Poughkeepsie School District Hires 11-Year-Old Keynote Speaker for $6,500

Marley Dias, creator of the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign, spoke and hosted a workshop at the district's Superintendent's Day Conference

What to Know

  • The Poughkeepsie City School District hired an 11-year-old girl as the keynote speaker at the Superintendent's Conference Day for $6,500
  • The speaker, Marley Dias, is the creator of the #1000BlackGirlBooks literacy initiative
  • Local parents were concerned that the pay was excessive considering financial hardships faced by schools within the district

The Poughkeepsie City School District saved some money and will make an 11-year-old $6,500 richer by hiring her as a keynote speaker.

The district agreed to pay Marley Dias, who created the popular #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign, the sum — plus expenses — to be the keynote speaker for the Superintendent's Conference Day, the Poughkeepsie Journal reports. It's unclear whether the district will reimburse her for travel expenses.

Started in the fall of 2015, #1000BlackGirlBooks drew attention to the lack of racial diversity in children's literature.

Dias addressed staff in an hour-long speech, followed by a 30 minute workshop she hosted for 50 students.

The city's school board voted 3-1 to retroactively approve the consultant agreement at a Wednesday meeting, but not without opposition from parents and taxpayers. Trustee Felicia Watson said her fiscal responsibility to the district was why she voted against the agreement.

"$6,500 plus incidentals...is exorbitant," she told the newspaper. 

Superintendent Nicole Williams disagreed with Watson, noting Dias' resume is "tremendous", and that she is an inspiration to her peers by leading a nationwide literacy initiative. She added that the board shouldn't discriminate against the 11-year-old because of her age.

Williams told the newspaper that prior to her arrival as superintendent, the district's cost for a keynote speaker was an average of $10,000.

Locals weren't questioning Dias' character or credentials— their issue was with the expense.

Poughkeepsie faces more financial hardships than other local school districts. At least 80 percent of its students are considered economically disadvantaged, according to the Journal.

Dias' fee was paid using Title I funds; the Title I program provides funds to state and districts to improve disadvantaged students' education. 

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