Our School Staff

We are blessed with an incredibly talented staff that provides our students with a world-class Lutheran education.

Matthew Foster
Principal

matthewfoster@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Pam Tosie
Kindergarten Teacher

pamtosie@slcas.org

Ms. Tosie 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.

Learn more

Krista Kimmich
1st Grade Teacher

kristakimmich@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Laurie Dunnette
2nd Grade Teacher

lauriedunnette@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Alyssa Blechle
3rd Grade Teacher

alyssablechle@slcas.org

Ms. Blechle graduated from Concordia University Chicago in December 2022 with her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. After graduating, she spent a semester as a substitute teacher and realized how much she enjoyed being in the classroom. She received her Elementary Education Certificate through the American Board over the summer. 

Learn more

Kaylee Osborne
4th Grade Teacher

kayleeosborne@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Terry Umphenour
5th & 6th Grade Teacher

terryumphenour@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Brian Geldmacher
7th Grade Teacher

briangeldmacher@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Cori Bair
8th Grade Teacher

coribair@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Woody Babb
Art Teacher

woodybabb@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Diane Carney
Physical Education Teacher

dianecarney@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Dawn Praechter
Speech Therapist

dawnpraechter@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Annette Morrow
Resource Teacher

annettemorrow@slcas.org

Mrs. Morrow was previously a special education teacher for SSD in the Affton, Rockwood, Webster Groves, and Hancock school districts. She has helped countless students overcome learning challenges and succeed in the classroom.

Learn more

Haley Klauser
School Counselor

haleyklauser@slcas.org

Ms. Klauser graduated with a Master's in Counseling in 2018 and is a Licensed Professional Counselor.  What she loves the most about being a counselor is forming unique relationships with each of her students and their caregivers. She loves getting to see kids grow and really come into themselves.

Learn more

Deaconess Ruth McDonnell
Religion and Music Teacher

ruthmcdonnell@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Claire Wiegand
Athletic Director

salemAD@slcas.org

Mrs. Wiegand, a Lutheran South alumna, attended Valparaiso University where she earned her education degree in Middle School Math and Science Education. She has been teaching for ten years. Mrs. Wiegand has served previously at two other Lutheran Schools in the St. Louis and currently teaches at Trinity Lutheran in St. Charles. 

Learn more

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.

Learn more

Matthew Foster
Principal

matthewfoster@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Pam Tosie
Kindergarten Teacher

pamtosie@slcas.org

Ms. Tosie 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.

Learn more

Krista Kimmich
1st Grade Teacher

kristakimmich@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Laurie Dunnette
2nd Grade Teacher

lauriedunnette@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Alyssa Blechle
3rd Grade Teacher

alyssablechle@slcas.org

Ms. Blechle graduated from Concordia University Chicago in December 2022 with her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. After graduating, she spent a semester as a substitute teacher and realized how much she enjoyed being in the classroom. She received her Elementary Education Certificate through the American Board over the summer. 

Learn more

Kaylee Osborne
4th Grade Teacher

kayleeosborne@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Terry Umphenour
5th & 6th Grade Teacher

terryumphenour@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Brian Geldmacher
7th Grade Teacher

briangeldmacher@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Cori Bair
8th Grade Teacher

coribair@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Woody Babb
Art Teacher

woodybabb@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Diane Carney
Physical Education Teacher

dianecarney@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Dawn Praechter
Speech Therapist

dawnpraechter@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Annette Morrow
Resource Teacher

annettemorrow@slcas.org

Mrs. Morrow was previously a special education teacher for SSD in the Affton, Rockwood, Webster Groves, and Hancock school districts. She has helped countless students overcome learning challenges and succeed in the classroom.

Learn more

Haley Klauser
School Counselor

haleyklauser@slcas.org

Ms. Klauser graduated with a Master's in Counseling in 2018 and is a Licensed Professional Counselor.  What she loves the most about being a counselor is forming unique relationships with each of her students and their caregivers. She loves getting to see kids grow and really come into themselves.

Learn more

Deaconess Ruth McDonnell
Religion and Music Teacher

ruthmcdonnell@slcas.org

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.

Learn more

Claire Wiegand
Athletic Director

salemAD@slcas.org

Mrs. Wiegand, a Lutheran South alumna, attended Valparaiso University where she earned her education degree in Middle School Math and Science Education. She has been teaching for ten years. Mrs. Wiegand has served previously at two other Lutheran Schools in the St. Louis and currently teaches at Trinity Lutheran in St. Charles. 

Learn more

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.

Learn more

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