Department: Administration
Mr. Tom Kuck ’99
Mr. Tom Kuck ’99
LuHi Role: Head of Campus Operations
Education: B.S. Physical Education (2004) – Adelphi University; M.S. Health Education (2008) – Hofstra University; A.O.S. Computer Aided Drafting and Design: Architectural (2013) – Island Drafting & Technical Institute
What I love about my role: I love that I am able to use my skills and interests to provide the best service possible to the school community through facility maintenance, enhancements, and sustainability in all campus environments.
Hobbies: Boating, tinkering, and raising funds and awareness cancer research.
What I love most about LuHi: I love working at LuHi because, as an alum, I am able to give back to a place that holds a special place in my life.
Mrs. Melanie Logan
Mrs. Melanie Logan
LuHi Role: Athletic Director, joined the LuHi staff in August 2022
Education:The University of Tulsa, BS Exercise Sports Science; Concordia University Irvine, MA Coaching & Athletic Administration; Queens College, MA Urban Affairs
Other Professional Experience: In my athletic career I have achieved All-American accolades as well as Conference and Regional Championships. I have traveled internationally to represent the United States Team on the European, Caribbean and Canadian track circuits. Fun fact about me, my athletic life has led me to live in two of the three states that begin with the letter O. Oklahoma (University of Tulsa) & Oregon (Nike).
Over the past decade, I worked at Equinox as a certified Personal Trainer and was promoted to a Personal Training Recruiter as part of the Human Resources Department. Later on I became the People & Culture Coordinator in the corporate office. I later on made a career change into education and worked at Léman Manhattan Preparatory School as the Female Athletic Liaison, PE Teacher and Varsity Track Coach during the school year and Buckley Day Camp during the summer.
Hobbies: Three of my hobbies are practicing yoga, making fun foods with my children, and reading.
What I love about my role: As an athlete throughout my life I have always loved the team dynamics and the teaching of life skills through Athletics. Once I completed my professional running career, my goal was to use my life work to be a blessing to others by helping them become the best version of themselves in mind, body and spirit.
Family: My husband Deraund and I have been blessed with four amazing children. Vaughn 8, Hunter 6, Sloane 2 and Emerson 8 months.
What I love about LuHi: I love the energy of the LuHi community members and their intentionality of connecting during each interaction. Of what I have experienced thus far, you can feel the love and passion everyone here puts into their work, it’s felt throughout the entire campus.
Mr. Jason Wass
Mr. Jason Wass
LuHi Role: Director of LuHi Summer Programs, joined the LuHi staff in 2020
Education: University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2003), BBA Finance
What I love about my role: Love bringing energy to this beautiful campus during the summer months. Campers of all ages roam the grounds to play, discover and create.
Other professional experience: Director of Tennis and Camps for Sportime.
Hobbies: Skiing, traveling, baseball
Family: I married my wife Julie in 2009, we met in college 10 years prior. We have 1 son, Danny, who was born in 2015.
What I love about LuHi: Extraordinary people here at LuHi who genuinely care about others while educating and inspiring students to strive for future success.
Mr. Kyle Hanson
Mr. Kyle Hanson
LuHi Role: Chief Financial Officer, joined the LuHi staff in 2020
Education: Marquette University (1994), Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Summa cum Laude)
What I love about my role: Helping leadership ensure LuHi delivers on the mission to glorify God by educating young people in body, mind, and spirit.
Other professional experience: TRIUN3, LLC Founder/Executive Director
Hobbies: Basketball, Golf, Travel
Family: Wife Jen (94); kids Jonathan (04), Jayden (05), and Amber (07); cats Luke and Rex
Mr. John Buck ’02
Mr. John Buck ’02
LuHi Role: Head of School and Varsity Basketball Head Coach, joined the LuHi faculty in 2007. Previous LuHi experience includes Mathematics teacher, Ethics teacher, and Dean of Students.
Education: Wake Forest University (2006), BA Economics (Cum Laude); The Ohio University (2010), MS Patton College of Education
What I love about my role: I loved building relationships with the students. I believe positive relationships improve student engagement and interest in the material. Currently, I love the opportunity to imagine and create a new and exciting future here at LuHi!
Other professional experience: After college, I spent one year exploring the finance world before realizing that I was passionate about education and working with young people.
