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Leading Safe and Responsible AI Decisions in K-12: From Curiosity to Commitment
Thursday, February 26, 2026 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST
Presented by Rae Ferriell-Woolpy, Principal, Richmond High School, Richmond Community Schools (IN); Jeff Pittman, Chief Technology Officer, Onslow County Schools (NC); Lee James, Chief Academic Officer, Horry County Schools (SC); Keanon O’Keefe, Senior Technical Product Manager, MagicSchool; and Andrew Davies, Social Media Manager, MagicSchool
Sponsored by MagicSchool
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School and district leaders are past the question of “What is AI?” and deep into “What do we do next, and how do we do it responsibly?”
In this edLeader Panel, a chief academic officer, a chief technology officer, a school principal, and an expert in AI safety for students discuss how they’re moving from AI exploration to execution in K-12, and what they’re learning along the way.
Rather than focusing on tools or trends, this conversation centers on the leadership decisions districts are navigating right now: setting clear guardrails, addressing safety, privacy, and security for students and staff, assessing organizational readiness, supporting educators through change, and preparing defensible budget and funding rationales for boards and communities.
The panelists share how they are balancing innovation with responsibility to ensure AI use aligns with instructional priorities, protects all users across the education ecosystem, and fits within real-world fiscal constraints. Viewers leave with:
- A clearer picture of how peer districts are sequencing AI decisions at the leadership level
- Practical insights into safety, security, and budget-related concerns, and how leaders are addressing them
- A stronger understanding of what responsible, sustainable AI adoption looks like in real districts today
This recorded edLeader Panel is designed for K-12 school and district leaders who are actively navigating AI decisions and want grounded, leader-to-leader insight.
About the Presenters
Rae Ferriell-Woolpy serves as Principal of Richmond High School in Richmond, Indiana, where she has led the school community since 2011. She holds advanced graduate training in curriculum, instruction, and leadership from Earlham College, a principal licensure from Indiana University, a master’s degree from Ball State University, and a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. Widely respected for her leadership and impact on students, Rae has been recognized with numerous honors, including the 2024 Boys & Girls Club Smart Futures Honoree Award, the 2023 Richmond High School Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year Award. She was also named Indiana Association of Secondary School Principals District 6 Principal of the Year. Rae is known for her commitment to student success, equity, and excellence in secondary education.
Jeff Pittman is the Chief Technology Officer at Onslow County Schools (NC), where he has served since 2016. He joined Onslow County Schools after serving at Harnett County Schools (NC) for 12 years as a Technology Facilitator, Instructional Technology Coordinator, and Chief Technology Officer. He is a Certified Education Chief Technology Officer from the UNC School of Government, a founding member of the North Carolina Cybersecurity Advisory Council, and a member of the Microsoft K-12 Client Advisory Board. Jeff also serves on the Gaggle Customer Advisory Board and is a member of the Eastern North Carolina Digital Inclusion Steering Committee. Jeff and his wife have three children and reside in beautiful Swansboro, NC, where they enjoy boating and anything involved with being on the water.
A native of South Carolina, Lee James earned his B.S. in math at Lander University, his M.Ed. in educational leadership from the University of South Carolina, and will soon complete his Ph.D. in education science at Coastal Carolina University. He joined Horry County Schools as a math teacher and has risen through the ranks of school and district administration to his current position as Chief Academic Officer, overseeing the strategic direction of K-12 academic programs for over 47,000 students. He believes doing what’s best for students requires collaboration and that decisions should be based on data whenever possible.
As the Product Manager for Trust, Safety, and Quality at MagicSchool, Keanon O’Keefe partners with teams to ensure AI is both powerful and responsible for education. In a field where technology evolves daily, they’ve built systems ensuring educators consistently receive high-quality AI outputs that directly improve student learning outcomes. Their work centers on two critical missions: empowering teachers with reliable AI tools that enhance their effectiveness, and engineering safe, age-appropriate experiences purpose-built for classroom environments where students can explore AI without risk. Keanon specializes in navigating the unique challenges of AI safety—balancing rapid innovation with the rigorous standards education demands. Together with cross-functional teams, they solve complex problems at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and educational responsibility, ensuring that as AI capabilities expand, trust and quality remain non-negotiable foundations.
Andrew Davies is currently the Social Media Manager for MagicSchool. A former educator with 15 years of experience in public education as a fifth-grade teacher and digital learning coach, Andrew is known for making complex ideas accessible and engaging; he spent years helping teachers integrate technology in meaningful, classroom-ready ways. Alongside his work in schools, Andrew built a strong presence as an edtech content creator on TikTok and Instagram, where he shared practical tips, humor, and honest conversations about teaching in the age of AI. His work earned him MagicSchool’s first-ever AI Educator of the Year Award. For the past 18 months, Andrew has worked at MagicSchool, helping support educators, grow community, and champion responsible, teacher-centered AI in education.
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MagicSchool is the most widely used AI platform in K–12 education, supporting millions of educators worldwide. Built by educators, we serve as the AI Operating System for schools, bringing together teacher tools, student-safe learning experiences, and district-level governance in one connected platform. Teachers use MagicSchool to save time, reduce burnout, and deliver high-quality instruction without compromising instructional integrity. Our standards-aligned tools support planning, assessment, feedback, and differentiation, helping educators better meet diverse student needs.
Students learn within clear boundaries through guided, teacher-led AI experiences that build critical thinking, AI literacy, and future-ready skills. AI is used to support growth, keeping classrooms focused on curiosity and creativity. District leaders gain enterprise-grade privacy, compliance, and oversight, making AI adoption safe, scalable, and equitable. With educator-loved tools and student-safe guardrails, MagicSchool supports stronger learning outcomes while keeping human connection at the heart of teaching and learning.
