A(i) REVOLUTION
How Artificial Intelligence is impacting K-12 education
When Brian Graham, Ed.D., talks about artificial intelligence (AI), he doesn’t see a trend or tech experiment—he sees a strategic partner. That’s because the Superintendent of Grand Island Central Schools in New York has embraced AI not as a gimmick, but as a genuine strategic partner—one that has become an integral part of how the district supports students, educators and operations across the district.
At Grand Island, that vision already is playing out in meaningful ways, from AI tutors that personalize instruction to voice-powered platforms that help administrators stay focused on big-picture thinking. But the district isn’t alone. Across the country, school leaders are taking a measured but optimistic approach to integrating AI, weighing its ability to individualize learning and increase efficiency against ethical concerns like data privacy, equity, and the evolving role of the educator.
The result is a snapshot of a system in transformation—one where AI’s greatest impact may not be in replacing teachers, but in amplifying what they do best. For example, under Dr. Graham’s leadership, Grand Island Central School District has adopted several AI-powered tools that support both classroom learning and school operations. Among the most impactful is Khanmigo, an AI tutor from Khan Academy deployed to all students in grades 6–12.
“Khanmigo provides just-in-time support in math and ELA,” Dr. Graham says. “It also includes a series of teacher tools that almost act as a teaching assistant.”
“AI won’t replace teachers—it will amplify them. The teacher of the future is part educator, part designer, part AI coach.”
— Brian Graham, Ed.D., Grand Island Central Schools
On the operations side, Grand Island uses tools like Google’s NotebookLM to help educators and administrators synthesize content, and ZeroEyes, an AI-powered security platform, for gun detection and school safety. Dr. Graham even uses ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode as part of his own workflow—an example of how AI can assist with everything from strategy to scheduling.
Perhaps most significantly, AI is helping personalize student learning at scale. “Khanmigo adapts to each student’s pace and helps build confidence through tailored explanations,” Dr. Graham says. “Teachers are also using AI to adjust reading levels and differentiate content, giving struggling readers a fair shot at mastering the same standards as their peers.”
Early feedback shows stronger engagement, especially in subjects like algebra and geometry. Still, Grand Island’s implementation has been grounded in ethics and inclusion. “Districts need to establish an AI ethics framework built on three pillars: transparency, privacy and equity. This means working with legal counsel to ensure FERPA compliance, creating opt-in/opt-out structures for families and ensuring that AI tools don’t inadvertently reinforce bias. We’ve also formed advisory groups that include teachers, students and parents to vet AI tools and discuss potential equity gaps—because if AI isn’t equitable, it isn’t ethical.”
And while Grand Island welcomes what lies ahead, Dr. Graham remains clear about what AI is—and isn’t. “AI won’t replace teachers—it will amplify them. The teacher of the future is part educator, part designer, part AI coach. With AI handling some of the heavy lifting like generating leveled texts, running formative assessments or offering immediate feedback, teachers can focus on building relationships, fostering creativity and responding to students’ social-emotional needs. Professional development must evolve in tandem, equipping educators to ask better prompts, evaluate AI outputs and integrate technology meaningfully.”
For school leaders ready to explore AI but unsure where to start, Dr. Graham says they must start small, think big and move fast. The key is to pilot a few tools with high-need students or enthusiastic teachers. “Leverage free or low-cost options like ChatGPT or Perplexity AI before jumping into enterprise-level platforms. Most importantly, focus on professional learning—because even the most impressive AI tool will flop without teacher buy-in and understanding.”
Graham sees three innovations that could reshape K-12 education in the next five years:
- AI-generated personalized learning pathways, where students co-design learning experiences with AI tutors
- Speech-recognition literacy tools, like SoapBox Labs, which conduct running records in real time
- Multimodal AI, including natural conversation tools like OpenAI’s Voice Mode and Google’s Project Astra
“We’re about 18 months away from a world where every educator can prompt an AI to build a personalized learning experience,” Dr. Graham says. “Imagine asking an AI to create a video game to teach multiplying fractions with a progression of levels, scaffolding, and standards-aligned mastery built in.”
Empowering Teachers First
In Oakwood, Ohio, Superintendent Neil Gupta, Ed.D., also is exploring the potential of AI in schools—but with a different starting point. The district began with the idea that AI should support teachers, not replace them. This initial focus continues to help build comfort and ensures a safer, more effective rollout for Dr. Gupta and his team.
Oakwood’s approach has centered on streamlining teacher workloads and increasing instructional flexibility. Tools like Google’s Gemini and NotebookLM, MagicSchoolAI and Gamma are being used to help teachers plan lessons, create diverse assignments and tailor instruction to individual students. “It’s about giving educators the capacity to do what they do best—connect with students,” Dr. Gupta says.
Dr. Gupta believes that with the right instruction and mindset, students can also use AI as a learning ally. “When students are taught to view AI as a partner—like a classmate or parent—it becomes a powerful resource. AI can help outline learning paths, create study guides, offer instant feedback, and shape strategies for learning more effectively.”
“AI will create real-time, individualized learning paths for every student. Students will move at their own pace, reinforce concepts as needed, and explore areas of interest.”
— Dr. Neil Gupta, Superintendent, Oakwood City Schools
For its part, the Oakwood City Schools District is equally focused on ethical responsibility. District leaders must prioritize proactive dialogue and rigorous vetting over outright prohibition. That includes reviewing privacy policies to ensure student data is protected and building a vetted list of approved AI tools. “Teachers will become designers of learning experiences and mentors,” Dr. Gupta says. “As teachers become more confident with AI, they’ll help students engage with it in thoughtful and productive ways.”
For school leaders concerned about implementation costs or staff hesitation, Dr. Gupta offers a grounded approach: Start with pilot programs and bring in an expert early to demystify AI. “Focus on professional learning and teacher comfort. Use free tools. Build evidence internally before scaling. That’s how you build confidence and success.”
As the K-12 landscape moves forward, Dr. Gupta remains eager to see the potential for hyper-personalized adaptive learning. “AI will create real-time, individualized learning paths for every student. Students will move at their own pace, reinforce concepts as needed, and explore areas of interest. That’s how we unlock deeper understanding and accelerated growth.”
AI continues to evolve and its greatest potential lies not in replacing the educator, but in enriching every learner’s journey. With thoughtful planning and ethical integration, schools can harness this powerful technology to create more personalized, equitable, and impactful education experiences.
SIDEBAR
An AI Quick-Start Guide for School Leaders
Start with Strategy – Focus on instructional goals before choosing AI tools that align with your mission.
Empower Teachers – Provide training on prompt writing, tool evaluation and integration. Start with teacher-friendly platforms like MagicSchoolAI or Google Gemini.
Prioritize Privacy – Choose tools that comply with FERPA and don’t store student data without safeguards.
Embed Equity – Include students, parents and teachers in decisions. Make accessibility and fairness a priority.
Pilot, Refine, Scale – Begin with a small group. Use results to improve and expand.
Promote Ethical Use – Set clear AI guidelines. Emphasize critical thinking and human connection.
Sources: Brian Graham, Ed.D., Superintendent, Grand Island Central Schools, Grand Island, Neil Gupta, Ed.D., Superintendent, Oakwood City Schools
