University in Virginia, where she was born and raised. She earned both her master’s and a doctorate in theology from Concordia Seminary.
Aaron Reynolds
Band Instructor
Mr. Reynolds received a Bachelor of Music Education from Concordia University Chicago in May, 2022. Now in his second year of teaching, he really enjoys working with beginning band students and is passionate about teaching music at all levels.
Matthew Foster
Principal
Mr. Foster joined the Salem Lutheran team in the summer of 2023. He previously served as the Principal of Christ Our Savior High School (LCMS) in Evansville, IL. Mr. Foster's tenure in Evansville began with his first call upon graduating from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, in 2010. He was originally a teacher, assuming responsibilities as principal eight years ago.
Pam Stricklin
Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. Stricklin received her degree in Elementary Education from Concordia University Chicago in 2013. She loves teaching and sees it as a way to connect with her students and help them learn.
Krista Kimmich
1st & 2nd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Kimmich earned her teaching degree from Fontbonne University. Before teaching 1st grade, she was Salem's Preschool 3 teacher, a Special Education teacher with LASE, and a teacher for the deaf.
Laurie Dunnette
3rd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Dunnette earned her degree in Education from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL, and her Colloquy from Concordia Chicago. Aside from being an active teacher, Mrs. Dunnette also loves to participate in the different organizations in the school.
Kaylee Osborne
4th Grade Teacher
Ms. Osborne graduated from Missouri Baptist University with a Bachelor's of Elementary Education. She is full of creativity and innovation and has worked with children since she was 12, when she started volunteering at her church.
Terry Umphenour
5th & 6th Grade Teacher
Mr. Umphenour has taught at Lutheran Schools for over 35 years. He earned his Master's in Elementary Administration from the University of Missouri and was awarded the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod Teacher of the year in 2015. He especially loves teaching science to middle school students.
Brian Geldmacher
7th Grade Teacher
Mr. Geldmacher earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences & Secondary Education from Missouri Baptist University. He is in his eighth year of teaching and fifth year here at Salem. During his time in education, he has taught middle school social studies, literature, and language classes.
Cori Bair
8th Grade Teacher
Mrs. Bair received her B.S. in Education from McKendree University and completed the Colloquy Program through Concordia University- Chicago. She has been teaching for over 20 years and is passionate about helping her students grow academically and personally.
Woody Babb
Art Teacher
Mr. Babb received his Master of Art (Drawing and Painting) from Fontbonne University. He has been teaching for over 30 years and has enjoyed it. Mr. Babb's favorite thing about teaching is watching his students grow and develop their own creative style.
Diane Carney
Physical Education Teacher
Mrs. Carney completed her degree in Health Education with a PE Minor/Coaching Emphasis from Illinois State University. She has been a physical education teacher at Salem for over 20 years, where she also coaches volleyball, basketball, and track.
Dawn Praechter
Speech Therapist
Mrs. Praechter received her Bachelor's degree and her Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Fontbonne University. She has worked in speech therapy for over 35 years and has helped countless students improve their communication skills.
Kim White
Resource Teacher
Miss White’s favorite Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 “Love is patient, love is kind…It always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” She has shared her love of teaching with students and staff members for 35 years. Miss White previously taught for 25 years and then worked as an Assistive Technology Specialist for 8 years for Special School District. This is her first year at Salem as the LASE Education Specialist in the Learning Center.
Adalee Chaffee
School Counselor
Adalee received her undergraduate degree in Art and Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) and her master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis in School Counseling from the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL). She believes that every child is unique and approaches counseling with a flexible, innovative, and compassionate style.
Deaconess Ruth McDonnell
Religion and Music Teacher
Deaconess McDonnell has a Bachelor’s degree in music education from James Madison University in Virginia, where she was born and raised. She earned both her master’s and a doctorate in theology from Concordia Seminary.
Aaron Reynolds
Band Instructor
Mr. Reynolds received a Bachelor of Music Education from Concordia University Chicago in May, 2022. Now in his second year of teaching, he really enjoys working with beginning band students and is passionate about teaching music at all levels.