Principal: Patricia "Cookie" Katskee
Cookie has been our Principal since 2002. She came to us with extensive experience as a teacher and administrator in the Omaha Public School system (37 years!). She is a member of countless local and national organizations, including the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, the National Association of Secondary School Principals and is past member of the Omaha Schools Administrators Executive Board. She has served as President of the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals both for our region and state, and has been a presenter at the National Association of Secondary School Principals' Convention in multiple occasions. Cookie has been awarded many honors for her dedication to Education, including the Nebraska Assistant Principal of the Year (1996), the Excellence in Education Award (1997) and the UNO Distinguished Alumni Award (1997). She has a B.A from University of Northern Colorado, and Masters in Special Education as well as in Educational Administration from University of Nebraska/Omaha. Cookie's husband, Roy, is retired from the Omaha Public Schools. They have two children Scott and Kari and two grandchildren, Cooper and Coco. Her hobbies and interests include travel, fitness training, antiques, nature and environmental issues.

Naama Artzi
Naama came to Friedel in 2001 teaching the Tal Am/Tal Sela Hebrew and Judaic studies curriculum Immersion program which includes also Mitzvoth, T'filah, Torah Holidays, Jewish Identity, Jewish Values, and Israel. Naama brings many skills into her teaching, in addition to having taught at the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle, WA, and being an Omaha community teacher for the after-school program at Beth El Synagogue and Temple Israel, she plays the guitar and teaches Israeli songs and Israeli folk dance. Naama is certified in the Tal Am and Tal Sela Hebrew Language Teaching program, and has completed a B.A. in Behavioral Sciences at Emek Yi'zreel College and Judaic Studies at "Midreshet Harovah", both in Israel. As part of her training she worked as a counselor for immigrant children at the Jewish agency boarding school and counseled fourth and fifth graders at Kibbutz S'deh Eliyahu.
Like most Israelis, she served in the IDF at an infantry unit. Later Naama worked for the UN peacekeeping mission, UNDOF as a secretary to the commanding officer of the Japanese contingent and as travel agent for the Canadian contingent in the Golan Heights. Naama completed a formal training to become a tour guide in Old City of Jerusalem. She is currently working on attaining a Master's Degree in Educational Administration for Jewish Day School at Loyola University in Chicago. Since the time she came to the US, Naama has explored and hiked the state of Nebraska and many other parts of the US.

Denise Bennett
Denise has taught General Studies for Fourth, Fifth and Sixth grades at Friedel for 19 years! Every year her students have participated in the Modern Woodmen of America School Speech Contest. Many of her students have placed or won the District level of the competition, and moved up to the State level. One of her students has won the State competition and went on to represent Nebraska at the National level! Denise is known for incorporating cooking activities to enhance reading, math, and cultural awareness. She completed a BA from Hastings College with a dual major in Art and Elementary Education. In addition she has 10 hours of graduate credit on learning and brain research. She attends workshops regularly on topics such as creative writing, literature studies, discipline and classroom management. Denise has been married for 20 years to Dr. Robert Bennett, PhD, a biochemical researcher at the VA hospital in Omaha. They have one son, Samuel, a sixth grader at Chandlerview Elementary in Bellevue. Together the family enjoys hiking, camping, and going to symphony concerts, museums, and baseball games. Denise enjoys hearing from and keeping up with former students as they experience life's milestones: bar and bat mitzvahs, graduations, careers, weddings, and children!

Tuffy Epstein
Tuffy teaches music to our students. He is an accomplished musician and an experienced music teacher. Tuffy has been a member of the Omaha Musicians Association since the age of 16. He received his Bachelor and Masters in Music Education at the University of Nebraska Lincoln. He was the utility woodwind player for the Lincoln Symphony while attending the university, and later for the Omaha Symphony. He was a member of the United States Air Force Band of the Rockies. Later, he played lead alto saxophone in the Aksarben orchestra, backing many celebrities such as Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Wayne Newton and many others. He also performed in the pit orchestras of great musicals, such as Annie, Funny Girl, Man of La Mancha and others. His experience in schools is extensive. He was the instrumental music teacher and band director of the Carson-Macedonia, Iowa Community Schools. He then became the band and orchestra conductor and talent show coordinator at Nathan Hale Junior High School. He is currently a faculty member of the Cathedral Arts Council Jazz Project, and continues to be a woodwind instructor at Dietze Music House (for over 45 years!). He leads his own jazz and klezmer group and accompanies Friday evening services at Beth El Synagogue. Tuffy is married to a life long educator. They have 3 children.

