School Leadership

Mr. Michael Dexheimer joined the Appleton Area School District as an Associate Principal at Highlands and Odyssey in 2024. Growing up in Appleton, he is excited and honored to serve students, families, and staff in his hometown community. Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, he will serve as the Principal of Edison Elementary School.

His educational journey has taken him through a variety of roles and communities, each providing valuable experiences that have shaped his approach to leadership and learning. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Stout in 2003 with a degree in Early Childhood Education, he moved to Chicago and began his teaching career at Coles Language Academy on the city’s South Side. During his ten years in Chicago, he primarily taught first grade, while also spending two years teaching second grade and one year teaching third grade. While in Chicago, he earned a master’s degree in Reading Education from Concordia University.

In 2013, he returned to the Fox Cities and joined the Oshkosh Area School District, where he taught first grade at Oaklawn Elementary for four years. He then began a new chapter as a reading specialist at Merrill Elementary. In that role, he provided reading interventions for students and coached teachers in effective instructional practices. While working in Oshkosh, he earned a second master’s degree in School Leadership from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.

In 2021, he took the next step in his leadership journey as Associate Principal at Clay Lamberton Elementary in the Berlin Area School District. There, he developed valuable experience in understanding and improving the systems that support a successful school. He worked closely with intervention teams, helped establish a Student Support Team (SST) process, supported teachers through meaningful feedback and professional learning, and worked to ensure that students received the support they needed to succeed.

During his time at Highlands and Odyssey, he continued to build strong relationships with students, families, and staff while learning the unique strengths and traditions of each school community. Mr. Dexheimer also took time to learn the systems in place in the Appleton Area School District. 

As he begins his first year as Principal of Edison Elementary, he is excited to bring his experience as a teacher, reading specialist, coach, and school leader to a new community. He believes that strong relationships, high expectations, and instruction that meets the individual needs of every learner are essential to student success. His leadership is grounded in the belief that every student deserves to feel known, valued, challenged, and supported, and that schools are strongest when staff, students, and families work together toward a shared vision of success.

Outside of school, he is happily married to his best friend, Anna. Together, they have three children, Monroe (13), Lennon (11), and Nevi (7), who all attend school in the Neenah Joint School District. As a lifelong Fox Cities resident, he is especially excited for the opportunity to continue serving the students and families of the community he is proud to call home.