AI is Changing Every Industry
Artificial intelligence is reshaping every industry and education is no exception. For principals, the question isn’t whether AI will play a role in schools, but how to make sure it creates real value for students and teachers, scales across classrooms, and integrates with existing tools and practices.
Just as 84% of business leaders believe AI will be as transformative as the internet, many school leaders see its potential to change how schools operate. Still, significant barriers like data security concerns to limited staff training make it hard to implement AI at scale in education.
Our research shows that while school leaders are excited about AI, only a small percentage have implemented it across their entire schools. The biggest challenges? Ensuring safe data practices, building the right infrastructure, and finding ways to use AI without overwhelming staff with unrealistic expectations.
The Three Things Principals Really Want from AI
1. AI that knows your school (and your students)
Generic AI tools often don’t understand the unique context of a K–12 school. To be useful, AI must work with school data securely, respect student privacy, and adapt to the rhythms of teaching, learning, and parent communication. Whether it’s drafting family newsletters, supporting lesson planning, or analyzing attendance patterns, AI should provide insights tailored to the school environment.
2. AI that delivers value quickly and scales across classrooms
Too often, schools pilot an AI tool in one classroom but struggle to expand it across grade levels. Principals want solutions that are simple to adopt, flexible enough to grow with their school, and able to show results without requiring massive technical expertise. This means focusing on AI tools that save teachers time, improve student engagement, and can be added without disrupting existing systems.
3. AI that integrates with the whole school ecosystem
AI shouldn’t be a “one-off app” that only helps in isolated areas like grading or tutoring. To truly make an impact, AI should connect across the school — supporting teachers, office staff, counselors, and administrators alike. Integrated AI means better insights (like connecting attendance, academic progress, and behavioral data), more consistent communication, and smarter decision-making that strengthens the whole school community.
The Principal’s Guide to AI in Schools
The Future of AI in Schools
The schools that succeed with AI won’t be the ones trying the latest shiny tool, but the ones that focus on trust, safety, and seamless integration. When AI solutions respect privacy, scale thoughtfully, and truly support educators, principals gain what they need most: time back for teaching and learning.
Instead of being a distraction, AI can become a trusted partner in improving instruction, reducing burnout, and helping schools thrive in a rapidly changing world.
