Welcome to The AI Educator series from EDSAFE AI! In this micro-podcast, we call on experts and enthusiasts from the AI education community to share their thoughts on three critical questions about AI implementation. Tune in to hear leaders put their own distinct spin on the same set of questions in each rapid-fire interview, ensuring quick and actionable takeaways.
Episodes
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Shifting the Focus from Finding Answers to Asking the Right Questions with Jeff Carlson
1w ago00:09:59Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The AI Educator, Andrea Claver from EDSAFE AI speaks with Jeff Carlson, Head of Education Strategy and Advocacy at Clever. As AI reshapes education, Jeff explains why classrooms must pivot to teach students how to ask the right questions – of technology, themselves, and society. He cautions educators and leaders not to treat AI in school like consumer AI, minimizing the deployment of unchecked tools and safeguarding data by understanding how data is really being used. Additionally, with the rapid pace of AI development, Jeff warns against letting the ‘perfect be the enemy of good’ and that educators must be their own auditors before introducing tools to students.
Transcribe →Portland Public Schools on Keeping AI Agile and Human with Dr. Kristin Moon and Melissa Lim
3w ago00:19:31Tap to summarizeIn this special edition episode of The AI Educator, Andrea Claver from EDSAFE AI speaks with Dr. Kristin Moon, Director of Teaching and Professional Learning at Portland Public Schools, and Melissa Lim, Learning Technologies Program Administrator at Portland Public Schools. Kristin and Melissa share Portland Public School's journey in creating a living document that translates high-level guidance into actionable practice for teachers, parents, and students. A central theme of Portland Public School’s work is ensuring the human element of teaching remains core to their technology integration. Kristin and Melissa believe AI gives educators a chance to highlight their unique expertise and unify different departments through a shared challenge. For those feeling overwhelmed, they suggest taking bite-sized, actionable steps and personal automations rather than a complete overhaul! View the Portland Public Schools AI Guidebook: www.pps.net/departments/office-of-teaching-learning/artificial-intelligence-in-pps/ai-guidebook
Transcribe →AI Literacy, Guardrails, and Meeting Students Where They Are with Dr. Kimberly Williams
May 2600:07:34Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The AI Educator, Andrea Claver from EDSAFE AI speaks with Dr. Kimberly Williams, Director of College Career and Military Readiness at Richardson ISD. Kimberly emphasizes that even as the technology rapidly evolves, AI tools are catalysts for personalized learning and reducing the administrative burden on educators. Drawing parallels to the calculator and smartphone era, she argues that banning AI out of fear is counterproductive. Since students will use the technology regardless, schools should prioritize AI literacy and responsible use over restriction. Additionally, she recommends a personal approach for AI-overwhelmed educators, asking them to start with low-stakes, personal tasks to understand AI logic and limitations, then gradually apply it to higher-stakes contexts.
Transcribe →Anchoring EdTech in the Learning Sciences with Emma Venetis
May 1900:06:17Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The AI Educator, Andrea Claver from EDSAFE AI speaks with Emma Venetis, Senior Research Analyst at the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution. Emma sees AI's greatest potential in transforming student assessment beyond traditional point-in-time testing, envisioning interactive, multimodal tools that support students, while also tracking soft skills, progress, and specific areas of mastery. She also broadens the definition of AI safety beyond data privacy and content filters to include cognitive safety, and that implementation decisions must be rooted in the learning sciences. Additionally, Emma urges educators to prioritize preserving foundational skills and integrating AI only once there is a clear understanding of how it truly enhances core goals.
