An independent study conducted by the Institute for Student Empowerment, confirmed, economically challenged students struggle to connect education and information to their future financial well-being. Wes Hall CEO of the Institute, shares success strategies designed to assist challenged students make the connection.

1. Author
Educator
Motivator
Actualizer
Guide
Wes Hall

2. Success Strategies For
Working With Disengaged
Students

3. SAGGIN TO SUITS ™
A PART OF THE

4. Topics of Discussion
•
•
•

5. You Are the Money!

6. 2007 Partnership with Omaha Public
Schools District - SNAPSHOT
• How well are we as a school district at helping students
connect an A on their report card to a pair of tennis
shoes?
• Piloted “You Are the Money” Student Empowerment
Program / Greatness Academy
• Transformed students from dropout to recovery to
graduation
• Transformed male students from “Saggin to Suits”
• Program was turned into an elective course where
students receive a credit toward graduation upon
successful completion of the class

8. What is the Language of Education?
• Deferred
• Get an A today – MAYBE you’ll get a job
tomorrow
• Have pride in being educated
• Education is a privilege
• You should value a good education
• You shouldn’t be paid to learn – learning is
something you should want to do

9. What Language Do Students speak?
• Instant gratification
• Not now … but … RIGHT NOW!
• Faster … Faster … Faster!!!
• How is all this stuff I’m learning going to
benefit me in the future?
• Why do I have to come to school and sit
through all this BORING stuff?!!!

10. What Are Contributing Factors to
Student “Tune-out?”
• The inability to connect education to their future
financial well-being
• The inability to quantify “Information”
• Lack of relationship with teacher
• The inability to understand the significance of college
• The parent’s inability to help them make the
connection
• The teacher’s inability to help them make the
connection
• The system’s inability to help them make the
connection

11. THE DATA
We surveyed 1445 students
on the subject of education
and money and here’s what
we found

12. According to an ad placed by the Wall Street Journal, “Information is
the new currency,” (December 1, 2011, Wall Street Journal). In this
era, information is a marketable commodity, yet many students don’t
connect information with money.
% Agree % I don’t know % Disagree
Money comes from information 35 43 22
I seek out information on my own 44 37 19
I know how to turn information into money 33 41 26
Strongly
Agree
10%
Agree
25%
Don't
Know
43%
Disagree
15%
Strongly
Disagree
7%
Money comes from information
Strongly
Agree
15%
Agree
29%
Don't
Know
37%
Disagree
13%
Strongly
Disagree
6%
I seek out information on my own
Strongly
Agree
12%
Agree
21%
Don’t
Know
41%
Disagree
16%
Strongly
Disagree
10%
I know how to turn information into
money
THE DATA

13. Students aren’t alone is their challenge to connect information with future finances. Is it
possible for an English teacher to help a student connect English to money? When the
subject of English is viewed as a course, the challenge can be great, but when English is
broken down to words and information, those bytes of information can be shown to be of
great value. English represents “Conversational and literary Currency,” valuable
commodities to anyone seeking advancement.
% Agree % I don’t know % Disagree
My teachers help me connect information to money 32 43 25
My school environment teaches me how to connect
information to money
32 41 27
The adults in my life teach me how to use education
to make money
54 26 20
The adults in my life use education to make money 45 34 21
Strongly
Agree
10%
Agree
22%
Don't
Know
43%
Disagree
17%
Strongly
Disagree
8%
My teachers help me connect
information to money
Strongly
Agree
12%
Agree
20%
Don't
Know
41%
Disagree
17%
Strongly
Disagree
10%
My school environment teaches me
how to connect information to money
Strongly
Agree
22%
Agree
32%
Don't
Know
26%
Disagree
12%
Strongly
Disagree
8%
The adults in my life teach me
how to use education to make money
Strongly
Agree
18%
Agree
27%
Don't
Know
34%
Disagree
12%
Strongly
Disagree
9%
The adults in my life use education to
make money

