Principal

Ron Giller
Ron graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1969. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education and Education Administration Degrees from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He taught pre-kindergarten, first grade, and third grade with the Bellevue Public Schools from 1973-1983. He spent the next 23 years as an elementary principal in three buildings from 1983-2006, and accepted an elementary principalship in Glenwood, Iowa - 2006-2008. Ron has been a member of The Nebraska Council of School Administrators, The National Council of Elementary School Principals, The Nebraska Association of Retired Administrators, and the School Administrators of Iowa. He served as President of the Omaha Metro Elementary Principals Organization, and held numerous executive board positions from 1996-2006. He was named Region ll Outstanding Elementary Principal in 2004. Ron and his wife, Kaye, enjoy traveling, gardening, theater, biking, and attending Nebraska football games.

Teachers

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 peace-keeping mission, UNDOF both Japanese contingent and  Canadian contingent in the Golan Heights. In 2007, Naama graduated the Master's Degree in Educational Administration for Jewish Day School at the JELI and the Loyola University in Chicago. Naama received the 2008 Outstanding Jewish teacher Award.

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. Three of her students have won the State speech competition and gone on to represent Nebraska at the National level! 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 23 years to Dr. Robert Bennett, PhD, a biochemical researcher at the VA hospital in Omaha. They have one son, Samuel, a freshman at Central High. 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!

Angela Gormley
Angela Gormley came to Friedel Jewish Academy as a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Angie graduated Magna Cum Laude with additional academic honors from Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi. She is currently teaching first grade and is a wonderful addition to Friedel.  Angie is a Papillion, NE native and is quite familiar with the small school environment. Friedel is very fortunate as Angie works well with all students and staff members and demonstrates enthusiasm and excellent rapport. In addition to the educational world, she has worked with Kidz Explore, Scholastic Book Fair, Peace By Piece-cultural awareness program, the safe ride home program and as a volunteer at a hospital and nursing home. Angie is an avid reader.

Ashley Barrow
Ashley is a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is currently teaching second grade at Friedel Jewish Academy. She student taught Kindergarten at Hillside Elementary and second grade at Rockbrook Elementary in Omaha. Ashley is an Omaha native, born and raised, who spend much of her childhood attending activities at the JCC. Ashley has 15 years of experience working with children in a variety of settings, including Children's Square USA, nannying, and volunteering at her church. During her free time, Ashley likes to compete in marathons and to read.

Barbara Sather
Barb has taught General Studies at Friedelfor 20 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. 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 10 grandchildren with whom they enjoy spending time.

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 46 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. In 2009, Joyce added the distinction of becoming a Master Gardener and she currently serves on the Master Gardener Advisory Board.

Edith Tsabari
Eadie isn't a stranger to Jewish Education. She has taught at Beth El Synagogue for 18 years and has worked 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 Tsabari's 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 18 years. They have 4 children, Ron, Onie,  and Gal are all studying in Israel. Effie, who is a freshman at the University of Texas-Austin. In her spare time Eadie volunteers in numerous activities at Beth El Synagogue and the JCC. 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 course work 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.

Art & Music

Julie Phillips
A Nebraska native, married to great guy from Philadelphia whom I met while backpacking through the streets of Italy…We have 4 children and a fluffy white dog named Pablo Picasso. Omaha has been our home for the past 16 years. Most of this time, I have poured my heart and artistic soul into nourishing the creativity in my children and others. I have always dreamed of one day pursuing my studies in Art and this exhibit is the expression of a dream coming true. Ever since I can remember I have been creating art. I was fortunate to have family who saw me as an artist before I knew the words to describe myself, who gave me freedom and opportunity to express my self and who instinctively knew the importance of this self-expression. My art draws from this experience through its sentimental use of vintage fabrics and papers. I am an eternal optimist. In my work there are no reminders of what is difficult and dark in the world. The beauty of creation and life is what I am drawn to. Through my work I want to create atmospheres of color, texture, and line that surrounds and envelops the viewer. If I could paint the walls and furniture and bring the viewer into the painting, encircled by the history and passion of heartfelt creativity, I would. Maybe that is my next oeuvre. I work from a collage perspective often using mixed media: acrylic, oil paint, oil stick, gel medium, and vintage and contemporary fabrics and papers. I hold a B.A., Psychology and Art History, from the University of Nebraska
and a M.A. in Studio ART-Venice Program at NYU

Rod Schmidt
Rod grew up on a farm in southeast Nebraska near the town of Cook, graduated from Cook High School in 1957 and then went onto UNL, where he received a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Music degree. He taught music in Sterling, NE for four years, Falls City, NE for nine years and in the Bellevue Public Schools for 23 years. He has served as a president of the Nebraska School Band Directors Association, was awarded the Donald Lentz Outstanding Band Director Award, was president of the Nebraska chapter of the National Association of Jazz Educators, and was elected to the Nebraska Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2001. Since moving to Bellevue in 1974, he has kept active performing as a trombonist in Omaha area bands, with the latest being the Street Railway Company Jazz Band, a local dixieland band.

Rod and his wife Grace have three daughters and seven grandchildren, and they enjoy traveling, performing music (Grace is a pianist), going to concerts and being with grandchildren.

Mary Amador
Mary Amador grew up in a musical family in Moline, Ill. It was natural for Mrs. Amador to take up the violin with both of her parents teaching music. After graduating from the University of Iowa, she continued her studies earning a Master of Music in violin performance at the University of Michigan. Her teachers include Allen Ohmes, Jacob Krachmalnick, and Camilla Wicks. Mrs. Amador has played as professional violinist since 1981 for the San Francisco Opera and Ballet Orchestras, the Modesto, Fresno, and Santa Rosa California orchestras and the Lincoln Symphony.

She came to Omaha as the assistant concertmaster of the Omaha Symphony, and then taught strings in the Omaha Public schools. Besides serving on the faculty of Omaha Conservatory of Music, she currently performs with the Omaha Symphony and the Nova String Quartet. Friedel Jewish Academy is excited to welcome Mary as the strings instructor this year.

Physical Education, Tutor, Chesed Instructor

Deb Johnson
Physical Education Instructor

Administrative Assistant

Lisa Stephan 
Lisa comes to us after an accomplished career as a special education teacher in Millard Public Schools. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree and Elementary Education and Special Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Resources. Lisa's passion for elementary education has led her to host the Haitian Resurrection Dance Troupe and also to serve on a mission to Haiti. Prior to her teaching career, Lisa worked for Mutual of Omaha. Lisa and her husband, Tim, have 2 grown children and enjoy trips on their Harley Davidson in the summer.