New York school district pays 11-year-old $6,500 for keynote speech
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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)
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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
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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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dias was paid through funding from a federal education program.