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Ruby Payne      

Founder of aha! Process, Inc. & Author of "A Framework for Understanding Poverty"

Ruby Payne is an authority on working across economic classes to create sustainable communities. In addition to focusing on poverty and education, Payne also works in the areas of social services, criminal justice, healthcare, the workplace, and emotional poverty.

Two of Payne’s recent publications won IPPY awards (Independent Publisher Book Awards): “Emotional Poverty in All Demographics” and “Before You Quit Teaching.” Payne has written or coauthored many other books, including “Bridges Out of Poverty.” Her book “A Framework for Understanding Poverty” has sold 1.8 million copies. Payne’s efforts have achieved a global reach, and she has worked in Australia, China, Europe, India, North America, and Southeast Asia.

Payne founded aha! Process, a publishing and consulting firm, in 1996. aha! Process has received awards for its publications. Payne has published books with Solution Tree Press and the Association for Middle Level Education.

Payne lives in Texas with her husband, Tee. She loves spending time with her son, Tom, his husband, Carlos, and her new grandson, as well as Tee's children and grandchildren.

Speech Topics

A Framework for Understanding Poverty (keynote)

This keynote outlines a social-cognitive approach to socioeconomic class and the mindsets that often develop to survive the environment. Topics include hidden rules, language registers, the role of relationships in learning, and the reality of abstract representational demands in middle class institutions and formal schooling. Strategies will be given that signifi cantly assist with better educational opportunities and success. Handout: A Framework for Understanding Poverty keynote (book requirement if keynote over two hours)

Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities (keynote)

A social-cognitive approach to socioeconomic class and the mindsets that often develop to survive the environment is the topic of this keynote. Topics include hidden rules, language registers, the role of social bridging capital in transition, and the tools that communities and institutions can use to facilitate the transition of adults from under-resourced situations. Focus is also given to community sustainability and a model that will assist in that momentum. Handout: Bridges Out of Poverty keynote

A Framework for Understanding Poverty: A Cognitive Approach (full-day workshop)

This initial workshop, based on the book A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D. provides an in-depth study of information and issues that will increase the participants’ knowledge and understanding of people in poverty. Topics include: how economic class affects behaviors and mindsets, why students from generational poverty often fear being educated, the “hidden rules” within economic classes, discipline interventions that improve behavior, and the eight resources that make a difference in success. Related discussions include case studies, support systems, the role of language registers, discourse patterns and story structure, and the relationship between eye movement and learning. This seminar is designed for audiences of both elementary- and secondary-level educators, with adaptation and application available for community, social service, and faith community audiences. Handout: A Framework for Understanding Poverty: 10 Actions to Educate Students (book required for all participants)

Emotional Poverty in All Demographics: How to Reduce Anger, Anxiety, and Violence in the Classroom (workshop)

In this workshop, you will learn and practice many techniques and exercises that will help students and parents build emotional resources in school and at home. Every evening on the news, there are multiple stories about violence and anger erupting. Workplace and school violence are increasingly a reality. Using a brain-based approach, this session looks at the underlying causes of anger, anxiety, and violence; how they develop; and the tools that can be used to change those responses. Emotions are processed 200 to 5,000 times faster than thought. To change behavior, the motivation for the behavior must be changed. This session will provide understandings on how that can be used with family, relationships, institutions, and oneself. (book required for all participants)

Emotional Poverty, Volume 2: Safer Students and Less-Stressed Teachers (workshop)

Participants of this workshop will learn and practice many techniques and exercises that will help students and parents build emotional resources in school and at home. External pressures, environmental factors, previous experiences, fear, anger—all of these and more create stress and tension in the classroom. Emotional distress interrupts and can harm—even destroy—effective teaching, learning, and emotional wellness in teachers and students. (book required for all participants)

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