CANTON -- The 23rd Constructivist Educational Design Conference underway at St. Lawrence University will have some distinguished participants this week, a state regent and a state senator.

More that 80 local educators and community members including recently elected New York State Regent Beverly Ouderkirk of Morristown will be attending to explore what effects living in poverty can on families and particularly children.

Ouderkirk was appointed in March as the representative from the regents’ Fourth District, which includes the North Country. She has more than 50 years of experience in education, having been everything from a kindergarten and elementary school teacher to superintendent at Clifton-Fine, Brushton-Moira, St. Regis Falls, Morristown and several other school districts, and has most recently been a member of the Morristown Board of Education.

Regent Ouderkirk will also be visiting local teams of teachers on Wednesday and Thursday and will attend the conference banquet Thursday night.

State Sen. Patti Richie, R-Heuvelton, has confirmed that she will visit the conference at 10 am on Thursday in the SLU student union. She represents Canton and most of western St. Lawrence County.

The conference is sponsored by the Institute for Learning Centered Education and St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES. This year it is dedicated to supporting schools and educators in developing practical strategies for helping students engage in learning while dealing with the stresses and traumas associated with living in poverty.