The Trump administration issued an executive order this year calling for training teachers to use artificial intelligence in their classrooms. At the same time, the pace of AI advances continues to quicken, putting schools in a difficult spot, because most are already behind the curve on AI.
This forum will explore how schools across the country are facing the challenges of AI. Join us to:
- Gain an understanding of the rising role of AI in schools
- Hear insights from educators and experts about the benefits and drawbacks of using AI for teaching and learning
- Discover how schools are crafting AI use policies and building strategies to integrate the technology into teaching, learning, and school management.
- Pick up ideas on how to use AI in developmentally appropriate ways
Drawing on original Education Week reporting and exclusive survey data from the EdWeek Research Center, we will examine how schools are striking a balance between using AI to improve teaching and learning and avoiding the potentially harmful effects it can have on students and teachers.
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Agenda
2:00pm ET
Welcome & Introduction
We'll highlight key insights from recent Education Week reporting on AI use in schools.
Kevin Bushweller oversees coverage of educational technology and learning environments for Education Week.
2:10pm ET
Interactive Session: Tracking Your School’s AI Journey
This session will feature Education Week reporting and data from the EdWeek Research Center on how much schools are diving into the use of AI for teaching and learning and the management of schools. We will survey the audience to take their pulse on how far along their schools are on the AI journey.
Lauraine Langreo is an Education Week staff writer, covering education technology and learning environments.
2:20pm ET
Industry Perspective: Putting Student Voice at the Heart of AI Integration
Sponsor content provided by Otus
What happens when students help design the future of AI in schools? In Illinois' North Shore School District 112, learners aren’t just passive users of the technology; they’re active researchers, co-designers, and evaluators of how AI supports authentic learning. Discover how the district is flipping the traditional top-down adoption model through its student-centered AI research plan. Join us to learn about two powerful frameworks: the ASK’EM engagement model and a four-dimensional AI rubric, both of which ensure equity, voice, and ownership remain at the heart of innovation.
What happens when students help design the future of AI in schools? In Illinois' North Shore School District 112, learners aren’t just passive users of the technology; they’re active researchers, co-designers, and evaluators of how AI supports authentic learning. Discover how the district is flipping the traditional top-down adoption model through its student-centered AI research plan. Join us to learn about two powerful frameworks: the ASK’EM engagement model and a four-dimensional AI rubric, both of which ensure equity, voice, and ownership remain at the heart of innovation.
Dr. Michael Lubelfeld
Superintendent of Schools,
North Shore School District 112 (IL)
Dr. Michael Lubelfeld has served as a public school superintendent in Illinois since 2010 and currently leads North Shore School District 112, where he is nationally recognized for his leadership in student voice, global service learning, and innovative educational practices. A frequent speaker and published author, his work has earned multiple state and national awards, including recognition as one of the Top 100 Influencers in Education and selection to the 2025 ISTE-ASCD Generation AI and Google-GSV Fellowships.
2:30pm ET
Panel Discussion: Finding a Healthy Middle Ground on AI in Schools
The question school and district leaders should be asking themselves right now—when a growing number of teachers are using AI tools to plan lessons, communicate with parents, and even teach writing skills—is this: How can schools find a balance between the potential AI tools bring to improve teaching and learning and the troubling downsides that come with more teachers, students, and parents using this fast-evolving technology? Join us for a discussion about lessons learned from educators and researchers.
Kevin Bushweller oversees coverage of educational technology and learning environments for Education Week.
Aaron Cinquemani
Principal, Woodstock Union Middle and High School & Co-founder, Greentime.ai
Aaron Cinquemani serves as principal of Woodstock Union Middle and High School in Vermont and co-founder of Greentime.ai, a platform advancing environmental learning through ethical, human-centered uses of AI. With 15 years in PK–12 leadership, his research on ADHD and nature-based learning informs his commitment to designing schools where curiosity, focus, and connection drive growth.
Christina Nuñez
EdTech Resource Teacher,
Albuquerque Public Schools
Christina (Tina) Nuñez is an experienced educator with over 20 years in K–12 education and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. She currently serves with the APS Office of Educational Resources, in conjunction with the Educational Technology Department, focusing on adult learning and district-wide professional development. Tina leads integration strategies with tools like Google for Education, Apple, and other digital platforms to support both educators and organizational initiatives.
Justin Reich
Director of Teaching Systems Lab & Associate Professor of Comparative Media Studies/Writing, MIT
Justin Reich is the author of Iterate: The Secret to Innovation in Schools and Failure to Disrupt: Why Technology Alone Can’t Transform Education, and the host of the TeachLab Podcast. He earned his doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and was the Richard L. Menschel HarvardX Research Fellow. He is a past Fellow at the Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society. His writings have been published in Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other scholarly journals and public venues. He started his career as a high school history teacher, and coach of wrestling and outdoor adventure activities.
3:15pm ET
Industry Perspective: AI in Education - From Promise to Practice
Sponsor content provided by Studient
Join Studient CEO Jenna Pipchuk for an exploration of how AI is transforming personalized learning from promise to practice. Drawing on two decades of edtech leadership, Pipchuk will reveal how human-centered AI can finally deliver one-on-one tutoring at scale—accelerating learning, closing achievement gaps, and freeing teachers to do what they do best: inspire.
Join Studient CEO Jenna Pipchuk for an exploration of how AI is transforming personalized learning from promise to practice. Drawing on two decades of edtech leadership, Pipchuk will reveal how human-centered AI can finally deliver one-on-one tutoring at scale—accelerating learning, closing achievement gaps, and freeing teachers to do what they do best: inspire.
