Automate to Elevate: Creating a Blueprint for AI Integration in Wisconsin SchoolsBy: Dr. Danielle Bosanec, WASBO Director of Professional Development and Dr. Ryan Krohn, Superintendent- Palmyra-Eagle School District Successful schools rely on effective leadership and innovative approaches to create thriving learning environments. Accomplishing all of this requires a focus from leaders on building a vision for student success that is supported by seamless systems and innovative approaches. For principals and school leaders, this means balancing instructional leadership, operational management, staff development, and community engagement—all while ensuring student success remains the top priority. Enter Artificial Intelligence (AI)—a powerful tool that has the potential to revolutionize how we approach these responsibilities. Leaders can open new doors to success by leveraging AI tools and processes. Combining the goal of creating thriving school environments with leadership, and then adding in resources for efficiencies can form the foundation of effective leadership and automate the plate of leaders to focus on the highest priorities. A Blueprint for Leading with AI Integration By emphasizing training, ethical implementation, and the establishment of clear goals, the implementation of AI in schools can be a transformative tool for driving meaningful, system-wide change. To fully leverage AI’s potential, leaders may want to consider creating and following a blueprint for leading with AI integration. To create a blueprint, districts must first define what effectiveness means in their context. Then, by aligning AI with clearly defined goals, districts can ensure its adoption is purposeful, measurable, and impactful—not just another tool, but a catalyst for systemic improvement. Below are four simple steps for developing a blueprint for effectiveness in your district. Step 1: Define Effectiveness A critical first step in integrating AI into Wisconsin schools is to define effectiveness. It’s not just about efficiency—it’s about establishing standards of excellence and effectiveness that guide decisions and actions. Without this clarity, the tools and technologies we adopt risk becoming misaligned with the outcomes we aim to achieve. Step 2: Set Goals & Benchmarks Understanding that effectiveness is a result of continuous improvement, articulation of goals and benchmarks for AI integration should be established. By clearly articulating the outcomes we expect through the use of AI tools, we ensure that AI doesn’t just streamline tasks—it becomes a powerful force for advancing the goals of an organization. Step 3: Identify AI Tools to Meet Goals Goals should be aligned with a district’s mission and can cover a variety of topics. AI can then support these goals to be as effective and efficient as possible. Below are just some types of goals leaders may have and ways AI tools can help reach benchmarks for success. Goal: Enhance Instructional Leadership
- Use AI to analyze student performance data and identify learning trends
- Generate personalized learning recommendations
- Create lesson plan templates and curriculum resources
- Tools to try: Brisk Teaching
Goal: Improve Communication - Implement AI-powered efficient communication systems for parent and community outreach
- Create multilingual communications efficiently
- Automate routine announcements and updates
- Tools to try: Brisk Teaching, ChatGPT, Google Gemini
Goal: Streamline Operations - Generate reports and documentation more efficiently
- Create presentations for professional development, lessons, etc.
- Tools to try: GammaAI, ChatGPT, NotebookLM
As schools embrace artificial intelligence to enhance teaching, learning, and operations, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges that come with this powerful technology. While AI offers transformative benefits, its implementation isn’t without obstacles. Funding Constraints
Integrating AI into schools may require an investment in software, hardware, and staff training. For many districts, these costs can strain already tight budgets. It’s important to know that there are powerful, free AI resources available that can be transformative. There are more robust AI tools that have a cost associated with them. These tools have benefits, but may need to be balanced with other priorities in the district. Data Privacy and Security Protecting sensitive student and staff data is paramount when implementing AI systems. Schools must ensure compliance with privacy laws and Terms of Service agreements while safeguarding against potential data breaches. Without these safeguards, the risks could outweigh the benefits. A comprehensive review of district policies and procedures is recommended. Training and Professional Development For AI tools to be effective, educators and administrators need the skills to use them effectively. However, providing comprehensive training and ongoing support can be expensive and time-intensive. Limited professional development budgets or resistance from staff who are hesitant to adopt new systems can be a concern. To overcome this, school leaders must foster a culture of collaboration, emphasizing the ways AI can complement, rather than replace, human effort.
Success in AI integration comes through thoughtful, measured steps. Start with small pilot programs, gathering feedback and adjusting as you go. Build capacity through ongoing training and support networks. Monitor impact regularly, using both quantitative metrics and qualitative feedback to guide your journey. The key to successful AI integration lies in alignment—ensuring that every tool and technique serves your school's unique mission and vision. By following a thoughtful blueprint and maintaining focus on effectiveness, school leaders can harness AI's potential to create extraordinary educational experiences for every student. When implemented thoughtfully, AI can help create more efficient, effective, and engaging learning environments. However, it's crucial to remember that AI is meant to enhance, not replace, the human elements that make education meaningful. It All Comes Back to Effectiveness Success in using AI to reimagine teaching and learning hinges on clearly defining what "effectiveness" looks like within the unique context of each district. Creating a blueprint for effectiveness, establishing goals and benchmarks, and then embracing AI tools to help reach those goals can yield efficiencies, as well as financial and learning results across a school system. Effectiveness isn’t just about adopting the latest technology; it’s about aligning AI implementation with a district’s core mission and goals. Defining success early allows districts to evaluate whether AI investments truly meet their needs and deliver measurable results. By maintaining a focus on what effectiveness means schools can ensure AI becomes a tool that enhances their mission rather than complicates it. Learn More! AWSA has multiple opportunities for members to learn more about developing processes for effective leadership. Consider participating in these AWSA Academies and using AI tools when applying your learning to practice.
|