WSC to Host Local Educators for Workshop on
Poverty in Worcester County

Worcester State College will present the one-day workshop, “A Framework for Understanding Poverty,”   Wednesday April 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Student Center Blue Lounge.  The workshop will feature nationally recognized educator and counselor Rita F. Pierson, Ed.D.

Educators, counselors, administrators, and support staff, from around the region will learn how to deal with the poverty our children face while examining local Worcester County poverty data.  Attendees will learn:

• "Hidden rules" or social cues that differ greatly between the classes

• Impact of economic class differences on communication, interactions, and expectations

• Symptoms of generational poverty and how they differ from situational poverty

• Poverty-related behaviors and mindsets that affect learning

• How to identify the resources and strengths of any student

• Tips, tools, and intervention strategies proven to increase your effectiveness

Rita F. Pierson, Ed.D. of Houston, Texas, has been a professional educator since 1972. She has served as an elementary school teacher, a special education teacher, junior high school teacher, counselor, assistant principal, director, testing coordinator, and consultant. Pierson is also a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has developed and implemented a school/community involvement program for a large urban elementary school, and organized and trained an in-school crisis team for students in need of immediate intervention. An experienced consultant, Rita has presented numerous workshops for aha! Process, Inc. since 1997.

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