14. Many high school students are still experiencing significant peer pressure related
to the subject of being or acting smart. The appearance of being or acting
educated is frowned upon in many student/peer circles. Although the subject of
“Dumbing down” is widely recognized and frequently discussed in educational
forums, an intentional remedy is yet to be implemented.
% Agree % I don’t know % Disagree
Speaking intelligently is frowned upon amongst
my friends
24 38 38
I’m embarrassed to be smart around my friends 24 18 58
I come to school to see my friends 55 25 20
Strongly
Agree
8%
Agree
16%
Don't
Know
38%
Disagree
20%
Strongly
Disagree
18%
Speaking intelligently is frowned upon
amongst my friends
Strongly
Agree
10%
Agree
14%
Don't
Know
18%Disagree
22%
Strongly
Disagree
36%
I’m embarrassed to be smart around
my friends
Strongly
Agree
27%
Agree
28%
Don't
Know
25%
Disagree
12%
Strongly
Disagree
8%
I come to school to see my friends

15. While an overwhelming amount of students agree they go to school to get an
education (76%) and that they go to school so they will one day obtain a diploma
(73%), many of those same students do not see education as a means to future
finances (34%).
% Agree % I don’t know % Disagree
I come to school so I can get a good education 76 7 17
I come to school so I can one day get a diploma 73 12 15
Graduating from high school will help me attract money 66 18 16
Strongly
Agree
53%Agree
23%
Don't
Know
7%
Disagree
6%
Strongly
Disagree
11%
I come to school so I can get a
good education
Strongly
Agree
52%
Agree
21%
Don't
Know
12%
Disagree
6%
Strongly
Disagree
9%
I cone to school so I can, one
day, get a diploma
Strongly
Agree
37%
Agree
29%
Don't
Know
18%
Disagree
8%
Strongly
Disagree
8%
Graduating from high school will
help me attract more money

16. FIVE YEARS OF
IN-CLASSROOM
RESEARCH
Our research identified two types of
students entering our classroom. One
student possessed an understanding of
how to connect education to her future
financial well-being, while the other did
not.

17. WHAT SPECIALIZED TRAINING
IS BEING OFFERED TO THE
STUDENT WHO DOES NOT
MAKE THE CONNECTION?
Our observations and research revealed teachers do not
receive training on how to help students connect education to
future finances. 68% of students surveyed answered, “I don’t
know” or “Disagree” to the question, “My teacher
helps me connect information to money.”

18. The Achievement Gap
If two students enter the
classroom with totally
different ideas of how the
educational process
works, given time, an
achievement gap is
imminent.

19. Concept #1
• Economically challenged students struggle to
connect education and information to their
future financial well-being. The inability to
make the connection reduces the possibility of
their vigorous participation in their
educational process.

20. Strategy #1
•Quantify Information –
Help students understand that “Information” has
a monetary value. For instance, as a keynote
speaker I illustrate how companies pay me for the
information I share with them and their
employees. Information has a monetary
equivalent … share relevant examples with your
students

21. Concept #2
• Many economically challenged students
capitulate to environmental conditioning, as it
relates to making money and living a
successful lifestyle. Many live in “Survival”
mode and cannot see how getting an
education today will help them put food on
the table … tonight.

22. Strategy #2
• The future is birthed out of the moment.
Sometimes it is hard for young people to
understand the future in tangible terms. Find
ways to connect the information they are
gaining today to the money and lifestyle they
desire to enjoy in the future. Create ways to
celebrate the information they master today.
Speak in NOW terms and satisfy their need for
instant gratification.

23. Strategy #2 Cont.
• You must introduce HOPE
• How do you give hope to a student who feels
hopeless?
• What is HOPE?

25. Concept #3
• The survey revealed a significant number of
students do not believe their teacher helps
them make the connection between
education and money.

26. Strategy #3
• Create INCENTIVES that can be used to teach
students how to use education and
information as means to ATTRACT wealth
• Humans love to compete. When you introduce
competition into education you automatically
increase participation and energy. You must
make sure ALL students feel they have an
equal opportunity to compete and win.

27. The Introduction of This Dynamic
Information Enabled Us to Transform
Students From “Saggin to Suits ™”

28. And From Potential Dropout to …

29. Crenshaw High School

30. Success Strategies For
Working With At-Risk Youth
Facilitator: Wes Hall
Creator of: The Greatness Academy

31. To bring Mr. Hall to your school
Contact:
wesley.hall@lausd.net