September 8, 2025
For immediate release
The Board of Directors of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education is pleased to welcome Tess Ulrey of St. Joseph, Michigan as the new executive director at CRHE – a groundbreaking hire for the organization as the first full-time, permanent ED in CRHE’s 12-year history.
Ulrey’s experience as a leader in both nonprofit and political spaces makes her uniquely suited to take on the challenges that come with the work done by CRHE, bringing with her a robust skill set in advocacy, fundraising, and leadership. She’s led programming for organizations like the YMCA, Girls on the Run, and the Boys & Girls Club and has spent over 15 years in nonprofits serving young people.
Ulrey is passionate about amplifying the impact of youth development work and connecting missions with resources and voices that create sustainability, and is skilled at centering the experiences of young people in her efforts at advocacy and collaboration. Ulrey recently led youth advocacy efforts in Lansing and Washington, DC, has served on the Michigan After School Partnership’s Out of School Time Advisory Committee, and rallied funders to support alternative educational opportunities for underserved youth in Southwest Michigan. Her passion for education and youth issues arises in part from her own background and experiences as a homeschooled student during the majority of her primary and secondary education years. Ulrey also currently serves as an elected city commissioner in St. Joseph, Michigan, where she lives with her family.
“Tess Ulrey’s proven record of accomplishment in youth development, advocacy, and fundraising makes her the ideal choice to lead CRHE into our next phase of growth,” said Board President Jeremy C. Young. “In a strong field of 90 candidates, Tess’s experience, energy, and enthusiasm stood out. Tess is an expert in helping nonprofits fulfill their potential and achieve their goals, and CRHE will benefit greatly from her leadership, both now and in the future.”
“I am honored to continue the legacy of CRHE in empowering and advocating for homeschooled children, and am truly excited to consider the potential of connecting even more across the experience of home based education for the best outcomes,” said Ulrey. “I believe that our community at large has a responsibility to our youngest members – whether or not they are in a school system – and I am truly enthusiastic about the unique opportunity to use my background as a former homeschooled student alongside my professional track record to take CRHE’s mission to an even greater audience.”
Ulrey’s appointment marks the end of Dr. Jonah Stewart’s tenure as Interim Executive Director. Stewart has returned to the staff in a reimagined role as CRHE’s full-time Director of Programs, responsible for an expanding portfolio of initiatives aimed at supporting and protecting homeschooled children and adults. The Board extends their thanks to Stewart for their leadership in a period of transition and looks forward to continuing to work with them in their new role.
The Coalition for Responsible Home Education, founded in 2013, empowers homeschooled children by educating the public and advocating for child-centered, evidence-based policy and practices for families and professionals. CRHE envisions a future where homeschooled children’s right to a comprehensive and empowering education and to a safe and supportive home environment is affirmed and protected by laws, stakeholders, and society as a whole. CRHE’s strength is our people: our staff, volunteers, and the community of homeschooled children and adults we serve, all powered by the generous support of donors like you.
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CRHE Board of Directors Appoints Tess Ulrey as Executive Director
September 8, 2025
For immediate release
The Board of Directors of the Coalition for Responsible Home Education is pleased to welcome Tess Ulrey of St. Joseph, Michigan as the new executive director at CRHE – a groundbreaking hire for the organization as the first full-time, permanent ED in CRHE’s 12-year history.
Ulrey’s experience as a leader in both nonprofit and political spaces makes her uniquely suited to take on the challenges that come with the work done by CRHE, bringing with her a robust skill set in advocacy, fundraising, and leadership. She’s led programming for organizations like the YMCA, Girls on the Run, and the Boys & Girls Club and has spent over 15 years in nonprofits serving young people.
Ulrey is passionate about amplifying the impact of youth development work and connecting missions with resources and voices that create sustainability, and is skilled at centering the experiences of young people in her efforts at advocacy and collaboration. Ulrey recently led youth advocacy efforts in Lansing and Washington, DC, has served on the Michigan After School Partnership’s Out of School Time Advisory Committee, and rallied funders to support alternative educational opportunities for underserved youth in Southwest Michigan. Her passion for education and youth issues arises in part from her own background and experiences as a homeschooled student during the majority of her primary and secondary education years. Ulrey also currently serves as an elected city commissioner in St. Joseph, Michigan, where she lives with her family.
“Tess Ulrey’s proven record of accomplishment in youth development, advocacy, and fundraising makes her the ideal choice to lead CRHE into our next phase of growth,” said Board President Jeremy C. Young. “In a strong field of 90 candidates, Tess’s experience, energy, and enthusiasm stood out. Tess is an expert in helping nonprofits fulfill their potential and achieve their goals, and CRHE will benefit greatly from her leadership, both now and in the future.”
“I am honored to continue the legacy of CRHE in empowering and advocating for homeschooled children, and am truly excited to consider the potential of connecting even more across the experience of home based education for the best outcomes,” said Ulrey. “I believe that our community at large has a responsibility to our youngest members – whether or not they are in a school system – and I am truly enthusiastic about the unique opportunity to use my background as a former homeschooled student alongside my professional track record to take CRHE’s mission to an even greater audience.”
Ulrey’s appointment marks the end of Dr. Jonah Stewart’s tenure as Interim Executive Director. Stewart has returned to the staff in a reimagined role as CRHE’s full-time Director of Programs, responsible for an expanding portfolio of initiatives aimed at supporting and protecting homeschooled children and adults. The Board extends their thanks to Stewart for their leadership in a period of transition and looks forward to continuing to work with them in their new role.
The Coalition for Responsible Home Education, founded in 2013, empowers homeschooled children by educating the public and advocating for child-centered, evidence-based policy and practices for families and professionals. CRHE envisions a future where homeschooled children’s right to a comprehensive and empowering education and to a safe and supportive home environment is affirmed and protected by laws, stakeholders, and society as a whole. CRHE’s strength is our people: our staff, volunteers, and the community of homeschooled children and adults we serve, all powered by the generous support of donors like you.
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