Essie B Hill

Essie B. Hill, Ed.D., was born in Thomasville, Georgia. She taught high school for over twenty years. Her book "Caring & Engaging Schools: Partnering with Family and Community to Unlock the Potential of High School Students in Poverty" draws significantly upon her experiences teaching disadvantaged students in three low-performing, high-poverty public schools in the U.S. (one Midwestern and two Southern states). Dr. Hill actively promotes local and state public education legislative priorities, and partners globally with various organizations to promote the educational development of children in poverty. At several points during the first twenty-three years of her life, she lived in poverty. She is part of the first generation in her family to attend college, and strongly identifies with the struggles of today's economically disadvantaged students. Dr. Hill is president and founder of Actuate Development Company in the Dallas/Fort Worth Texas area.