Key takeaways
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AI in education supports teaching, not replacing teachers. Its impact relies on quality instruction and thoughtful use.
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Purposeful use of AI in schools allows teachers to spend less time on routine work and more time with students.
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Using AI responsibly means setting clear expectations for privacy, accuracy, access, and professional development.
As a superintendent, I’ve watched AI in education move rapidly from an abstract conversation to a practical, daily tool used in classrooms and district offices.
I’ve watched AI help elementary students understand complex vocabulary, support multilingual students with instant translation, and give high school students instant feedback on a first draft of their essay. On the other hand, I’ve also heard from teachers who feel overwhelmed by the rapid adoption of AI, are uncertain about accuracy, or are unsure whether AI actually improves instruction.
Teachers are now using tools like chatbots and writing assistants, while principals and superintendents are developing policies to guide safe and appropriate use. The conversation has shifted from whether AI belongs in schools to how it should be used responsibly.
This mix of promise and concern mirrors what many district leaders across the country are experiencing. To understand the real impact of AI in schools, we have to look beyond the hype and beyond the claims and examine what’s actually happening—to teachers’ time, to instructional quality, and to student outcomes.
This balanced view reflects the real AI in schools pros and cons district leaders are weighing as these tools move from experimentation to everyday use.
Understanding the real impact of AI requires focusing on how it is changing classroom practice, teacher workload, and student learning.
What does AI in Education Mean?
Put simply, AI in education refers to digital tools that use algorithms and predictive modeling to assist with learning, planning, assessment, and instruction. These AI tools can analyze patterns, adjust content, generate feedback, or streamline routines that typically take educators hours to complete.
What are examples of AI in education?
Examples of AI in education currently include:
- Adapting instruction as teachers see how students are responding in real time
- Supporting writing and revision so teachers can give feedback more efficiently
- Helping multilingual students access content alongside their peers
- Identifying students who may need extra support earlier
- Offering additional practice and explanations when students need them
- Reducing the time it takes to create quizzes, rubrics, and reading materials
The key to understanding AI’s role in schools is this: it is not a replacement for teachers. It is a new level of support that is only effective when paired with strong instruction, human judgment, and careful oversight.
How AI Is Used in Schools Today
AI is no longer just a future idea—it is already being used in classrooms every day. From planning lessons to supporting students, schools are learning where these tools are helpful and where they need limits. Many districts are pairing AI tools with a K-12 online learning platform to bring together adaptive instruction, digital learning materials, and classroom-ready resources in one place.
From a superintendent’s perspective, the most effective uses of AI focus on improving instruction, saving time, and expanding access, this includes:
Personalizing Learning
Adaptive AI programs analyze student work and adjust difficulty instantly. For example, students are now working on math tasks where AI offers immediate hints to students who are struggling, while also adapting the same work for students who are already demonstrating mastery.
One student told me, “It keeps me from getting stuck too long,” while the teacher explained it gave her the ability to work with small groups without leaving anyone behind.
Giving Teachers Time Back
Ask almost any teacher what they need more of, and the answer is nearly always the same: time. Time to plan well, time to give meaningful feedback, and time to focus on students rather than paperwork.
Used thoughtfully, AI can help reclaim some of that lost time. Teachers are already using it to draft lesson outlines or assessments, create leveled texts on the same topic, spot patterns in student data, identify common writing errors, and generate practice questions or examples.
When AI handles these routine, time-consuming tasks, teachers gain something far more valuable—the flexibility to focus on instruction, relationships, and the needs of their students.
When used the right way, AI gives teachers hours back each day – creating initial drafts and eliminating planning tasks. Teachers can now focus on refining their lessons, adjusting their instruction, and meeting their students’ needs.
Supporting Early Intervention
AI tools help schools identify academic or behavioral concerns sooner by detecting patterns such as attendance issues, missing work, or common errors. This allows us to respond earlier, before these become bigger issues.
Using this information during data meetings helps us focus our discussions and make better-informed decisions about student support.
Expanding Access to Learning
AI tools help remove barriers for multilingual learners, struggling readers, and students with disabilities by providing supports such as translation, captioning, speech-to-text, read-aloud features, vocabulary support, and visual explanations.