Hobbies: Coaching basketball, playing golf, and traveling
Family: wife Kasey, children Miles, Levi, Ivy, dog Gus, eight chickens
Awards and experiences: Was chosen to attend the 2012 Presidential Debate (town-hall format) at Hofstra University, selected as one of 5 finalists for USA Today’s Boys Basketball Coach of the Year in 2019
What I love most about LuHi: As a teacher, the world can be a harsh place. LuHi is not. I’m truly blessed to work with faculty, staff, students, and families that understand our purpose. We support each other and treat each other with respect. Graduation day is always an emotional one, as I reflect on the growth that each student has shown during his or her LuHi career.
Mrs. Jessica Raba ’98
Mrs. Jessica Raba ’98
LuHi Role: Assistant Head of School | Principal; joined the LuHi staff in 2017. Previous roles include Principal (2018-2022) and Director of Teaching and Learning (2017-2018)
Education: Valparaiso University (2002), BSEd in Elementary Education with endorsements in Special Education and Reading; Fordham University (2005), MSEd in Literacy Education
What I love about my role: Having worked as a teacher, administrator, consultant, and non-profit executive, I can say with conviction that I am happiest and most fulfilled in my work when I can interact directly with the people whom I am honored to serve. At LuHi, as principal, I most enjoy my interactions with students, faculty, and families, for it is through those interactions that I am best able to see the impact of my work. I see it in the classroom, the halls, at special events, and even just in conversation. I appreciate being able to observe, ask questions, and work as a team to make LuHi the best that it can be for our students and am motivated as I consider my own daughters as future LuHi students.
Other Professional Experience: After college, I taught Middle School English at The Chapel School in Bronxville, NY, where I also completed by Master’s Degree. I then became part of the founding team of New Heights Academy Charter School in Upper Manhattan, where I taught Middle School English and Social Studies and later served as a Staff Developer, working mainly with our Social Studies and Languages Other Than English departments. After that, I served as a consultant for Authentic Education, where I worked with a variety of middle and high schools in the five boroughs as a part of the Department of Education’s Innovation Zone project. I then was tasked to co-lead Toledo Learn, a project with the K-12 Toledo Public School system. Over the years, I have continued to consult with schools and districts through Authentic Education and have worked in New York, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Connecticut through that organization, presenting at a variety of conferences nationally and internationally. In 2013, I assumed the role of Executive Director of the Lutheran School Association, supporting Lutheran schools (including LuHi) through advocacy at local and state levels and professional development and guidance for leaders of these schools. In 2017, I joined the faculty and staff of LuHi as Director of Teaching and Learning, and in 2018 became Principal. I feel that God led me back to LuHi after college and my earlier career provided me the opportunity to experience a variety of school and organizational settings.
Hobbies: Reading, learning calligraphy, and being outside (hiking/biking/kayaking/walking)
Family: I have been married to my husband Doug since 2007, and we have two daughters: Isabelle is 10 and in 45th grade and Eloise is 7 and in 2nd grade. We have lived in New York City, Toledo, Ohio, and have been living on Long Island since returning from Ohio in 2013.
What I love about LuHi: It is difficult to encapsulate what I most love about working at LuHi, as there is so much to love. I can distill it down to one key theme: growth. I am fascinated by the ways that experiences and interactions, woven with our God-given talents and gifts, shape humans and contribute to growth in all forms. LuHi’s focus on body, mind, and spirit demands that we think broadly about human growth. I love that we see our students as individual gifts from God and recognize that each experience and interaction shapes the individual. Couple this with our desire to be in community with one another and I find that we are uniquely poised to support students (as well as the faculty, staff, and families) in both growing personally and growing as a community. It’s incredible to consider our community as a tapestry of sorts where our individual contributions and interactions can strengthen the whole.
Mr. Chris Reno
Mr. Chris Reno
LuHi Role: Assistant Principal for Student Life and Varsity Football Coach, joined the LuHi faculty in 1999. Past LuHi experience includes Assistant Principal (2016-2021), Middle School Principal (2011-16), and US History and Government Teacher (1998-2011).
Education: Concordia University-Nebraska (1997), BS Education Social Sciences; LIU Post (2006), Master of Arts (Phi Alpha Theta); SLED-School Leadership Program (2011); Liberty University (2015) Graduate Certificate School Leadership
Other professional experience: Taught U.S. History at the Cathedral Home for Children in Laramie, Wyoming.
What I love about my role: My favorite part of teaching is the creativity in generating lesson plans and material that will hopefully promote interest among the students. My favorite part of my current job is the opportunity to be supportive of our students and families when they are faced with challenges or difficult circumstances.
