Ekaterina (Kate) Anokhina is the founder, director and lead instructor for all language and art classes. Ekaterina was born in St. Petersburg Russia and lives in the USA since 1993. She has studied and taught English as a second language (ESL) in Russia and America for over 20 years. Ekaterina graduated from St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University with Master degree major in Applied Mathematics and minor in English. Ekaterina studied studio art for 5 years and have over 10 years in small-business management in St. Louis.

In 2004, Ekaterina founded and opened the Russian American School in Saint Louis to maintain and teach Russian language, literature, culture, art and crafts.

Valentyna (Valya) Obydonnova Obydonnova is a lead art instructor of Art Studio "Shtrih." Valentyna was born in Chernovtsi, Ukraine and has lived in the United States since 2000. She finished the Vyzhnytsia College of Applied Arts with Honors and the Chernivtsi University in Pedagogy.

Valentyna has over 18 years of experience in teaching art and drafting. In New York she taught children's and adult art classes at the Regina Art Center. Valentyna has been with us since 2008.

Valentina (Valya) Maglysh is the assistant to the teacher of Russian language. Valentina was born in Gomel, Belarus and has lived in America since 2010. She finished The Brest State Pedagogical Institute in Biology, Republican Institute of the Higher School (practicing psychologist) and National Institute of Education (PhD in psychology.)

Valentina has over 25 years of teaching in school, college and university and over 15 years of work as a practical psychologist. Valentina has published more than 25 scientific publications, including 4 textbooks for university students and 4 textbooks of methods for practicing psychologists.

Natalia (Natasha) Urban teaches Russian and English as a Second Language to adult students, and Russian to both children and adults. Natalia was born in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, and has lived in the States since 2009. She graduated from Kurgan State University in 1991 and has a Master’s degree in teaching Foreign Languages. Natalia is working one-on-one as well as in groups with all level students - children to adult. Natalia works at Russian American School since September 2013.