LONGVIEW, Texas (EAST TEXAS NEWS) – This past Wednesday, educators gathered at the 2025 Poverty Conference to learn strategies for supporting students facing poverty.
“It’s incredibly easy to want to give up in the face of those circumstances,” said Dr. John Gaines, the event’s keynote speaker, who himself faced financial hardship during school.
It’s a reality some may be facing as they try to figure out how to ensure their children—or themselves—can pursue education.
“I needed to land a part-time job just to secure extra food and, at times, send money to my siblings. It was incredibly hard,” Gaines said.
Educators also see this in their own students.
“Poverty is a reality and it affects our youth,” said Dr. Shalonda Adams, principal of Pine Tree PACE Alternative Academy.
The National Retail Federation says back-to-school costs for elementary, secondary, and college have hit record highs over the past two years.
United Way of Longview notes that 42 percent of people in Texas live in poverty or just above the poverty line.
Gaines and Adams highlight the tough decisions this can pose for some families.
“They don’t have school supplies, they don’t have clothes for their students, some don’t even have housing,” Adams said.
“There were students I studied with who didn’t finish high school. They decided: ‘This is too much and I need a full-time job,’” Gaines said.
The Longview Youth League brought together schools and nonprofit organizations to raise visibility around financial challenges, providing teachers with information about local resources to help students.
Adams noted that her campus is already taking steps to help students continue their college journey through the Pine Tree PACE Alternative Academy’s on-campus educational foundation.
“We make sure that if a student needs cosmetology, welding, or any other field, we provide it and break down those barriers and obstacles so our kids can succeed,” Adams said.
Gaines believes it is essential to have resources available for students, with teachers who can guide them to where to find help.
Many students living in poverty don’t usually share their stories. They don’t know where to seek help. Teachers, educators, and leaders can create environments that encourage young people to open up about their experiences, and to want to speak candidly. Teachers and educators cannot assist if they know nothing about it, Gaines said.
Gaines urges parents and students not to hide financial problems or fear seeking help.
