AI Trailblazers Charting New Territory
We are thrilled to share an update on our inaugural aiEDU AI Trailblazers Fellowship! This selective program gathers 25 exceptional high school educators from across 18 different states, all united by a common goal: to integrate AI literacy into their teaching practices. Their leadership and insights have already begun to leave an indelible mark, not just within their classrooms, but across schools and districts.
Launched in November 2023...
The fellowship was designed with these goals:
First, to engage teachers directly in enhancing our curriculum, ensuring that aiEDU learning materials are not only innovative but also responsive to the dynamic needs of today’s classrooms.
Second, to empower educators through a supportive community model, fostering professional learning sessions and deep collaboration to share knowledge and resources at the intersection of AI and K-12 education.
A testimonial from one of our fellows, “This program has redefined my teaching approach,” underscores the transformative potential of our initiative.
Transformative Learning Sessions
In the few months since the program’s launch, our meetings have highlighted this cohort's deep commitment to preparing students for an AI-driven future. Through open dialogue and shared insights, their enthusiasm and pioneering approaches to promoting AI literacy have sparked fresh thinking and new perspectives.
In our latest gathering six fellows led hands-on learning sessions, demonstrating the revolutionary ways they have incorporated AI tools and skills into their classrooms and schools. From collaborative planning fueled by AI to policy initiatives and customized chatbots for differentiation, their groundbreaking work inspires students and colleagues alike to become AI Trailblazers. Explore their innovative strategies in more detail through the slideshow below.
Stay Connected with Our AI Trailblazers
Below, you'll find a list of AI Trailblazers from our inaugural cohort. We encourage you to explore their profiles on LinkedIn to learn more about their innovative work and connect with them directly. Their dedication and creativity are shaping the future of education, and there's much we can all learn from their experiences.
Armando Arechiga, McAllen Memorial, TX
Ashley Brooks, Technology High School, NJ
Ying Chen, Northside Charter High School, NY
Tara Donald Walls, EdD, Center Point High School, AL
Thomas Duarte, Anaheim High School, CA
John Dutton, MC2STEM HS, OH
Michael McGuckin, Robert B Glenn High School, NC
Connor Mulvaney, Polson High School, MT
Caitlin Russ, Cheyenne South High School, WY
Marti Shirley, Glenbard East High School, IL
Danae Acker, TL Hanna High School, SC
Megan Freyer, Harlan Independent HS, KY
Lucretia Gant, Chamblee, GA
Jess Geyer, Lakeland Regional HS, NJ
Mark Godinez, South Dade Senior High, FL
Zach Kennelly, DSST College View High School, CO
Michelle Majewski, Anaheim High School, CA
Sean Manning, Western High School, CA
Ashley Marquez, Presidio School, AZ
Beth Meneely, Wayne High School, IN
Georlette Richardson Peavy, EdD, The Virtual Academy High School, IL
Colin Sailor, LaunchEd Virtual Academy, CO
Elizabeth Schultz, Lindblom Math and Science Academy, IL
Amanda Spirk, Fairborn High School, OH
David Weikert, Northeastern High School, PA
At aiEDU, our mission is to create equitable educational experiences that empower and excite learners on the path to AI literacy. Through initiatives like the AI Trailblazers Fellowship, we have witnessed firsthand how supporting educators translates into meaningful impact for students nationwide. As aiEDU's Instructional Design Lead and Fellowship Coordinator Jessica Ann shares, "I find continuous inspiration from our fellows' creativity and dedication as they navigate the complexities of an AI revolution in education. We launched the fellowship to support teachers and learn from them how we can improve our curriculum, but through the work have deepened our understanding of the potential for the program to spark ground-up transformation. By positioning teachers as partners and change agents, the fellowship provides educators with an elevated platform to spread meaningful innovation. Moving forward, I hope we can expand this program to support even more pioneering educators in lighting the way ahead.”
Stay tuned for more updates and join us in celebrating the achievements of our AI Trailblazers!