Cedric Cooper may have been starting his first school year as Benson High's principal Wednesday, but the school's hallways already felt familiar.Â
Elisabeth Haskell-Voris sets expectations during freshman academy at Benson High in Omaha Wednesday. At Benson, all freshmen participate in the freshmen academy before choosing from the Design and Construction Academy, Business and Entrepreneurship Academy and Health Professions Academy their sophomore year.Â
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Sixth grader Mili Rios Flores, 11, looks over her new planner at Buffett Middle School. The Omaha Public Schools are continuing to work on the district's moonshot goal of having all students reading on grade level by 2030.Â
Matt Ray, Omaha Public Schools superintendent, speaks during a press conference in the library at Benson High. Ray discussed changes related to the district's literacy initiative and the decision to ask Omaha Police Department school resource officers to not carry shock glove devices.Â
Lisa Tuttle talks to her sixth graders on their first day of school at Buffett Middle School. Kindergarten students, first-year middle school students and high school freshmen in the Omaha Public Schools had their first day of school Wednesday.Â
Photos: Omaha Public Schools welcome back students
Elisabeth Haskell-Voris sets expectations during freshman academy at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Matt Ray, Omaha Public Schools superintendent speaks during a press conference in the the library at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Cedric Cooper talks about taking over as principal during a press conference in the the library at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Elisabeth Haskell-Voris takes attendance during freshman academy at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Elisabeth Haskell-Voris has many bunny-themed items in her classroom during freshman academy at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. The Benson mascot is the Bunnies.
The area for students to store their phones is called a "phone hotel" in the classroom of Elisabeth Haskell-Voris at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Elisabeth Haskell-Voris takes attendance during freshman academy at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Students listen during freshman academy at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Elisabeth Haskell-Voris sets expectations during freshman academy at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Elisabeth Haskell-Voris sets expectations during freshman academy at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Elisabeth Haskell-Voris sets expectations during freshman academy at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Cedric Cooper talks about taking over as principal during a press conference in the the library at Omaha Benson in Omaha, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Coleen Sullivan, 11, reacts during her sixth grade class at Buffett Middle School in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Students are welcomed back for the first day of school at Buffett Middle School in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Sixth grader Mili Rios Flores, 11, looks over her new planner at Buffett Middle School in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Lisa Tuttle talks to her sixth graders on their first day of school at Buffett Middle School in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Lisa Tuttle talks to her sixth graders on their first day of school at Buffett Middle School in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Sixth grade students return to Buffett Middle School in Omaha on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
