YES Prep is thrilled to welcome four exceptional educators to our Principal Pathway Residency program for the upcoming school year. Each brings a wealth of experience, passion and a commitment to fostering educational excellence and equity. Join us in celebrating Chea Hudgins, Lauren Lightfoot, Sean Little and Alejandra Ortega as they step into their new roles. 

 

Chea Hudgins, resident principal at Airline Elementary 

Chea Hudgins, a first-generation college graduate from New Orleans, Louisiana, embodies the transformative power of education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English from Grambling State University and a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. With a decade of experience, Hudgins has shown a steadfast commitment to student success and educational equity. 

She began her teaching career in 2014 at Medard H. Nelson Charter School, taking on various roles including middle school English Language Arts (ELA) teacher, kindergarten teacher, student activities coordinator and cheerleading coach. Hudgins then joined KIPP New Orleans and later KIPP Texas in Houston, serving as a kindergarten teacher, grade level chair, dean of instruction, assistant principal, testing coordinator and 504 Coordinator at BakerRipley Community Schools. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership at Xavier University of Louisiana. 

Outside of her professional life, Hudgins is an active member of the Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators and the Houston Urban League of Young Professionals. She enjoys singing, reading, shopping and spending quality time with family and friends. 

Lauren Lightfoot, resident principal at Brays Oaks Secondary 

Lauren Lightfoot, from Lithonia, Georgia, is a Georgetown University graduate. She began her teaching career in 2010 with Teach For America in Houston, Texas, teaching English at Sharpstown High School. Lightfoot then became the founding 11th grade English teacher at KIPP Sunnyside High School, also teaching AP English Literature & Composition and AP English Language & Composition, while serving as the English department lead, testing coordinator and Dean of Instruction. 

After her time at KIPP Sunnyside, Lightfoot joined YES Prep North Forest Secondary as a Dean of Instruction and later as director of academics (DOA). She has completed her second year as DOA at YES Prep Southside Secondary and her first year as co-lead DOA for the district. Lauren is passionate about educational leadership and enjoys going to concerts and reading in her spare time. 

 

Sean Little, Resident Principal at Northwest Secondary 

Originally from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Sean Little has called Houston home for the past decade. A graduate of Texas Christian University with a bachelor's in business administration, Little joined Teach For America, teaching 6th – 8th grade math in Memphis, Tennessee. 

In 2014, he joined YES Prep East End Secondary, serving in roles including math teacher, grade level chair and dean of instruction. For the past four years, he has been the director of campus operations at East End. 

Little is dedicated to creating opportunities for students through excellent education and is eager to grow as a principal at YES Prep. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with friends, family and his cat, Ghost. 

 

Alejandra Ortega, resident principal at Gulfton Secondary 

Alejandra Ortega, a first-generation college graduate and daughter of Mexican immigrants, has a deep passion for education. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Education and began her teaching career at Hogg Middle School in Houston ISD. Ortega was honored as the 2018 Houston ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year and earned her master's in educational leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2018. 

As an assistant principal at Furr High School, she enhanced instructional practices and campus systems, earning recognition as the 2019-2020 Houston ISD East Area First-Year High School Assistant Principal of the Year. Most recently, she served as the principal of Ortiz Middle School, focusing on redesigning programs to meet diverse student needs. 

Ortega enjoys watching Marvel and true crime shows, reading novels and spending time with her energetic dog, Benny. 

We are confident that these four outstanding educators will bring their unique talents and unwavering dedication to their new roles, helping to shape the future of our schools and inspire our students. Welcome to the team, Hudgins, Lightfoot, Little and Ortega! 

To learn more about the Principal Pathway program, click here.