School Leadership

Mrs. Krueger was the Associate Principal at Highlands and Odyssey for two years before taking over as the head principal in 2020. Because of this, Kari knows the culture of Highlands and Odyssey very well, and there's no place she'd rather be! Prior to beginning her administrative career in Appleton, Kari was a special educator in Wichita, Kansas; Blacksville, West Virginia; Kimberly, Wisconsin; and Menasha, Wisconsin.

Kari's experiences teaching in a variety of communities across the country has helped her get to know a multitude of learners from many different backgrounds. Kari easily connects with the diverse students, staff, families, and community members at Highlands and Odyssey. Kari values proactive behavior management and inclusivity as she feels this creates positive classroom cultures for students and teachers.

Kari believes a child's early education experiences set the stage for their future. It is her goal as the school leader to ensure all who enter her school are valued, respected, and provided excellent service. When Kari is not at school, she can be found spending time with her husband and young children. Kari also loves soaking up the sun, cheering on the Packers, and scrapbooking.

Kari looks forward to partnering with you to provide your students an engaging, high-quality elementary school experience.

Mr. Dexheimer joined us as an Associate Principal at Highlands/Odyssey for the 2024–25 school year. Mr. Dex grew up in Appleton and is excited to be back working with students in his hometown.

Mr. Dex’s educational journey has been an exciting one. In 2003, after graduating from the University of Wisconsin–Stout with a degree in Early Childhood Education, he moved to Chicago and began teaching at Coles Language Academy on the city’s South Side. During his ten years in Chicago, Mr. Dex primarily taught first grade but also taught second grade for two years and third grade for one year. While in Chicago, he completed a master’s degree in Reading Education at Concordia University.

In 2013, Mr. Dex returned to the Fox Cities and began teaching first grade in the Oshkosh Area School District. After four years at Oaklawn Elementary, he started a new chapter as a reading specialist at Merrill Elementary in Oshkosh. This opportunity allowed him to coach teachers as well as provide interventions for struggling readers. During his tenure in Oshkosh, Mr. Dex completed a master’s degree in School Leadership at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.

In 2021, Mr. Dex took on the role of Associate Principal in the Berlin Area School District at Clay Lamberton Elementary. While working as Associate Principal, he gained valuable experience in understanding how the systems of a school function. He worked closely with the intervention team, created an SST process, and provided meaningful feedback to teachers.

Now in his second year at Highlands/Odyssey, Mr. Dex hopes to continue building relationships with students and their families. He believes that strong relationships, coupled with differentiated instruction that meets the needs of all learners, are the keys to academic achievement and success in life.

Mr. Dex is happily married to his best friend, Anna, and together they have three children who all attend school in the Neenah Joint School District: Monroe (12), Lennon (10), and Nevi (6).