Principal's Message

Watts Learning Center family 

My name is Derek Hubbard and it is with great honor and humility that I have accepted the responsibility to return to WLC as the next principal. 

As many of you may know I spent three of the best years of my career as the assistant director under Ms. Kelly Baptiste. It is during this time that I learned to love and appreciate the great community of the Watts Learning Center. And it is my love for this community that motivated my return to WLC.

I have spent my entire professional career in education. I began my career as a special education teacher at Audubon Middle School and though teaching was not my first career choice I quickly fell in love with it. 

I would spend the next 12 years in the classroom teaching middle school special education. My last teaching stint was at Cochran Middle School and it is here that I developed a desire to move into educational administration. 

Over the next several years I would work several jobs within LAUSD as a support provider and administrator before joining the Watts Learning Center as the assistant director. 

I spent three wonderful years working with Ms. Baptiste at the Watts Learning Center before departing to become the principal of Gabriella Charter School. 

Throughout my time away from Watts, though, I continued to regard WLC as my educational home. As such, when the opportunity to return arose I did not hesitate to apply for the position of principal. 

I truly feel a great sense of gratitude that the executive director, Dr. Monique Woodley and the Board of Directors have provided me with this opportunity. I endeavor to lead this community to great heights of achievement and I look forward to working with all of the communities’ stakeholders.. 

Thank you WLC for entrusting me with this awesome responsibility. I look forward to embarking on this journey with you all. 

Derek Hubbard