Joan Koelle Snipes earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois in 1973 where she double majored in elementary education and English. She has taught in both private and public schools, as well as in Head Start. Joan's interest in the Bible goes back to her childhood days. It was when she was asked to teach a lively group of bright four-year-olds in 1974, though, that she began an earnest study of the Bible and began writing simple comprehension questions about the major stories. With the addition of more questions each week, Joan needed to organize the questions in a way that enabled her to retrieve them easily. Thus began her outline of the Bible. Joan taught in her community's ecumenical Vacation Bible School and conducted Bible workshops for fellow Sunday School teachers.  Dear Joan passed away in 2008.  Her husband Bob -- Joan's silent partner in Bible Teaching Press -- carries her legacy forward.  Bob will reply to any correspondence and fill orders for her publications.

Twice Joan spoke at the annual Bible Study Seminars held each June at Asilomar in California. In 1998 Joan visited Israel and Egypt with tour guide Kristy Christian of Oklahoma City.

From 2000 to 2008, Joan gave Bible workshops around the country. Her topics included: Teaching the Bible to Children, Women Prophets, and Hezekiah, Godly King of Judah. Workshop participants include parents, grandparents, current and prospective Sunday School teachers, and others interested in Bible literacy. Joan conducted over 80 workshops. She and her husband, Bob, traveled to Canada, England, and 23 states -- from Maine to California.