New York school district pays 11-year-old $6,500 for keynote speech

A classroom at the Kelly Full Service Community School. Administrators there hope that a new no homework policy, combined with a longer school day this upcoming year will improve students' performance in the classroom. (Kelly Full Service Community School)

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – A New York school district paid an 11-year-old child advocate $6,500 plus expenses for serving as keynote speaker for staff and hosting a student workshop last week.

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports the Poughkeepsie City School District hired Marley Dias to speak during the superintendent's conference day last Tuesday.

The board voted 3-1 to retroactively approve Dias' consultant agreement at its Nov. 9 meeting.

The girl from West Orange, New Jersey, created the popular #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign to draw attention to the lack of racial diversity in children's literature.

She gave an hour-long speech to staff before leading an hour and a half-long workshop for 50 students.

Superintendent Nicole Williams said at Wednesday's meeting that Dias' resume is "tremendous" and the district shouldn't discriminate because she's 11 years old.

Dias was paid through funding from a federal education program.