Hobbies: I currently serve as the varsity football head coach here at LuHi and I absolutely love to study opponents film and prepare the team accordingly. I love to read entirely non-fiction. I am a huge fan of the Denver Broncos and met Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway when I was in 4th grade. He asked me to shoot his free throw at a charity basketball game. Unfortunately, I missed the free throw and that is why I don’t coach basketball today.
Family: My wife Kelly and I met in college. We have one daughter who currently attends LuHi. We have two outrageous cartoon character dogs Mira (Black Lab) and Rosie (a toy Havanese).
Awards: Newell Sargent Award for Outstanding Educator 1999, LSA High School Teacher of the Year 2010, Randy Abbe Christian Service Award 2019
What I love about LuHi: I really appreciate the people I work with and the opportunity to help kids as a part of a ministry.
Mrs. Laura Callahan
Mrs. Laura Callahan
LuHi Role: Assistant Principal of Academics, joined the LuHi faculty in 1996. Past LuHi experience includes Sixth Grade Math and Science Teacher (22 Years); Seventh Grade English teacher (3 years); Data Dean (7 years); MS Principal (4 years)
Education: Molloy College (1992), MA Education/Communication Arts double major; Molloy College (2003), MS Education NYS Permanent Teacher Certification awarded (Kappa Delta Pi)
What I love about my role: Taking my career from classroom teacher to administration has been a rewarding experience. Working with families, students, and teachers to make the most out of the LuHi experience for all and supporting everyone in the process is my ultimate professional goal each day.
Family: Married for 27 years with three boys ranging in age from 15-22.
What I love about LuHi: Working at LuHi enables me to be a resource for families and students as they navigate the middle and high school years. Our core values are the backbone of my educational philosophy and personal beliefs, and it is a gift to be able to incorporate these into my professional life.
Mrs. Donna Orleman
Mrs. Donna Orleman
LuHi Role: Director of Human Resources; joined the LuHi staff in 2016
Education: WPI (1996), Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a Biomedical Concentration; NYIT (2015) Master of Science in School Counseling (Chi Sigma Iota)
Other professional experience: I worked in higher education for over 15 years at NYIT, MIT, University of San Francisco, Brandeis and WPI. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Lutheran Schools Association (LSA, Metropolitan-NY area)
Hobbies: Reading, taking bike rides with my family, and learning new things
Family: I love my family! My husband and I are both originally from NY, went to college in Massachusetts, met in Boston, travelled to CA together, moved back to MA where our 2 kids were born, and are now settled on Long Island where I grew up. We live around the corner from my dad, and have 2 cats, and a dog named Ringo. I am current LuHi parent!
What I love about LuHi: I love that LuHi readies its students for their next stage of life by helping them identify, embrace and enhance their God-given talents and abilities.
Mrs. Jane Lottes
Mrs. Jane Lottes
LuHi Role: Head of Advancement, joined the Development office in 1995.
Education: Concordia University, Nebraska (1982), BS in Education
What I love about my role: I love connecting alumni, parents, and friends of the school to our important ongoing mission of preparing compassionate, educated leaders for a life of service to others. I love that we take a student where they are and we provide them with the environment and tools to grow into all that God intends for them!
Hobbies: If it can be called a hobby, I love people – meeting them, learning from them, sharing with them. And I love to travel even though I don’t get to do it as often as I would like.
Family: My husband John worked with me for many years at LuHi, so it has always been a family affair. I am very proud of my three sons who are all graduates of LuHi and are each successful in their fields. I have four wonderful grandchildren – Jack (5), Beau (2), Charlotte (1) and newborn Maeve
What I love about LuHi: I came here from the Midwest right out of college to teach at LuHi, thinking I would only stay a few years, and found a family here. This unique sense of family is something that so many LuHi people feel, and it is one of the things that make it extraordinary. The LuHi family is truly my extended family.
Mrs. Janna Kalin
Mrs. Janna Kalin
LuHi Role: Director of Admissions, joined the LuHi staff in 2017
Education: Liberty University (2016), BS – Speech Communication: Professional Communication (Summa cum Laude)
What I love about my role: I love introducing families to such an amazing school! Prospective families can truly feel how special LuHi’s culture is as soon as they step foot on campus.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending my free time with my husband, Dan, and son, Sawyer! We love exploring new places, spending time outside, and making memories with family and friends.
What I love about LuHi: I love the culture of community and kindness. Our students respect each other and lift one another up. I love sharing that culture with new families!