Sharing Educator Perspectives on AI in the Classroom and Beyond

AI Essentials is spotlighting school leaders and educators from K-12, colleges, and universities as they share their experiences, challenges, and insights on AI in education to help build a collective vision for the future of learning.

Coastal Alabama Community College | Monroeville, AL

Tiffany McAnally - TRIO Executive Director

“If we don’t have the knowledge of how to use AI and how to incorporate that into our classrooms then we are the ones who are failing the students.”
Coppin State University | Baltimore, MD
Dr. Mintesinot Jiru - Professor & Department Chair
“There is no future without AI.”

Clark Atlantic University | Atlanta, GA

Dr. J. Fidel Turner - Dean, College of Education

“We have to make sure our children are prepared for a changing world and so that consequently means that our educators need to be prepared to teach to a changing world”

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)

Tim Finklea - Vice President for Membership Engagement and Board Services

“If you’re hiring anyone in 2025 they have to have some sort of knowledge on AI”

Newman University | Wichita, KS

Dr. Jessica Bird - Dean of the School of Education

“AI training takes the fear out of the unknown once you start training people and creating some norms around how we are going to start using and interacting with AI in our profession”

Coastal Alabama Community College | Monroeville, AL

Rita Jones - Project Specialist

“Teachers need to know and understand [AI] so they won’t be afraid of it”

Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TN

Katie McGrath - Director of the Teaching Materials Center

“AI is equal parts magical and rubbish… and so I feel like as educators it’s our role to prepare our students to be able to tell the difference.”
The Citadel - The Military College of South Carolina
Dr. Jennifer Burch - Licensure and Data Manager
“I’m open to it [AI] but it I think it has to have boundaries, guidelines, and restrictions.”

Coastal Alabama Community College | Monroeville, AL

Shakira Jervis - Business Ed Teacher

“I think everyone should have some type of knowledge of [AI]. Even if it’s a basic workshop”

Coastal Alabama Community College | Monroeville, AL

Synauri Boykin - Project Specialist

“Using AI will help me diversify my planning so that I can meet the needs of every student”

Pittsburg State University | Pittsburg, KS

Angela Murphy - Assessment Coordinator

“[AI] is not a do all. It is a resource. It takes the orignal ideas of a human, and gives suggestions for you to improve upon what you have.”
Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem, NC
Charlease Roper - Assistant Professor
“We can either teach students how to use it properly or allow them to use it in a way that’s not as fruitful as we want it to be”