Cheri Gipson
Hello fellow teachers! I am Cheri Gipson. I am thrilled to be a part of the online ESL community as a teacher with ZebraEnglish. I have practiced for over fifteen years as a speech therapist and began teaching online five years ago. I have worked in many settings including preschools, early intervention, hospitals, and as an instructor for a speech therapy department in a local university. My specialty is in the area of speech and language development and how they are similar and different with native speaking students and ESL students. My life is full of learning with my students, collaborating with fellow teachers and parenting my children. My husband and I are the proud (and sometimes tired) parents of four children of ages 13, 14, 14, and 20. We traveled over ten years ago to Russia to complete the adoption of our sons, which completed our family. We enjoy attending the sporting events and extracurricular activities of our children and taking family vacations. I am so thankful for the ability to work from my home while making a difference in the lives of my students halfway across the world. I love learning, reading novels, and spending time with my family and friends. I also am passionate about all things ZebraEnglish, and enjoy helping teachers join our growing family. We all have much to contribute to the ZE community. Joanne, Susanna, and myself are very excited to share our tips and tricks with you and offer support as we all navigate the ever-changing world of online English as a Second Language teaching. I look forward to “meeting” you on our page!
Susanna Patrick
Meet Teacher Sus
- Hello friends! My name is Susanna Patrick: aka Teacher Sus. I am a proud wife, momma, sister, daughter, friend, and Online ESL instructor with Zebra English. I have over 5 years of teaching experience (both online and in the real world) and I’m thrilled to go to China every morning from my computer and teach students how to speak in English. I’m happy, excited, and passionate about teaching and if you ever see one of my classes you will clearly know that I love what I do.
- When I’m not teaching I am a stay at home mom to two beautiful daughters: Elizabeth who is 14, and Lauren who is 8. I’m so thankful I can work from home so I can pick up my girls from school every day and drive them to Twistee Treat (they are obsessed with their ice cream
). My husband is a 47 time Emmy Award-winning journalist and even though he is the one on TV, I’m the one that cheers him on and makes him look good.
- I’m a healthy eater...yes, I’m one of those...and I love running at least 5 days a week. When I say ‘run’ it’s more like a slow crawl, but I still feel great when I’m done. I live in beautiful Celebration Florida, right next to Disney World where we have annual passes and can pop over to the parks anytime we’d like.
- I’m grateful for the online teaching world. I’ve met some of the most amazing people both online and in-person and I can’t wait to get to know you! Let’s share what we know, let’s learn from each other, and most of all, let’s encourage one another to be our best: both in the classroom and out! I look forward to helping you with your Zebra English journey!
Joeann Foster
Hello ZebraEnglish family! I am Joeann Foster, known to my beloved students as Teacher Joeann, and to my ZE interviewees as Jojo! I am honored to be a Mentor Teacher with ZE and one of the first ZE teachers with their one-on-one platform.
I discovered the wonderful world of ESL Online Teaching in March of 2019 and jumped in immediately teaching classes and taking 13 workshops within the first 2 weeks. I have always loved teaching; therefore, I was amazed that I could teach from home around our family’s schedule and get paid for it!! Is this even real?!?
Education and teaching have always been a part of my life since a child. My heart’s desire was to be an algebra teacher, but I chose elementary/early childhood education as I realized my influential teachers were in that category. I still keep in touch with my amazing 5th-grade teacher in NC now going on 40 years. God has a way of giving you your heart’s desire and upon graduating from college I was offered a position as an Algebra teacher. I loved it!
I returned to graduate school for a year’s study in education and then met my husband. After marrying and settling in Starkville, MS, then I became the blessed mom of 11 biological children (no twins…ha!) ages 3-24yo! They are my heart! Our oldest is in TX for doctoral work and the rest are in college here. We even have a Russian grad student living with us now. He used to say that he was learning his subliminal English lesson when I would teach ESL near For 35 years, I have worked with children and teens in leadership positions in the classroom, in church, homeschooling, and in the community.
When not teaching, I enjoy family activities, playing games, event planning, connecting people, dancing, and time in the morning with God’s word and my journal. Most important to me is my faith rooted in the gospel of Christ, my family, friends, community, and now my new family, the ZE family!! I have enjoyed getting to know and working with Cheri, Susanna, and all the other awesome ZE Teachers. I love ZE and am passionate about all things ZE due to their students, parents, and employees.
If you would like to connect with me or schedule one-on-one face-to-face coaching, please visit