MPS welcomes back teachers and staff

By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Aug. 14, 2003
Jim Littlejohn, a consultant with aha! Process Inc., spoke Wednesday about ways teachers can understand students who live in poverty.
Aha! Process Inc. is based in Baytown, Texas, and its focus is to learn how to deal more effectively with students and parents in poverty. The theory is based on a book by Ruby K. Payne.
Littlejohn also said one of the misconceptions of poverty is that students are unable to learn.
Littlejohn's comments came during the 2003-2004 opening session of the Meridian Public Schools, where more than 1,000 teachers, principals and district employees gathered at Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus' Kahlmus Auditorium.
Other speakers included Mayor John Robert Smith, Superintendent Sylvia Autry and School Board Vice President Ed Lynch.
Autry, who took over as interim superintendent July 1, said the district is at a crossroads.