Transcribe →Inside the AI Integration Guide for Modern Schools with Drew Olsson
Apr 2100:11:34Tap to summarizeIn this special edition episode of The AI Educator, Andrea Claver from EDSAFE AI speaks with Drew Olsson, Director of AI at Agua Fria Union High School District. Drew speaks about their latest iteration of their comprehensive, stakeholder-driven AI Integration Guide. He sheds light on the process of building their living document, designed to empower student agency that leverages Agua Fria’s CARE Framework (Clarity, Accuracy, Relevance, Ethics). Drew also highlights the momentum around centering the student and inclusion of student voices in defining acceptable use. Additionally, he challenges the misconception that students only use AI to cheat, the inherent limitations of this perspective, and the need for educators to start building their own AI literacy for their unique contexts! View the Guide: https://www.aipolicylab.org/post/agua-fria-union-high-school-district-ai-integration-guide
Transcribe →Why the Human Heart Remains at the Center of AI Education with Kelsey Karcher
Apr 700:07:11Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The AI Educator, Andrea Claver from EDSAFE AI speaks with Kelsey Karcher, Director of Advanced Learning Programs and Services at Richardson ISD. Kelsey explores the transformative potential of AI as a tool for extreme differentiation, envisioning a future where technology supports teachers in delivering multiple unique and perfectly leveled lessons simultaneously! She pushes back on the idea that AI literacy means more screen time. In fact, some of the most powerful lessons happen in low-tech conversations about ethics and machine learning, where students wrestle with the gap between can and should. Additionally, she asks education leaders to lean into the learning curve. Being a new learner isn't a weakness; it's how we build a future that actually puts students first.
Transcribe →Why Skepticism Contributes to Effective AI Integration with Zach Kennelly
Mar 2400:04:40Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The AI Educator, Andrea Claver from EDSAFE AI speaks with Zach Kennelly, Senior Manager of STEM, AI, and Partnerships at DSST Public Schools. Zach discusses a "human-centered, AI-leveraged" approach, exploring how students can use technology as a tool to drive real-world impact in their communities while prioritizing their own unique creativity. He addresses the paradox of trust in technology, explaining why maintaining low trust in AI outputs is actually the key to fostering greater human accountability and better results. Drawing on his background as a civics teacher, Zach urges educators to "act or be acted upon," emphasizing that school leaders must lean into the discomfort of the unknown to ensure education experts—rather than just tech companies—are the ones shaping the future of learning.
Transcribe →Building a Culture of Connection with Adam Browning
Mar 1000:10:50Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The AI Educator, Andrea Claver from EDSAFE AI speaks with Adam Browning, Director of Academic Innovation and AI Implementation at Washington Leadership Academy. Adam discusses how AI can be a catalyst for educational evolution by automating administrative tasks to reclaim time for mentoring and student relationships. He addresses common anxieties surrounding generative AI, explaining how leaders can move beyond a "tech-challenge" mindset to create safe, human-centered frameworks for implementation. Adam urges educators to embrace their role as learners and recognize that modeling an evolution-focused leadership style is the key to providing security and success for students in a rapidly changing landscape.
Transcribe →The Case for System-Wide Transformation in K-12 with David Miyashiro
Feb 2400:07:59Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the AI Educator, Andrea Claver from EDSAFE AI speaks with David Miyashiro, Superintendent of Cajon Valley Union School District. David discusses how AI can drive system-wide transformation by dismantling silos and redefining workflows to better support student outcomes. He addresses the misconception that AI is inherently unsafe, explaining how existing data privacy and interoperability standards can provide the necessary guardrails for innovation. He also offers an encouraging message for educators, urging them to embrace the role of a learner and recognize that knowledge is the key to safety and security in a changing technological landscape.
Transcribe →Why Your Best AI Strategy is Actually a Human One with Kip Glazer
Feb 1000:05:00Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the AI Educator, Andrea Claver from EDSAFE AI speaks with Kip Glazer, Principal of Mountain View High School and author of Ready to Lead with AI. Kip discusses the transformative potential of personalized learning for both students and staff, drawing inspiration from the Montessori philosophy of exploration. She addresses common misconceptions about AI in schools and offers a supportive perspective for school leaders feeling the pressure of rapid change, emphasizing the need for community and patience.
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