Our Team, Our Opening Hours and How to Reach Us

Ora Melles was raised in an international household. She received her bachelor's degree in general science and mathematics in 1996 and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction in 1997 from the University of Tennessee. In 2018, she completed her PhD in didactics at the University of Bamberg, Germany.

Ora Melles was promoted to Head of Kindergarten and Primary in 2015 and to Principal in 2023. Prior to working in school management, she taught at SIS for five years. Before working in Switzerland, Ora Melles taught both adults and children in various different overseas locations.

She strongly believes that an effective school should have a warm and welcoming climate, because students who know that the community cares about their academic and social well-being are motivated to produce their best work while striving to be their best selves.

Elisabeth Davies was born in Switzerland and spent part of her childhood in Pretoria, South Africa, where she grew up in a multicultural and linguistically diverse environment before returning to Switzerland. After finishing her studies at the Fachmittelschule and completing the Fachmatura at the Kantonsschule in Solothurn in 2016, she pursued a pedagogical path. She received her Bachelors in Primary Education in 2020 from the Pädagogischen Hochschule FHNW in Solothurn. Throughout her studies, she gained experience teaching languages (English, French, German) at an international language school and substituting in numerous primary schools in Switzerland. 

She joined SIS Schönenwerd in 2019 initially as a substitute English Teacher before taking over the role of German Class Teacher from 2020. Since then, she has been a German class teacher in the higher grades and was designated French Specialist Teacher amongst other responsibilities such as Head Sustainability Teacher and teaching Extra-German to non-German speakers.

Elisabeth has an international background, with ties to Switzerland, South Africa and the United Kingdom, and therefore understands the benefits a bilingual education brings. Since joining SIS, Elisabeth has committed herself to executing engaging and differentiated lessons for her multilingual students whilst supporting them on all levels throughout their time in school. For Elisabeth Davies, the most rewarding part about being a teacher is having a unique insight into the growing personalities of each of the students over the years and seeing them return to visit as young adults again.