Woodrow Wilson High School Alumni Association, Inc.

Welcome, Principal Merritt!

Dallas ISD Selects Alex Merritt as Principal of Woodrow Wilson High School

May, 2026, Dallas – Please join us in welcoming Principal Alex Merritt!

Alex Merritt is proud to serve as the new principal of Woodrow Wilson High School. He brings a strong commitment to students and a focus on supporting teachers and partnering with families. Mr. Merritt most recently served as principal of Alex Sanger Preparatory, a dual language campus, where he worked alongside staff and community members to strengthen academic programs and expand access to rigorous learning opportunities. During his tenure, the campus earned distinctions in postsecondary readiness, academic achievement, and ranked in the top 25% of comparable schools in Closing the Gaps.

Originally from North Carolina, Mr. Merritt earned a Bachelor's degree in English and Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain, and Havana, Cuba. He later earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from UNC Charlotte and Master's in Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin.

Mr. Merritt began his educational career as an elementary teacher, teaching across content areas for nine years. He later moved into campus leadership, where he has focused on supporting teachers and strengthening instructional systems. During his time at Sanger, he led the campus through the International Baccalaureate (IB) authorization and supported continued growth in student outcomes.

A thoughtful and relational leader, Mr. Merritt is committed t listening and learning from the Woodrow Wilson community. He looks forward to building strong relationships and working in partnership with Woodrow's staff, student, and families to support the continued success of the school.

Woodrow Wilson High School serves a diverse and engaged East Dallas community with a long-standing tradition of excellence. Mr. Merritt is eager to learn from that history and partner with the community in the work ahead.

May, 2026 – From Mr. Merritt:

I am incredibly honored and excited to share that I have been named the new Principal of Woodrow Wilson High School.

Stepping into a leadership role at a campus with such a storied tradition of excellence and a deeply engaged community is both a privilege and a responsibility I do not take lightly. Woodrow Wilson is more than just a school; it is a landmark of East Dallas, and I am eager to partner with our talented staff, dedicated families, and brilliant students to continue building on that legacy.

My journey in education—from nine years in the classroom to leading the incredible community at Alex Sanger Preparatory—has taught me that strong foundations are built through listening, learning, and a relentless focus on student outcomes. As I transition into this new role, my commitment remains the same: to support our teachers, empower our students, and ensure every Wildcat has the opportunity to excel.

To my Sanger family: Thank you for six unforgettable years of growing together. Your dedication to our students has been my greatest inspiration.

To the Woodrow community: I am ready to get to work. Let’s make this next chapter the best one yet.

From Dallas ISD Board of Trustee, District 2 - Sarah Weinberg

APRIL 2026 - Adaptive Swim: Our five district pools are busy places! In addition to our high school swim teams, our Dallas ISD swimming pools are used by students in functional living skills programs to learn water safety and receive aquatic instruction.

Additionally, across the district, our second grade students are learning lifesaving water safety skills. Prop D in our bond addresses much needed maintenance for our five swimming pools that serve thousands of students each year to ensure these facilities remain safe and accessible.