A New York school district paid an 11-year-old $6,500 plus expenses for serving as a keynote speaker for staff and hosting a student workshop.
The Poughkeepsie district hired Marley Dias to speak during the superintendent’s conference day this month. Marley created the popular #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign to draw attention to the lack of racial diversity in children’s literature. She gave an hourlong speech to staff before leading a workshop for 50 students.
Superintendent Nicole Williams said that Marley’s résumé is “tremendous,” and the district shouldn’t discriminate because she’s 11 years old.