Department: Social Studies
Mr. Brian Abrams
Mr. Brian Abrams
LuHi Role: Teacher (Social Studies), joined the LuHi faculty in 2022
Education: Stony Brook University B.A. in History and Social Science; Hofstra University M.S. in ED
What I love about my role: I love teaching history because it allows us to better understand how and why decisions are made today. Events from our past influence our choices and hopefully lead us to better ourselves for the future.
Previous professional experience:Prior to working at LuHi, I was the middles school Social Studies teacher at St. Anne’s School in Garden City for 4 years. And prior to that, I worked at Imagine Schools in Arizona as the middle school Social Studies teacher for 8 years.
Hobbies: I enjoy reading (historical fiction), playing golf, and doing puzzles with my family.
Family:I have been married for 17 years to my lovely wife Erin. She is also an educator, she teaches forensics and Biology. I have two wonderful children, my son is 13 and my daughter is 9. We have a dog named Lilah, she is a beagle jack Russell mix.
What I love most about LuHi:What I love most about teaching at LuHi is the people. Everyone is friendly, kind and welcoming.
Ms. Alex Calimopulos ’09
Ms. Alex Calimopulos ’09
LuHi Role: Teacher (English, Social Studies, World Language); Director of Transportation for LuHi Summer Programs; joined the LuHi faculty in 2016
Education: Bachelor of Arts in French literature & language/English literature & language, Minor in European Studies (Summa Cum Laude)
What I love about my role: I teach in many different departments which gives me the ability to connect with students across a multitude of grade levels. I truly enjoy sharing literature with my students. I love when they can connect stories read in class to real world issues or relate to them on a personal level.
Hobbies: I enjoy traveling and exploring new cultures, cooking, and reading.
Family: My sister and many cousins attended LuHi from 6th-12th grade. My sister and I currently live together in Queens with our dog Winnie.
What I love about LuHi: What I love most about teaching at LuHi is the community of students that I am lucky to connect with each day. I value all of the relationships that I have built with my students and the family that we have built in the classroom. They truly inspire me to be my best every single day.
Mrs. Denise Merkle
Mrs. Denise Merkle
LuHi Role: Teacher and Department Chair (Social Studies), joined the LuHi faculty in 2000
Education: Dowling College, Bachelors of Arts – History; Dowling College, Masters of Science – Adolescent Education
What I love about my role: I love that when I organize a lesson that it can teach young students about different cultures from all over the world. I also enjoy that as a veteran teacher I can help mentor new teachers as they begin their careers.
Hobbies: Exercise, reading, travel
What I love most about LuHi: I love that I have the flexibility to organize authentic lessons and assessments which can help students to navigate life in the future.
Mr. Denis Scannell
Mr. Denis Scannell
LuHi Role: Teacher (Government, Freshman Seminar), Girls Varsity Lacrosse coach, Middle School Flag Football coach; joined the LuHi Faculty in 2004
Education: Stony Brook University, BA in Social Sciences; Dowling College, Master of Science in Secondary Education; Xavier University, Master of Science in Coaching and Athlete Development; Long Island University, School Leadership
What I love about my role: I love the opportunity to delve into the learning process with our freshman and how it can help them achieve in their other courses. Teaching government to seniors is an opportunity to dive deep into topics and issues that they will help solve in their post-LuHi lives
Other professional experience: Public school teacher, Associate Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach at Suffolk Community College
Hobbies: Lacrosse, Surfing, Reading and Writing
Family: I am the proud husband to Colleen, and dad to Liam (13) and Mia (11) as well as Sherlock the dog, campus cats turned pets Blake and Everest, Gecko-Bruce, Snail-Snaily, and probably another animal procured after publication.
What I love most about LuHi: The mission of LuHi is about more than grades, awards, subjects, and transcripts. It is about the development of the whole person and their relationship to God, the world, their country, their community, and their family.
Rev. Adam Schoepflin ’05
Rev. Adam Schoepflin ’05
LuHi Role: Campus Pastor, Teacher (Religion/Social Studies); joined the LuHi faculty in 2011.
Education: Adelphi University, BS Mathematics, (Summa Cum Laude, Honors Diploma); Adelphi University, MA Adolescent Education (Summa Cum Laude, Pi Mu Epsilon, Kappa Delta Pi); Concordia Seminary, SMP Pastor
Other professional experience: Teacher, Mepham High School; Currently serve as Assistant Pastor at The Life Lutheran Church.
Hobbies: Reading, fishing, soccer
Awards: NCMTA Outstanding Achievement in Mathematics Education Award
What I love most LuHi: Mission/service work
Dr. Rudder Jenkins
Dr. Rudder Jenkins
LuHi Role: Teacher (Social Studies), joined the LuHi faculty in January 2021
Education: Liberty University (2007), B.S. Religion; Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (2013), M.A. Church History & M. A. Theology (Magna Cum Laude); The School of Oriental and African Studies (2020), University of London, PhD in Histories, Religions, and Philosophies
Other professional experience: Before LuHi, I spent the last several years pursuing my PhD and working as a golf caddie in Scotland.
What I love about my role: I cherish the community feel and the freedom to mold my classes in different directions.
Hobbies: Golf, Travel, Food
Family: I have a wife (Jennifer), a son (Eli) who is almost 2, and our dog (Jara)
What I love about LuHi: The interaction between students and faculty is really unique.
Mr. Daniel Kielbasa
Mr. Daniel Kielbasa
LuHi Role: Teacher (Social Studies), Social Studies Department Co-Chair, joined the LuHi faculty in 2011
Education: St. Joseph’s College (2008), BA History and Secondary Ed. (Salutatorian); University of Maryland Baltimore County (2010), MA History
What I love about my role: I love teaching Social Studies at LuHi because we can dig deep into areas of student interests to create strong connections between past events and students’ understandings of the current world around them.
Hobbies: Skateboarding, fly fishing, and hiking
Awards and other professional experience: Lutheran Schools Association Rookie of the Year, Lutheran Schools Association Teacher of the Year, have spent four summers working as a Park Ranger at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park
What I love about LuHi: I love the strong bonds we forge with our colleagues and our students. I also love the freedom teachers have in deciding how to approach their curriculum and methodologies.