Jenna Pipchuk
CEO,
Studient
Jenna Pipchuk leads a nationwide movement to reimagine how public schools accelerate learning through human-centered AI. A former executive at SMART Technologies and 3P Learning, she brings over two decades of global edtech leadership. Pipchuk’s mission is clear: prove that technology can amplify—not replace—human connection in learning.
3:25pm ET
Panel Discussion: How AI Professional Development Is Evolving
The Louisa County, Va., school district was among the first in the country to recognize the implications of the expanding use of AI in society, offering teachers professional development and guidance on how to use the technology in education well before most other districts. The district started helping teachers use AI tools to do their jobs better and is now pivoting to supporting teachers in using AI with students. But being an early adopter of professional development on AI means the district is largely operating without a roadmap to follow—which comes with both opportunities and challenges. Hear from Louisa district leaders about how they are seizing those opportunities and meeting those challenges.
Alyson Klein is an assistant editor for Education Week.
Kenneth Bouwens
Director of CTE/STEAM & Innovation,
Louisa County Public Schools (VA)
Kenneth Bouwens is the Director of CTE/STEAM & Innovation for Louisa County Public Schools in Virginia, where he leads transformative programs that prepare students for college, careers, and life. With over a decade of experience in education and workforce development, Kenneth oversees 30+ staff across 16 career clusters, manages multimillion-dollar initiatives, and designs innovative instructional spaces—including a newly approved 55,000 sq. ft. CTE facility. He is a national presenter on AI integration in education and the creator of an award-winning internal AI hub that supports teachers in lesson planning, feedback, and instructional design. Kenneth is known for his ability to turn bold ideas into scalable systems and for his relentless commitment to improving student outcomes through strategic innovation. His work has been recognized with multiple statewide and national awards for excellence in CTE and educational leadership.
Marcia Flora
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher,
Louisa County High School (VA)
Marcia Flora is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher leading the Teacher Training Academy at Louisa County High School. She prepares future educators by teaching dual-enrollment courses like Teachers for Tomorrow I and II through Virginia State University, and introductory courses like Intro to Early Childhood Education and Intro to Teachers for Tomorrow. Marcia has a strong background in education, having taught at the elementary level for 17 years prior to transitioning to high school, and is herself an alumna of Louisa County High School, a connection that fuels her strong belief in the transformative power of “grow your own” programs for building sustainable, high-quality talent within the community she knows and serves.
3:55pm ET
Industry Perspective: What Happens When AI Becomes the New Classmate?
Sponsor content provided by Lightspeed Systems
AI is already in your classrooms. Do you know what it's exposing your students to? Schools are racing to adopt AI, but without clear safety guardrails, the risks grow fast. In this 10-minute session, we’ll share a practical framework for rolling out AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini with confidence. You’ll hear insights from real classroom usage patterns, explore how AI intersects with digital safety tools, and walk away with key questions every district leader should be asking to balance innovation with protection. Based on national student safety data and real-world implementation, this session offers actionable steps to strengthen your AI strategy.
AI is already in your classrooms. Do you know what it's exposing your students to? Schools are racing to adopt AI, but without clear safety guardrails, the risks grow fast. In this 10-minute session, we’ll share a practical framework for rolling out AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini with confidence. You’ll hear insights from real classroom usage patterns, explore how AI intersects with digital safety tools, and walk away with key questions every district leader should be asking to balance innovation with protection. Based on national student safety data and real-world implementation, this session offers actionable steps to strengthen your AI strategy.
Jennifer Duer
VP of Product, Student Success,
Lightspeed Systems
Jennifer Duer is the Vice President of Product, Student Success at Lightspeed Systems, where she leads the strategy and development of solutions that help schools protect and support students across digital and physical environments. With over 15 years in EdTech and SaaS, Jennifer has built a career at the intersection of innovation, impact, and outcomes—using technology to improve safety, wellness, and outcomes in K–12 education. Her leadership blends deep product expertise with a focus on measurable results, helping schools identify insights and risks, take meaningful action, and improve student success at scale.
4:05pm ET
Interactive Session: What Developmentally Appropriate Use of AI Should Look Like
This session will engage the audience in a discussion about how the use of AI should look very different for elementary school kids than for middle or high school students. Drawing on insights from Education Week’s reporting and EdWeek Research Center data, will highlight examples of appropriate use.
Arianna Prothero covers technology, student well-being, and the intersection of the two for Education Week.
4:15pm ET
Industry Perspective: Gen AI in Schools: What the Data Tells Us
Sponsor content provided by PowerSchool
Generative AI is reshaping K–12 education across local communities and global landscapes. This session explores emerging trends and recent data on how students and educators are engaging with Gen AI. Whether you're just beginning or already integrating AI into your practice, you'll gain insights and perspectives to inform your next steps.
Generative AI is reshaping K–12 education across local communities and global landscapes. This session explores emerging trends and recent data on how students and educators are engaging with Gen AI. Whether you're just beginning or already integrating AI into your practice, you'll gain insights and perspectives to inform your next steps.
Kellie Ady
Executive Director, Education Strategy & Learning Innovation,
PowerSchool
Kellie Ady has over 30 years of experience in education, including 25 years in public education, where she led initiatives in classroom instruction, leadership, and district-wide technology. At PowerSchool, she collaborates with schools and organizations globally to support digital transformation in teaching and learning. A frequent presenter at national conferences, Kellie is passionate about learning, technology, and systemic change.
4:25pm ET
Closing Thoughts & Key Takeaways
Hear the big ideas and takeaways from the event.
Kevin Bushweller oversees coverage of educational technology and learning environments for Education Week.
