Who is That Poverty Guy?
Personal and professional insights on me!
‘That Poverty Guy’ is more than a tagline.
It’s a short way of saying I’m a guy that cares a lot about poverty. I want to understand it more and tackle the complexity of it with you.
I do not proclaim to being an expert, but I do claim a commitment to growing in expertise on the complex topics of child poverty and educational inequality.
If you want a more in-depth insight into me then here you go!
Sean is an internationally recognised leader committed to tackling social disadvantage and driving meaningful change in education. With extensive experience across the charity and public/education sectors, he has worked to address educational inequality, advance teacher education, and support system leaders in embedding research into practice.
He’s the Director of People, Learning and Community Engagement (PLACE) at Tees Valley Education. PLACE is an award-winning initiative designed to better understand and tackle multiple inequalities in the Tees Valley, in collaboration with others.
(Sean at Bloomberg HQ, London)
A co-author of Bloomsbury publication Tackling Poverty and Disadvantage in Schools, and Co-creating and Co-producing Research Evidence, Sean is also a doctoral researcher at Teesside University, exploring how co-production can enhance understanding of poverty and inform place-based approaches in schools. His research includes a systematic review of pupil premium policy, identifying barriers and enablers to integrating research into tackling educational inequality.
Sean is a distinguished author and freelance journalist whose lens spans education, inequalities, research and other topics. As a regular contributor to SecEd and Headteacher Update his insightful analysis shapes discourse on leadership, teacher education, and educational inequality.
A sought-after keynote speaker, Sean’s thought leadership has made impacts on policy and practice. His collaboration with major media outlets, including BBC Look North, Sky News, BBC Radio, Financial Times, The Guardian, TES, Heart Breakfast, and ITV, demonstrates his role as a trusted voice in education., Sean is a prominent presence on both UK and global podcasts, where he continues to challenge inequalities and advocate for meaningful change in education.
(Source: Guardian News)
A Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching, he has played a key role in developing partnerships, strengthening networks, and talent-mapping across many multi-academy trusts. Sean is also a member of the Advisory Group for the EdTech Evidence Board project, funded by the Department for Education and announced by the Secretary of State for Education in her keynote address at BETT 2025.
The EdTech Evidence Board will take an evidence-based approach to evaluating the effectiveness and impact of EdTech products, reviewing evidence submitted by EdTech suppliers using a defined set of criteria. The criteria will be informed by research evidence and developed in consultation with subject matter experts, suppliers, schools and colleges.
In Autumn 2024, Sean won the Innovation Award with the Fair Education Alliance and Bloomberg for his work with Tees Valley Education PLACE, an initiative driving place-based change in education through collaboration with schools, charities, and local partners. He also received Let Teachers SHINE funding in 2023 to explore curriculum design with poverty in mind, with findings featured in national publications. Case studies of this work have featured prominently in publications and reports such as those by the Centre for Young Lives and the Centre for Social Justice. Currently, Sean is working on a project alongside the Education Endowment Foundation exploring how leaders can develop and implement a package of support for staff across a trust to increase engagement with evidence and further develop teaching and learning, particularly in relation to tackling educational inequality.
(Source: Delivering at E-Act Bridging the Gap conference)
Sean is a researcher and practitioner within Child of the North, the N8 Research Partnership, and the Centre for Young Lives, contributing to major reports on childhood inequality in the North of England. In 2024, these organisations published a series of reports exposing the urgent challenges faced by children in the North of England. Child of the North, a collaboration between N8 and Health Equity North, forming part of the Northern Health Science Alliance, is a major initiative aimed at harnessing research evidence to drive transformative policy changes for children. By working alongside regional partners, the initiative seeks to address deeply rooted issues affecting children while championing the unique and distinctive aspects of a northern childhood.
(Source: Sean with FEA and MultiVerse colleagues, London)
Through his research, published writing, and advocacy, Sean works to drive systemic change in education, supporting leaders and organisations in championing a fairer system where every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive. His work spans national reports, peer-reviewed research, and published books, all grounded in practical experience and collaboration with schools and communities. Sean was invited to give evidence to Parliament with the Education Select Committee, sharing insights on how to make curriculum and assessment more equitable, particularly for children and young people facing disadvantage. His contribution drew on research from Tees Valley Education and cross-sector partnerships with organisations committed to tackling inequality such as SHINE.
(Source: Parliament; Education Committee, 2025)
His Substack, read by over 11,000 readers, explores critical issues surrounding child poverty, policy reform, and systemic change to improve outcomes for low-income families and communities.
Sean is proud to serve in several voluntary roles, including as a Director of North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership, Vice-Chair of the Teesside University Partnership Enhancement Board, and as a Children’s and Youth Worker for Newcastle Diocese. Sean also serves as a member of the North East Child Poverty Commission. He has also held other roles including school and charity governance.
Sean lives with his brilliant family (who give him lots of support!) in the North East of England. He also happens to be an AFOL (Adult Fan of Lego) - yes, that’s a thing! Sean and his daughter also appear as characters in Dino Chick, a Wigglesbottom Primary School novel by award-winning children's author Pamela Butchart.
