High School Admin Team
Trevor Kessell - Principal
Trevor Kessell’s favorite thing about his time in school was teachers who related to students and told great stories. Now, Kessell gets to do that every day as the Principal at Melvindale High School. Growing up in the Airport School District, Kessell loved studying history and also played football and baseball.
When it came time to decide on a career, Kessell heading off to Eastern University where he studied education with a science major and social studies minor. He later returned to Eastern for his Masters in administration. Kessell spent 11 years in his own classroom; all at the middle school level and has been an administrator at MHS since. He also spent nine years coaching baseball.
Kessell believes that learning requires positive relationships, responsibility and respect between students, teachers and administrators and said his favorite thing about Melvindale is that everyone cares about each other like family. Outside of work, Kessell enjoys running, camping and cooking.
Brian Fritz - Assistant Principal
Brian Fritz is in his second year as Assistant Principal at Melvindale High School, following a 24-year career teaching Physical Education. Throughout his time at MHS, he also spent 17 years coaching the Boys Varsity Soccer team, building a program grounded in discipline, teamwork, and character.
A graduate of Woodhaven High School, Fritz went on to earn his Bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University before returning to the classroom as an educator himself. He later completed both his Master's and Specialist degrees in Educational Administration at Wayne State University, deepening his commitment to student growth and school leadership.
Fritz believes athletics and education are deeply connected, both teaching discipline, perseverance, and the value of working toward a common goal. As an administrator, he carries that same mindset into his work, focusing on helping every student reach their full potential. For Fritz, Melvindale is more than a workplace; it's family, and he considers it an honor to be part of such a dedicated team.
Abdulftah Yahia - Assistant Principal
A proud 2010 graduate of Melvindale High School, Abdul Yahia is grateful for the opportunity to serve the community that helped shape him, now as Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at MHS.
Yahia’s career in education began just a few years after graduating, when he started coaching middle school wrestling while working as a substitute teacher and earning his teaching degree from the University of Michigan Dearborn. He later spent five years teaching sixth grade social studies at Strong Middle School and nine years coaching wrestling, where he was fortunate to play an instrumental role in growing the program and creating meaningful opportunities for students.
After earning his degree in Educational Leadership from Wayne State University, Yahia transitioned into administration. He believes educators have the unique responsibility of helping shape not only what students know, but who they become. His goal is to build meaningful relationships, help students recognize their potential, and prepare them to become good citizens and contributing members of society.
For Yahia, serving Melvindale brings his journey full circle. The community that once invested in him as a student now gives him the privilege of investing in its next generation. It is an opportunity he is deeply grateful for and a responsibility he never takes for granted.
