Leadership Team
Tony Frank, Head of School, brings a strong background in Jewish education and administration to Rochelle Zell Jewish High School. Originally from the Chicago area, Mr. Frank made aliyah with his family when he was 14 years old. After serving in the Israeli army and earning a Bachelors degree from Hebrew University, Mr. Frank returned to the States to begin his career as an educator. He taught at Sager Solomon Schechter Middle School, then spent ten years as a member of the administrative team at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School.
Mr. Frank holds a Masters of Science degree in Journalism from Northwestern University and a Masters of Arts degree in Educational Administration from Northeastern Illinois University. He completed the Senior Educators Program at Hebrew University’s Melton Center for Jewish Education in the Diaspora and has taught courses in adolescent development at the University of Illinois at Chicago while conducting research on Jewish identity development in adolescence.
Mr. Frank is a resident of Evanston where he lives with his wife, Rachel, and their children, two of whom attend RZJHS and one who is a recent Rochelle Zell grad!
Jason L
oeb, Academic Dean, brings a wide range of experience teaching and leading in both Chicago Public Schools and open-enrollment charter schools.
A proud native of Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood and a product of Jewish day schools, Mr. Loeb graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in English and Textual Studies. He earned his Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from DePaul University. Mr. Loeb worked as an editor and writer for a children’s book company in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood before moving on to teaching and leadership roles with Perspectives Charter Schools, The Noble Network, and Kenwood Academy High School.
Mr. Loeb resides in Highland Park with his wife and his two children.
Stu Jacobs, Dean of Faculty, has a B.S. in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan, an M.A. in Jewish Education from Hebrew College—Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education, a certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies from Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, and is an alumni of the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (Cohort 10). At RZJHS, Mr. Jacobs previously served as Director of Student Activities (2017-2021) and Co-Chair of the Arts & Electives Department (2018-2021). Prior to coming to Rochelle Zell, he taught Jewish Studies at de Toledo High School in West Hills, California from 2013-17 while also serving as coordinator of their Israel exchange program. Stu also held several positions at the Jewish Community High School of the Bay in San Francisco from 2007-2011.
Mr. Jacobs lives in Skokie with his wife and three children, the oldest of which is in the RZJHS Class of 2028.
Stephanie Sanderman, the Director of Development and Alumni Relations, brings over 20 years of experience working with various Jewish organizations, including the Jewish United Fund. She has overseen significant annual campaign operations and collaborated with professional and volunteer leaders both locally and nationally.
Stephanie has extensive expertise in leadership development, gift cultivation, and event planning. Beyond fundraising, she has played a key role in community building, parent association events, and enhancing communications and marketing efforts.
Stephanie holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Wisconsin and a J.D. from DePaul University. She resides in Highland Park with her husband, two adult stepdaughters, and their dog, Luna.
She previously served as the school's Director of Student Activities & Community Engagement from 2021–2024. Prior to joining the RZJHS faculty, Staci taught social studies at Deerfield High School for nearly twenty years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Science in Education from Northwestern University.
Outside of school, Staci is actively involved in the Jewish community. She is the Co-Founder of the Project Channie Philanthropic Fund and previously served on the Board of Directors of Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago and the Next Generation Board of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Staci and her husband, Ari, both grew up in the Chicago area and are proud Jewish day school graduates. They live in Northbrook with their three children, two of whom currently attend RZJHS.
Jim Baumstark, Director of Finance and Operations, stepped into an administrative role at RZJHS after serving eight years on the RZJHS faculty as Math Department Co-Chair, teaching AP Statistics/Advanced Topics, Intro to Calculus, and AP Microeconomics while also volunteering as the RZJHS math team oralist coach and the DECA team faculty adviser.
Prior to teaching at RZJHS, Mr. Baumstark worked for over 20 years in “Corporate America” in various capacities including finance, accounting, corporate risk management, investment management, and employee benefits consulting as an actuary. He is eager to leverage this business experience combined with eight years as an educator to help shape the future of our school.
Mr. Baumstark holds degrees from Brown University (A.B.), University of Chicago (M.B.A.), and National Louis University (Teaching Certification). He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Mr. Baumstark lives in Glenview with his wife and is a proud father to two adult children.
Binyamin Cohen, Director of Jewish Life, has a B.A. in History and B.Ed in Jewish Education from York University, completed the Pardes Educators Program, received a Master’s in Jewish Education from Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education at Hebrew College, and is an alumni of the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (Cohort 11). Prior to his role as Director of Jewish Life, Binyamin taught in the Jewish Studies department at RZJHS.
In 2023, Mr. Cohen was selected as one of JUF Chicago's 36 Under 36.
Originally from Winnipeg, Canada, he now lives in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago with his wife.
Rabbi Miriam Lichtenberg, Rav Beit Sefer (School Rabbi), teaches Judaic Studies, collaborates with the Jewish Life team, and provides rabbinic guidance and pastoral support to the school community.
Becca Bubis, Jewish Studies Department Chair and the Professional Development Coordinator for the faculty, joined RZJHS in 2023. She previously spent twelve years in Southern California, teaching in Jewish high schools. Her education includes a B.A. in Philosophy from Barnard College, Columbia University earned concurrently with a B.A. in Bible from List College, Jewish Theological Seminary through the Double Degree Program. After attending Yeshivat Hadar in Manhattan, she completed the Pardes Educators Program through the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and received a Certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies and an M.A. in Jewish Education from the Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education at Hebrew College. Ms. Bubis is also an alumni of the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute (Cohort 11)
Ms. Bubis resides in Northbrook with her husband, Rabbi Jonathan Bubis, and their two children.