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Leading and Leveraging Artificial Intelligence Tools Within K-12 School Districts
Monday, November 11, 2024 @ 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm EST
Presented by Dr. Peter J. Aiken, Superintendent, Central York School District (PA); Dr. Karen Cheser, Superintendent, Durango School District 9-R (CO); and Dr. Jason Harris, Superintendent, Columbia School District (MS)
Moderated by Ann McMullan, Project Director, CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents Initiative, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking)
This edLeader Panel series is presented by CoSN and AASA.
Sponsored by ClassLink
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features. This program may qualify for CoSN CETL® Recertification.
As we have all learned more about artificial intelligence (AI) over the past two years, school leaders continue to navigate pathways to leverage the opportunities AI offers as well as deal with the challenges AI can present. In this edLeader Panel, three superintendents share how they continue to lead the effective uses of AI within multiple school functions, including school operations, as well as in teaching and learning, while also dealing with the challenges that AI can present.
Seven essential guidelines for leading AI in a school district setting will be reviewed. The superintendent panel will share examples of how they are implementing each of those guidelines. Lessons learned along the way will also be discussed. Attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions to the superintendent panelists during the live broadcast.
CoSN and AASA have created a number of free resources for effectively implementing AI in a school district setting. These free AI resources for educators will be highlighted during the edLeader Panel as well as the links to access them online.
This edLeader Panel is of particular value to superintendents, K-12 school and district leaders, and aspiring school leaders.
View all of the recent EmpowerED Superintendent edLeader Panels.
About the Presenters
Dr. Peter J. Aiken is currently the Superintendent of Central York School District, Pennsylvania. Dr. Aiken states that he is “passionate about preparing students for a world that gets crazier by the day.” Prior to becoming a superintendent, Dr. Aiken was a teacher, an assistant principal, a principal, and an assistant superintendent. Most recently, he served as the Superintendent for 5+ years at Manheim Central School District in Pennsylvania. His core leadership tenet is that everything rises and falls on relationships. Originally from Oakmont, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh, he now resides in Lancaster, PA, with his wife and three children. Dr. Aiken is an avid reader and says that you’ll often find him running and ruminating after a great read. He invites you to read his leadership blog.
Karen Cheser, Ed.D. is Superintendent of Durango School District 9-R, Colorado. She was previously Superintendent at Fort Thomas Schools, Kentucky. Prior to working in education in several positions (teacher, literacy and math specialist, principal, state Distinguished Educator, and district administrator), Dr. Cheser worked for Procter & Gamble Inc. in sales management. Dr. Cheser is a member of the 2022-23 Colorado Governor’s Fellowship, chairs the SW Colorado Education Collaborative, and serves on the Durango Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as well as the LaPlata County Economic Development Alliance. She has been instrumental in bringing innovation, student agency, and a focus on future workforce to schools and communities through such projects as Durango’s Impact Career and Innovation Center, the Ignite Institute, LEGO League Robotics, and the KY Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs. Dr. Cheser served as national Vice Chair of EdLeader21 and represents Colorado on the CoSN/AASA EmpowerED Superintendents Advisory Panel and SEEC (Superintendents’ Environmental Education Collaborative).
Dr. Jason Harris, Superintendent of the Columbia School District, Mississippi, is an accomplished leader in public education with two decades of experience. He is a visionary leader, dedicated to transforming educational landscapes and fostering a culture of excellence. With a noteworthy foundation in educational administration and a commitment to student success for all, Dr. Harris has led impactful initiatives throughout his career. As the Superintendent of Columbia School District since 2017, he has orchestrated remarkable improvements, elevating the district’s rating from C to A. Dr. Harris has completed a $10 million bond issue project, established cutting-edge academic programs, and revitalized athletic facilities, leaving an indelible mark on the educational landscape. Notably, in 2021, he opened the re-designed Payton Field, a $6.5 million football stadium named after NFL legend Walter Payton. This year, the Columbia School District celebrated two newly constructed $3.5 million Columbia High baseball and softball stadiums.
About the Moderator
Ann McMullan is Project Director for the CoSN EmpowerED Superintendents Initiative, created in partnership with AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Ann served as Executive Director for Educational Technology in Klein ISD, near Houston, Texas until September 2013, when she and her family moved to Los Angeles, California. For 16 years, Ann led the district team that provided professional development on technology and 21st century instructional strategies to 4,000 educators serving 50,000 students. She was co-chair of the Texas Education Technology Advisory Committee, which developed the Texas Long Range Plan for Technology.
Today, Ann leads her own consulting firm, Ann McMullan, Education Leadership Consultant. She is a public speaker, writer, and consultant focused on leadership to meet the needs of today’s students. Ann serves on the edWeb.net Advisory Board and is a founding member of ERDI’s Ed Leadership Council. Ann is co-author of Life Lessons in Leadership.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Super-Connected community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
AASA is the premier association for school system leaders and serves as the national voice for public education and district leadership on Capitol Hill.
CoSN (the Consortium for School Networking) is the premier professional association for school system technology leaders. CoSN provides thought leadership resources, community, best practices and advocacy tools to help leaders succeed in the digital transformation. CoSN represents over 13 million students in school districts nationwide and continues to grow as a powerful and influential voice in K-12 education.
ClassLink is a global education provider of identity and analytics products that create more time for learning and help schools better understand digital engagement. As leading advocates for open data standards, we offer instant access to apps and files with single sign-on, streamline class rostering, automate account provisioning, and provide actionable analytics. ClassLink empowers 19 million students and staff in over 2,500 school systems. Visit classlink.com to learn more.