About Jonathan Ullmer MBE

Since 1985, Jonathan Ullmer MBE has devoted his educational expertise and interests to enhancing students' learning opportunities both domestically and abroad. He transformed two schools from "unsatisfactory" to "excellent" while serving as the founding director of education and principal for the CATS Colleges. UK inspectors praised his "exceptional" leadership. The CATS colleges' mission is to support international students as they develop their English abilities and become ready for a career in the arts by helping them get ready for success in higher education.

Studies
Jonathan Ullmer received a Distinction in Teaching Practice for his studies in both English at Oxford University. He earned an MA with a focus on North American literature from the University of Victoria in Canada.

He also received the LRAM designation, Teacher and Performer, from the Royal Academy of Music, as well as a certification in the Therapeutic and Educational Application of the Arts from the Institute for Arts in Education and Therapy.

Career
At the Swanley School in Kent, Mr. Ullmer started his career in education in 1985 by instructing English and drama. Before moving on to Sawyers Hall College of Science and Technology in Essex, where he served as Assistant Principal in 2002, he started as the Arts Curriculum Director at Cecil Jones High School 11-18 Foundation School in Southend in 1989. In 2008, he assumed responsibility as Vice Principal of CATS College Cambridge.

In 2017, Jonathan agreed to lead Haileybury's school in Nur-Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan. Jonathan was attracted to the city school by the faculty and worked with them to guide Haileybury through a highly successful inspection in which the school was rated as having outstanding international practice in 17 out of 19 areas. Jonathan has experience in school improvement.

In addition to bringing the school to its first highly successful International Baccalaureate results, Jonathan also led the school to highly successful accreditation by NEASC and CIS to prepare the school to be able to offer American graduation. Under his direction, the school received two accolades for its student leadership initiatives and the Kazakh language instruction in addition to being considered for a Times-Independent Schools Award.

Achievements
Jonathan Ullmer's ability to lead an international school with the IB and 26 different native languages in a classroom setting with approximately 60 different nationalities is a result of his own international education. In order to maintain uniformity throughout all schools, he has led the CATS Colleges in the formulation of policy and practice. He has also introduced leadership awards during Global Leadership Days, which involve students in all facets of college life. For CATS Boston, London, Cambridge, and Canterbury, he has also created and carried out development plans.

He oversaw the successful CATS Canterbury University Foundation Programme's transition such that all three UK colleges now offer it. With the exception of Oxbridge, this program is the only school foundation course where pupils continue on to all of the top universities listed by the Times.

Mr. Ullmer takes special pride in Student Voice, which has won an Award of Excellence from the Independent Schools Association and allows students to submit comments via the intranet and ATS app.

Community
Jonathan Ullmer oversaw more than 50 school and community projects in the wider Southend area by collaborating with neighborhood businesses, churches, schools, and organizations. He presided over the trustees of a Southend counseling service for ten years, which resulted in a 700% increase in business. He oversaw a group that created regeneration work involving 400 young people in his capacity as Chair of Love Southend.

Publications
Since 1987, when his piece entitled "History Comes Alive!" about dramatizing American Indian history in the Kent Education Gazette, Jonathan Ullmer has been featured in a number of journals. He wrote several articles as well as the books Creative Drama and Explosive Drama, both of which were published by Moorley.

Honours
Mr. Ullmer has won various honors and accolades during the course of his career. An incomplete list consists of:
To study and investigate teaching in American universities, colleges, and schools and compare with UK models, I received a Chautauqua Scholarship in 1988 from the English Speaking Union.

For services to education and written work, he was named a Fellow of the College of Preceptors in 1990.

1992 National Drama Award giving money for a drama-related community arts endeavor

School honored with top Arts Council of England award in 2001: Gold Artsmark

CATS Canterbury's and LTM Magazine's 2010 International High School of the Year honor

The Independent Schools Association's 2012 Award of Excellence

Awarded Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2013

Independent Schools Association's shortlist for the 2014 Award of Excellence and Innovation

British Council's 2015 International Schools Award was deemed "excellent."

Winner of the Independent Schools Association's 2015 Award for Excellence and Innovation

Two 2014 prizes stand out for special mention. As the CATS College with the quickest growth, CEG with CTS Canterbury received the Queen's Award for Enterprise. Jonathan Ullmer also received a personal Order of the British Empire honor from Her Majesty the Queen for his contributions to international education and the UK.

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