Poverty has been the unspoken diversity issue in our educational sys­tems for more than 100 years. Students from poverty are the least likely to gain an education and it is worse today than it was in the 1940s. Faced with an envi­ronment of increasing numbers of students experiencing poverty, it is imperative that education leaders have the knowledge and skills for systemically addressing the impacts of poverty on learning outcomes.  Educational leaders have the pow­er to create systemic change and ensure our schools work for all students, but we cannot do what we have always done and expect different results.

7:30 to 8:00............ Registration
8:00 to 8:05............ Opening Comments
8:05 to 8:35............ Opening Keynote Address
                                          Cylvia Hayes, First Lady, State of Oregon
                                          "Education, Opportunity and Prosperity"
8:35 to 8:45............ Break
8:45 to 11:45.......... Simulation Activity I - Lori Beamer
                                          Donna Beegle-Poverty 101  What schools Need to know
11:45 to 12:30.........Lunch
12:30 to 3:30.......... Simulation Activity II - Lori Beamer
                                          Donna Beegle-Poverty 101  What schools Need to know
3:30 to 4:00............Wrap up.  Now What?-Nancy Golden
4:00....................... Adjourn Conference

Featured Speakers:

Lori Beamer, Executive Director, CoActive Connections - Bio

• “Dehumanizing the lowest of the low.” Psychological Science
• Oregon Center for Public Policy (2012). “Working but still poor.”
• United States Department of Health and Human Services. “2014 poverty guidelines.”
• Economic Policy Institute. “The 2013 update of EPI’s family budget calculator.”
• “The lasting impacts of poverty on the brain.” The Atlantic Cities

Donna Beegle, President, Communication Across Barriers - Bio

"Leadership That Makes a Difference" - It is no secret that students living in poverty are the least likely to become educated.  Faced with an environment of increasing numbers of students in Oregon who are experiencing poverty, it is imperative that education leaders have the knowledge and skills for systemically addressing the impacts of poverty.

This “Leadership That Makes a Difference” presentation provides core concepts and tools from the innovative principal preparation program Dr. Beegle provides at Rice University.  Dr. Beegle illuminates real barriers from the perspectives of students and families facing poverty, along with proven solutions and strategies for creating school systems and community partnerships that increase educational success.