Julie Phillips
Julie is a native of Lincoln, NE. She graduated from UNL in 1982 with degrees in Psychology and Art History. Julie worked in the Mental Health field with both adults and children for several years before focusing her work on Art. For eight years she implemented an Art appreciation program she created for Loveland Elementary School, and is now still their Art consultant. Since 1998, Julie has developed and taught an artist-based curriculum for Friedel Jewish Academy, a program that has featured the work of Jewish Artists. During these years she has also developed art programs or special productions involving many Jewish organizations from the young children at the CDC to joint programming with our elderly at the Blumkin Home. The Friedel commons functions as a Gallery to exhibit the work of her students, and houses some pieces as a permanent collection. She is currently developing an Artist in Residence program for Friedel which will include Israeli artists from our sister cities that will be facilitated through the Partnership with Israel initiative. Julie's own work, the Vintage Kimono series, was an exhibit at the Omaha Jewish Community Center. In addition to the Art program, Julie volunteers for Friedel in many capacities and was a board member for many years. Aside from the Arts, she enjoys camping, sewing, entertaining, and traveling. Indeed, she has traveled a fair amount to enrich her creativity by visiting many museums and special exhibits in the U.S. and abroad. On one such excursion she brought home more than art books and postcards....she brought home a husband, Dr. Eric Phillips. They have 4 children.

Joyce Rosenberg Stranglen
Joyce has been in the field of education for 26 years, the last 15 as a middle school assistant librarian with Omaha Public Schools. She brings to our library a passion for reading and an understanding of the worlds that are opened to children through books. In addition to her work at OPS, Joyce serves as a volunteer on the Nebraska State Foster Care Review Board. She also has taught religious formation for several years and is active in her parish. Joyce and Ron, her husband of 42 years, have raised four children and have 5 grandchildren. Her interests include gardening, where she excels and golf, where she tries really hard- which is what counts.
 
 
 

Barbara Sather
Barb has taught General Studies at Friedel for 13 years. She has her B.S. from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a double major in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She initially came to Friedel with five years of experience teaching Kindergarten, Third, and Fourth grades at a public school in the Omaha area. She has 12 hours of graduate credit. Barbara enjoys keeping up with old students and their families. It is always fun to attend Bar and Bat Mitzvas and see how the students have matured. Many former students come back to school to visit her and Mrs. Bennett from time to time. Barb enjoys gardening, bird watching, fishing, and almost anything to do with nature. Working in a flower shop for a short time combined her love of nature with a desire to be creative. Weather permitting, she walks a mile and a half in the evenings. She especially enjoys walking around a lake by her house and catching any bits of nature that come her way. Barbara and her husband Gary, who is also a teacher, have raised 5 children of their own. Placing a high value on education, all of their children have graduated from college and two from medical school. They also have five grandchildren with whom they enjoy spending time.

Edith Tsabari
Eadie isn't a stranger to Jewish Education. She has taught at Beth El Synagogue for 14 years and has worked for the past two years as the Hebrew teacher for 3rd - 6th grades in the after school program. She has seen her first kindergarten class off to college (and eager to see the second generation attending her classes). Eadie is certified in the Tal Am and Tal Sela Hebrew Language Teaching program. She graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. In the following chapter of her life, Eadie attended the WUJS Program (World Union of Jewish Students) in Arad, Israel that included a full time Hebrew Ulpan or Hebrew Language Studies, which ended in making Aliya to Israel. She worked in Israel at an Agricultural Seed Company as well as Biotechnology General for more then 7 years. She met her husband Eitan in Israel where they lived and worked on a Moshav. The Tsabaris returned to Omaha in 1988. Eadie served as the production manager in her family business for 10 years and traded this job for running her own home based business, Omaha E Gifts. Her husband has been an engineer with the City of Omaha for 14 years. They have 4 children, Ron and Onie, who are both studying in Israel, Gal, who has completed her first year in the IDF and Effie, who is a sophomore at Westside High School. In her spare time Eadie volunteers in numerous activities at Beth El Synagogue, the JCC and Westside High School. Eadie served as the Board Chairperson of the Child Development Center at the JCC and she is an avid supporter of Jewish education for children. Eadie's interests include travel, music, gardening and reading.

Diana Marie Zeman
Diana has been teaching Kindergarten and/or First grade at Friedel since 1998. She came to us with six year experience teaching in Illinois schools. Diana has an Associate degree in Arts and Science from Illinois Central College and a B.S. Summa Cum Laude, from Bradley University in Education with emphasis in Primary/Kindergarten. Diana has attended workshops for teachers in Kindergarten and has been a coordinating teacher for student teachers. She was the director of an onsite daycare facility for teachers and staff and has also taught at after-school programs. Diana is a very active educator in her parish, having taught the religious education program for children of many age groups. Her dedication to our school led her to complete a year of coursework of the Milton Jewish Adult Education program. Diana has twin daughters who attend college and a cat named Kitty. Hobbies include crafts, reading and watching her daughters ice skate.

Mary Jane Tweedy
Mary Jane comes to us with 10 year school secretary experience from the Mitchell School District, SD. In addition, she brings a plethora of skills into her position from having co-owned a business as well as from her work in management positions, sales and tailoring. Mary Jane has found many opportunities to enhance her education by completing courses on Economics, Business, Accounting, Conservation and Ecology, and computer applications. Her husband of 43 years, Norman, is retired. They have 5 children and 12 grand children. Hobbies and interests include sewing and gardening.