LONGVIEW, Texas (KLTV) - On Wednesday, educators joined together for the 2025 Poverty Conference, to learn strategies to support and uplift students experiencing poverty.

“It’s extremely easy to want to give up in the middle of those circumstances,” said Dr. John Gaines, the speaker at the event, who faced financial struggles in school.

It’s a reality that some may be facing, trying to figure out how they are going to put their children or themselves through school.

“Needed to get a part time job just to get extra food and sometimes sending money back to my siblings. So it was extremely hard,” said Gaines.

Other educators see it among their own student bodies.

“Poverty is a real thing, and it does affect our young people,” said Dr. Shalonda Adams, principal of Pine Tree PACE Alternati

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