Presently, all teachers have degrees in English or closely related fields. Many teachers have an M.A. in English and have taught English at the University of Central Oklahoma, other universities, or high schools.

Jim Stewart, CEO, incorporated Twashakarris, Inc, DBA English Language Center in 1982. He holds a PhD (ABD) in English from the University of Oklahoma.  He is Professor Emeritus from the University of Central Oklahoma, where he taught English for 20 years. He has written several novels and screenplays and has published some poetry.  His specialty is speech and phonology, which he continues to teach on a part-time basis.

 
Luemma Stewart , President, has taught English at area universities since 1979, including seven years at the University of Oklahoma. She holds a PhD (ABD) in English from the University of Oklahoma. She has been an editor for McGraw-Hill Education Division and been published in national magazines and textbooks. She was a Writer-in-residence for the Oklahoma State Arts Council for three years. In 1981 she began teaching part-time for ELC and became Assistant Director in 1990. She became Director of ELC in 2004. She also taught international sections of English composition at the University of Central Oklahoma. Whenever necessary, she substitutes for faculty at ELC.

David Ferrari, Principal and Teacher, holds a B.A. in English from Drew University, Madison, New Jersey, and an M.A. in English (Composition and Rhetoric) from the University of Central Oklahoma. He currently teaches English composition to both international students and Americans at the University of Central Oklahoma and teaches composition, remedial English, and Humanities at Rose State College. In addition, he taught international sections of composition courses at Oklahoma City University in 2000.  He has been a member of Oklahoma Teachers of English as a Second or Other Language (OKTESOL) and served as Chair of Higher Education from November 2002 to November 2003. David also worked in the mental health community for twenty years prior to his teaching career. He has been teaching at ELC since September 1999.

Leyla Mirfakhraei, Office Manager, studied Business Administration, Minor in Graphic Art, at the University of Central Oklahoma. She has worked as office coordinator in the advisement office at UCO as well as the financial aid office. She was an active member of the International Student Council Association and former president of the Iranian Student Association at UCO. She has been at ELC since April 2010 and plans to finish her degree in the near future.

Shelly Derrick, Teacher, has a B.A. in English from the University of Central Oklahoma. She also worked as the director of a local high school foreign exchange student program where she attended NAFSA conferences and other international student workshops. In addition to teaching, she was a tutor for students at the University of Central Oklahoma in the Academic Support Center as well as a substitute teacher for Edmond Public Schools. She has been at ELC since September 2008 and plans to begin working on a master's degree in the near future.

Elise Acker, Teacher, has a B.A. in Creative Writing from Pepperdine University and an M.A. in English TESL from the University of Central Oklahoma. She has worked as an adjunct professor at the Center for Applied Studies in English at Southern Nazarene University and as an English Assistant in Moulins-sur-Allier, France. In addition to teaching, she has worked as a private tutor as well as an English tutor for Tutoring Central at UCO.

Quentin Pratt , Technical Specialist, part time and substitute teacher, has B.A. degrees in English and Philosophy from the University of Central Oklahoma and has completed a year of law school at the University of Tulsa. As an undergraduate, he was an editor for the New Plains Review at UCO. He has taught at ELC for three years and tutored at Raindrop Turkish House in Oklahoma City. He also does graphic and website design.

Kim Denneny, Teacher, holds a BA in Spanish and Intercultural Studies from John Brown University.  She is currently working on her M. Ed. in Bilingual Education/TESL from the University of Central Oklahoma.  Kim has been at ELC since January 2011.  She has traveled extensively and studied abroad in Seville, Spain.  In her spare time, she volunteers as an English tutor to local refugees.  She loves teaching and learning about different languages and cultures.

Mary Ann Ross, Teacher, has had life long experience in education and sales. She has taught ages 3 through university level. At Oklahoma Christian University, she taught multicultural students speed reading. She has owned two businesses, but her first love is the teaching profession. She has a Bachelors of Education, a Masters in child psychology, and graduate work in early childhood and psychometry. She is now in the process of being certified in TESL at Oklahoma University and will be finished in September.
 

Melissa Schiete, Teacher, has a B.A. in English from the University of Central Oklahoma. She has also completed the Cambridge TESL - IH Belfast program to receive her Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. She has traveled throughout the world tutoring and teaching ESL in places such as Zambia, Africa and Northern Ireland. Tutoring international students throughout the OKC metro area and assisting in ESL elementary classes in Guthrie, OK is a part of her daily schedule. She has been an employee of the ELC since Fall 2010 and plans pursue her M.A. in TESL in the near future.

Cathleen Marsh, Reading Specialist, part time certified teacher, has a Masters in education: Reading from Northeastern State University, and a BS in Earth Science from Radford University. She has taught English Language Learners of all ages in Tulsa and Jenks public schools, and in the community through local churches. She worked for the Oklahoma State Department of Education providing professional development to educators throughout the state in ELL teaching strategies, Reading strategies, and classroom management. 

English Language Center
1015-C Waterwood Parkway
Edmond, Oklahoma 73034-5325
Phone: 405-348-7602
E-mail: info@elcok.com