This means students are now able to engage with grade-level content more independently, without instruction slowing down or drawing attention to the support they are receiving.
Improving Writing and Feedback
AI writing tools can also help students get started, organize their ideas, and revise drafts. Instead of correcting routine or minor errors, the time saved by using these tools lets teachers focus on instruction and student progress.
The Pros of AI in Education
AI is beginning to play a role in how schools plan instruction, support students, and manage daily work. It now helps teachers save time, expand access, and respond more effectively to student needs. The pros of using AI in education are already visible in many classrooms, including:
Enhanced Personalized Learning
AI automatically adjusts content, giving students targeted support and reducing the need for teachers to create multiple versions of the same assignments.
Reduced Teacher Workload
AI reduces planning time by generating drafts, questions, rubrics, summaries, and sample responses. Teachers remain in control of instructional quality, with AI reducing the work required on the front end.
One veteran teacher recently told me, “It gives me time back—time that I can spend working with kids instead of creating worksheets.”
Immediate Student Feedback
Students can revise their work and get feedback right away, rather than waiting until the next class. This helps them build confidence and take more responsibility for their own learning, while allowing teachers to step in when it matters most.
Increased Accessibility
AI removes barriers by offering translation, captioning, vocabulary support, and alternative formats. This helps more students access grade-level tasks without constant support.
AI helps schools sort through large amounts of data and highlight patterns that can be easy to miss day to day. This allows teachers and support teams to identify concerns earlier and plan targeted instruction more efficiently.
When used correctly, AI-supported tools can draw students into learning in ways that feel active and purposeful. In many classrooms—particularly in STEM—students are designing, testing, and experimenting through simulations and interactive tasks rather than passively completing worksheets. The result is often higher interest, increased participation, and more active learning.
The Cons of AI in Education
As with any new instructional tool, AI brings both benefits and risks. School leaders must understand these concerns and plan for them. These issues are already present in many districts, including:
Protecting Student Data
Because AI tools rely heavily on student information, families need clear, straightforward assurances about what data is collected, how it is stored, who can access it, and whether it is used for purposes beyond education. As a superintendent, these are often the first questions families raise—and they are the right ones to ask.
Implementation Challenges
Even the most effective tools require time, training, and support. When implementation is rushed or unclear, it often creates confusion and frustration instead of helping. Providing clear guidance and high-quality, ongoing professional development is essential for the effective use of AI in schools.
Over-Reliance on Technology
Sometimes, using AI too quickly can actually interrupt learning rather than enhance it.
AI should be used to support learning, not replace the thinking and effort students need to develop on their own. Classrooms still require hands-on work, meaningful discussion, and time for students to solve problems independently.
Inaccurate or Misleading Outputs
AI tools can make mistakes and sometimes produce answers that sound convincing but are not correct. Students, teachers, and administrators need the skills to question and evaluate AI-generated information instead of taking it at face value.
Should AI Be Used in Schools?
Instead of asking whether AI is “good or bad,” district leaders should ask whether it serves an instructional purpose.
To determine whether AI in education is appropriate, leaders and teachers should consider:
- Does this tool solve a real instructional or operational challenge?
- Does it enhance—not replace—teacher judgment?
- Does it protect student data and follow strict privacy requirements?
- Is it accessible to all students?
- Do teachers receive time and support to learn it?
- Does it strengthen—not distract from—our core learning goals?
When the answer to these questions is yes, AI supports student learning and gives teachers more time to provide meaningful instruction and support students.
Using AI in Schools — With Purpose and Intention
AI is already changing how schools plan instruction, support students, and use data. When used correctly, it can help personalize learning, reduce teacher workload, and expand access for students. At the same time, concerns about privacy, accuracy, equity, and over-use must be addressed thoughtfully.
From a superintendent’s perspective, the best results happen when AI supports good teaching rather than replaces it. Clear expectations, transparency with families, and intentional implementation make the difference between AI in schools being a helpful tool and a distraction.
No matter how advanced technology becomes, schools succeed because of people. Strong relationships between teachers and students, trust with families, and leadership focused on student well-being will always matter more than any tool, including AI.
