Angela Vasquez, English Teacher
Mrs. Vasquez comes to CLHS from Hawaii where she taught English classes. She lived in Honolulu for 15 years, teaching at Lutheran High School of Hawaii and Damien Memorial School in Honolulu. She has also taught in Illinois and Nebraska. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a minor in instrumental music and English from Concordia University-Nebraska and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a minor in methods and curriculum from Concordia University-Portland.
Sarah Behrendt, English Teacher
Ms. Behrendt comes to Concordia having worked as a substitute teacher for nearly two years at St. Matthew Lutheran School. She previously taught English at two Lutheran schools after graduating from Albion College in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a major in English and a minor in history.
Trevor Campbell, Art Teacher
Mr. Campbell graduated in May 2016 from Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in visual arts education. He student taught at Muncie Central High School in the art department. He previously worked as a paid instructor for elementary classrooms as well as an assistant teacher during his time at Ball State.
Sally Rish, Study Center Aide
Aaron Buchholz, Social Studies/Theology Teacher
Mr. Buchholz graduated in December 2015 from Concordia University-Nebraska with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in history and theology. He also has a bachelor’s degree in history. He previously student taught and was a substitute teacher at two high schools in Nebraska.
Phil Brackmann, Dean of Student Success
A 2004 graduate of Concordia Lutheran High School, Mr. Brackmann made the transition this year from the math department to the administrator role of Dean of Student Success. He joined the Concordia staff in 2013 and previously worked as a math teacher at Churubusco High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Concordia University-Ann Arbor.
Krista Friend, Student Success Assistant
After serving in the Admissions Office for 11 years and most recently as the Director of Enrollment and Retention, Mrs. Friend is making the transition to the Student Success Office (formally Student Services). She will be working with Phil Brackmann to help to create new programs that will serve students in their pursuit of success
Andrew Stout, Physical Education Teacher
Mr. Stout comes to Concordia having taught as an Assistant Professor of Exercise and Sport Sciences at Manchester University since 2008. He previously worked as an elementary physical education teacher, a soccer coach, and a middle and high school health and physical education teacher. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Indiana State University and a master’s in kinesiology from the University of North Texas.
Sean Gibson, Social Studies Teacher
A 2004 graduate of Concordia, Mr. Gibson returns to CLHS to teach after having worked as a social studies teacher at Horizon Christian Academy. He held that position since 2014. Before then, he worked as a substitute teacher. He also worked as a swim coach, most recently at Carroll High School and Arlington Park. He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary social studies education from Indiana University.
Mike Campbell, Guidance Counselor
Mr. Campbell comes to Concordia having worked as a special education teacher at New Haven High School and previously at East Noble High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Indiana University and completed a master’s degree in school counseling in 2015 from IU. For a year, he did an internship at New Haven High School where he provided a variety of counseling and guidance services to promote and enhance student development and achievement.
Aaron Spencer, Media Arts Teacher
A 2001 CLHS graduate, Mr. Spencer returns to Concordia’s Media Arts Department after leaving the high school in 2014. During his time away, he worked for the Fort Wayne TinCaps as a camera operator and with the City of Fort Wayne as a 911 dispatcher, and he continued to own his own business, Time Flies Photo & Video. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Phoenix.
Leah Zink, Media Arts Teacher
Ms. Zink comes to Concordia after having graduated from Huntington University’s animation program in 2015. She has done freelance graphic design work since graduation, and completed films and animations as a student.
Diane Whitacre, Elementary Band Instructor
Mrs. Whitacre comes to Concordia’s band program having taught recently at Bishop Dwenger High School, Huntington County School and Southwest Allen County Schools. She taught various levels and varieties of music, including band, choir, elementary music and orchestra. She also gives private lessons. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Indiana University.
David Nash, Math Teacher
A 1986 graduate of Concordia, Mr. Nash returns to the high school having taught at Culver Academies as a math instructor since 1999. He also previously taught at Prairie Heights High School and Bishop Luers High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics teaching from Ball State University and a master’s degree in secondary education from Indiana University-South Bend.
Adam Friedrich, Band Director
Mr. Friedrich previously served at CLHS as a student teacher under the direction of Dianne Moellering. He graduated from Concordia Chicago in May 2016. He has already been working with the students through Summer Camp and getting ready for the marching season.
Patrick Frerking, Principal
Mr. Frerking has worked extensively overseas since 1993, helping to establish the school in Hanoi as well as Concordia International School Shanghai in China where he served as a teacher and an administrator, including as assistant principal. He also served for five years as a high school science teacher at Hong Kong International School. His career began at Lutheran South High School in St. Louis as a science teacher after earning his Bachelor of Science degree in education from Concordia College-Seward. He also earned his Master of Education degree from the same institution.
Craig Kozlowski, Director of Buildings & Grounds
Mr. Kozlowski has been the president and owner of Property Management Partners, which inspects grounds, facilities and equipment for various residential properties, since 2004. He has extensive experience in residential, retail, office, and institutional asset and facility management. He has worked on multiple construction and development projects and has years of experience in property maintenance and management. He is a graduate of Indiana State University with a degree in communications/business administration. He was also a member of the baseball team and played in the College World Series. He also went on to play professional baseball with the Montreal Expos club (lower A ball) for a year after college.
Austin Thoms, Director of Annual Giving & Head Boys Basketball Coach
A 2006 graduate of Concordia, Mr. Thoms is a 2010 graduate of Taylor University with a bachelor’s degree in business management, and a 2012 graduate of Hawaii Pacific University with a master’s degree in human resource management. He has spent the last six years in college basketball coaching. From 2010-2012, he was a graduate assistant men’s coach at Hawaii Pacific University; from 2012-2015, he was the video coordinator/administrative assistant women's basketball at University of Nebraska; and from 2015-2016, he was the assistant women’s basketball coach at University of Northern Colorado. As the Director of Annual Giving, he will lead the Cadet Fund campaign, which is the annual fund to support the high school.
John Minnich, Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Minnich is a Certified Public Account who is previously worked as an assistant professor of accounting at Manchester University where he has designed and taught courses in nonprofit management, accounting, business, finance and business application. He also worked as an accountant and consultant at many firms and organizations, including Dulin, Ward & DeWald, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in financial accounting from Manchester as well as a Master of Accountancy from the same university. He has been awarded multiple certifications and grants, and was recognized as a “40 under 40” honoree in 2014 from the Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly.
Jenny Grisez, Development Assistant and The Lutheran Schools Partnership Assistant
A 1993 graduate of Concordia, Mrs. Grisez is currently working part time as she helps her parents close out their business, Pak-Mail, and by late August will come on board full-time. She is married to Dan, and they have two children, Hayley and Kyle, both CLHS students.