In his spare time, he regularly cosplays to raise Cash for Kids North East with the team at Nerd Fest! Afterall, with great power comes great responsibility….
(Source: April’s Adventures - Nerd Fest)
(Pictured with Katrina Morley - CEO of Tees Valley Education & Gina Cicerone - CEO of Fair Education Alliance)
Connect with me on social media:
Insta @ThatPovertyGuy
Substack @ThatPovertyGuy
LinkedIn Sean Harris FCCT | LinkedIn
Endorsements
Everyone in education should have a Sean Harris in their lives.
I'm one of the lucky ones!
Sean sees both the granular detail and the bigger picture; he's encouraging and supportive, but will never hesitate to call out - kindly and clearly - the inaccurate and the inadvisable. Why? Because he has a singular, restless mission: to improve the lives of others, especially those experiencing hardship and inequality. Working with him is an education in itself.
Sean has helped the team at Evidence Based Education deepen our understanding of poverty-informed practice - the workshop that he delivered challenged us, and made a lasting impression. Personally, Sean has helped me to learn more about the real-world intersections between theory and practice in education - it's fair to say that, in so doing, he has changed my thinking about how best to the work I do.
The work Sean does matters now more than ever, as communities grapple with increasing insecurity, inequality, hardship and the uncertainty of a turbulent world. He's a thinker and doer; one who amplifies the voices of the unheard and the marginalised with empathy, reason, and a heart big enough for all of us.
Director of Education: Evidence Based Education
I am continually recommending Sean’s work to people.
His priorities are absolutely the right ones. He wants to make change for those who are often in the poorest position to make changes for themselves. He knows how iniquitous the impact if poverty can be and recognises that is becoming worse as our society becomes increasingly unequal. He also recognises that we are more inclined to blame those faced with the greatest disadvantage for many of the problems in our society than to see them as needing support.
Sean addresses these challenges by sharing information and research. He is tireless in identifying work that shines clearer light on the inequalities in our society and the damage that they do. He brings hope by highlighting action and research which is working to tackle disadvantage. He also writes passionately and well and adds his own powerful voice to that of others.
I am always pleased when I receive his communication and read his work. I am sure that many others would share that view if they were to connect with him
Educationalist, trainer and presenter
Sean exemplifies the spirit of collaboration. Having fully embraced the ethos of no egos, no silos, he consistently extends support and forges meaningful connections that amplify collective impact. We’ve benefited from his introductions at the Fair Education Alliance (FEA), and have seen him do the same for fellow Innovation Award Winners and peers across the FEA membership. His generosity in building bridges and nurturing partnerships has been instrumental in advancing shared goals.
As a thought leader, Sean engages deeply with the complexities of educational inequality, offering nuanced and courageous perspectives that challenge the status quo. His commitment to deep social listening ensures his work is grounded in lived experience. He shares these insights through his compelling blog, powerful public speaking, and contributions to events across the country - bringing others into the conversation and building momentum for change.
What we at the Fair Education Alliance, and Sean, are working towards cannot be solved overnight. Inequity and poverty are complex, entrenched challenges that have only intensified in recent years. In the face of this, Sean’s genuine optimism and relentless drive are a source of inspiration. His unwavering dedication to creating fairer, more inclusive educational environments is a testament to his integrity, leadership, and vision.
We feel fortunate to work alongside Sean, and to be part of a community of inspirational leaders like him from across our membership. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with him and learning from, and alongside him in the years to come.
Fair Education Alliance
‘The authors’ relentless determination to drive opportunities for all children shines through in his book, which is both inspiring and of huge practical value. This is an essential read.’
Executive Chair and Founder of the Centre for Young Lives
I have been fortunate to know Sean for several years and have benefited enormously from his absolute expertise around poverty and inequality in schools and communities. Sean is extraordinarily generous with his time and his ideas, sharing everything with the aim of making the whole system better. His writing is wise, reflective, measured and full of hope.
CEO: The Education Alliance
Sean’s roundup is a comprehensive and far reaching snapshot each week of important issues and cutting edge research and I'm very grateful for his hard work in pulling it together.
Lucy Moore
The Growing Faith Foundation, Church of England
Sean’s work spotlights reports I’ve missed and gives me a flavour, a sample so I can decide whether to read the whole thing. I’ve shared with colleagues in the research school network and EEF as I think this is excellent! Thanks Sean ☺️
Stella Jones
WISE Academies & Town End Research School
The synopsis of the latest research in teaching and learning in an easily digestible form is so useful for a Chair of Governors
Dr Harry Taylor
St Nicholas Priory Primary School
I find Sean’s SubStack a really good way of accessing new research and news
Educationalist, author, trainer
If we are to address the challenges of poverty and disadvantage in a long-term and sustainable way we need to engage with the experts. Sean is both an expert and mentor in in this field and the coaching and training that he has provided for us at NPAT has been invaluable in our journey to improve our understanding and provision for children facing these challenges.
Julia Kedwards, OBE
Chief Executive Officer: Northampton Primary Academy Trust (NPAT)