Educator | F.L. Schlagle High School, Class of 1988

Dr. Derritt serves as the Dean of Student Services at Kansas City Kansas Community College and is also an adjunct faculty member in the Social and Behavioral Sciences department. He has been a guest lecturer for the graduate Counseling Psychology program at the University of Kansas. He is currently is an adjunct faculty member for UMKC's Higher Education and Administration graduate program.
Before his current role, Dr. Derritt served as a Student Advisor for 10 years at KCKCC and as the Director of Advising for 4 years. As an advisor, he had the privilege of assisting many students, and he still cherishes the moments when he runs into former students within the community.

Dr. Derritt is a first-generation college graduate with a unique background. He grew up in the foster care system in the State of Kansas, an experience that has shaped his dedication to improving the lives of others. He has worked within the foster care system and has served on the Douglas County Foster Care review board, making significant contributions to the welfare of foster children. He graduated from F. L. Schlagle High School and Kansas City Kansas Community College with an Associate of Art in Psychology. In addition, Dr. Derritt holds a Bachelor of General Studies degree with an emphasis in Psychology, a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas, and a Doctorate in Higher Education and Administration from UMKC. He is also a Certified Life Coach and motivational speaker. His belief in being a lifelong learner is evident in his current pursuit of courses as a guest student in UMKC’s Counseling Psychology department, preparing to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Dr. Derritt has been working to improve students' lives for over 28 years. In his former position as the Middle School Advisor for The University of Kansas Educational Talent Search TRIO program, Dr. Derritt worked with all eight middle schools in the USD 500 school district, helping to inspire 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to dream big and reach for their goals through education. He has often run into former students, now adults, who are successful professionals within the community. These moments have served as some of the proudest moments in his career. Throughout his career, he has been active in developing programming that has proven effective in recruiting and retaining students of color, particularly males of color. His most significant initiative was creating an institutional-wide mandatory advising program that has dramatically improved the persistence rate of Kansas City Kansas Community College students. Dr. Derritt was also instrumental in developing and presenting a Wyandotte County Men of Color Leadership Conference on the Kansas City Kansas Community College campus that hosted over 100 male students of color from the USD 500 School District. Dr. Derritt 's leadership in these programs and initiatives is a testament to his passion for helping people reach their goals and his commitment to excellence.

Outside of his professional career, Dr. Derritt is an award-winning Gospel Recording artist with two released CDs, “Someone Like Me” and “Thank You.” He is actively involved in his home Church, Sheffield Family Life Center, where he and his wife have served as Praise and Worship