The Kessler School Names Dr. Michael Roemer as Next Head of School
The Kessler School Board of Trustees has named Dr. Michael Roemer as the school’s next Head of School, effective August 1, 2025. He will succeed Vanessa Ullmann, who is retiring after more than a decade of leadership and relocating to Asia with her husband.
Dr. Roemer currently serves as Director of Global Education at Trinity Valley School in Fort Worth, where he has led innovative PreK–12 programming since 2011. In that role, he has built cross-cultural partnerships, trained and supervised faculty, developed new curriculum and contributed to schoolwide strategic planning, DEI initiatives and student life programs. He also served as Acting Assistant Head of Upper School and has extensive classroom teaching experience at every level from PreK through university.
The appointment follows a national search that included candidates from California, Florida, Texas and Connecticut. Dr. Roemer stood out for his student-centered leadership, collaborative mindset and alignment with the school’s values and mission.
“Dr. Roemer brings a rare combination of vision, warmth and experience,” said Shelbi Barnhouse, President of the TKS Board of Trustees. “His thoughtful leadership style, coupled with a deep understanding of progressive education, makes him the right person to guide our school forward.”
Dr. Roemer is a published academic and a past recipient of awards, including the DFW World Affairs Council’s Global Educator of the Year and Trinity Valley School’s Educator Award for Leadership & Creativity. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin and has spent more than 25 years working in education.
“I’m honored to join The Kessler School community,” said Dr. Roemer. “I admire TKS’s commitment to joyful learning, inclusivity and whole-child development. I look forward to getting to know the families, staff and students who make this school so special.”
Opportunities for the community to meet Dr. Roemer will be shared in the coming weeks.
About The Kessler School
Since its founding in 1999, The Kessler School has created a diverse community of students in the North Oak Cliff area of Dallas. Using the workshop teaching model pioneered by Columbia University’s Teachers College, the school provides high-quality, individualized preK-8th grade education, while reflecting the diverse, creative, progressive Oak Cliff community it serves. For more information, visit thekesslerschool.com.