29 Schools, 29 Positions on AI: Bill Bass on Managing the Impossible Divide

29 Schools, 29 Positions on AI: Bill Bass on Managing the Impossible Divide

What does it mean to prepare students for a world where the tools keep changing? Bill Bass has been wrestling with that question for over two decades. As Innovation Coordinator for Parkway School District, serving 18,000 students across 29 communities, and former president of ISTE, he's seen every wave of edtech come and go. And he's still here, still asking the hard questions. In this episode of AmpED to 11, Bill joins Brett and Rebecca to talk about the very real tension schools are navigating right now: parents who want AI kept out of classrooms, and students who will step into a world where it's everywhere. He pushes back on the idea that removing technology protects kids, challenges the myth that any of this is neutral, and makes the case for letting students make mistakes with AI while the stakes are still low. He also gets honest about what edtech gets wrong about schools, how he manages innovation across 29 communities with 29 different opinions, and why digital literacy isn't a destination, it's a moving target. This is one of the most grounded, clear-eyed conversations we've had on the show. If you work in education or care about where it's heading, this one's for you. Subscribe to AmpED to 11 for conversations that move education forward.

Inside the AI Rollercoaster With Briarcliff Manor Schools

A student called his school's AI policy "consistently inconsistent", different every period, different every classroom. That phrase is the reason this episode exists. Brett Roer travels to Briarcliff Manor, NY for a live in-person crossover with Dr. James Kaishian, Superintendent of Briarcliff Manor Schools and host of Superkast. Around the table: English teacher Karen McCarthy, Computer Science teacher Chris Lo, and seniors Ava Wu and Noah Rinke. One conversation. Two shows. One very honest hour. Brett runs the AI rollercoaster with the students, period by period, rule by rule, then the Spider-Man finger-pointing exercise with everyone in the room. Students point at teachers. Teachers point at the superintendent. The superintendent points in a circle. Nobody points at themselves. That diffusion is the gap. Karen questions whether she's the right person to lead on this. Chris gave up on AI-generated questions because verifying them took longer than writing his own. Ava asks the question the whole policy debate keeps missing. Brett's argument: stop downloading template policies. Get two pizzas, sit with your own community, and record the conversation. The wisdom is already in the room. This episode airs simultaneously on AmpED to 11 and Superkast. Find Dr. Kaishian's show on Spotify and everywhere you listen.

Walking and Talking: The Workflow Hack That Turned Neighborhood Walks Into Books with Rachelle Dene Poth

What does it look like when an educator refuses to stop growing? For Rachelle Dené Poth, it meant going to law school while teaching full-time, not to escape the classroom, but to understand it more deeply. Today she's a Spanish and STEAM teacher, practicing attorney, author of 10 books, and an AI grant coach guiding 12 schools across the country through one of education's most transformative moments. In this episode of AmpED to 11, Brett and Rebecca sit down with Rachelle to unpack what sustainable, high-impact teaching actually looks like in practice. Rachelle's story challenges the idea that doing more means burning out. Instead, she's built systems, voice-to-text workflows, AI-assisted writing routines, and intentional boundaries, that let her scale her impact without sacrificing her wellbeing. Together they dig into: * How law school made Rachelle a sharper, more empathetic classroom teacher * The productivity systems she swears by that actually hold up under pressure * Why student voice has to be at the table when schools build AI policy * Her unconventional writing workflow that turns neighbourhood walks into book chapters * How she supports schools navigating digital citizenship, digital wellness, and ethical AI Whether you're a teacher trying to find your footing in an AI-accelerated world, a leader designing policy for your school, or someone who just needs a reminder that unconventional paths often lead somewhere extraordinary, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to AmpED to 11 for honest, energising conversations about education, technology, and the humans making it all work.

Building Their Own AI: How School Districts Are Going Beyond Vendors with Daniel Friedman and Dr. Patrick Fogarty

What if school districts stopped buying AI tools and started building them? In this episode, we talk with Daniel Friedman (Director of Technology, Hicksville Public Schools) and Dr. Patrick Fogarty (Assistant Superintendent, Hewlett Woodmere Public Schools & Founder of NYSAIC) about how educators are moving beyond vendor-dependent solutions to create their own local AI infrastructure. They discuss: * Building local LLMs for data privacy and student research * Creating custom Regents exam generators through practitioner collaboration * How real AI innovation happens in group chats at 2 AM, not in procurement meetings * The shift from "What tool should we buy?" to "What can we build ourselves?" * Why the New York State Artificial Intelligence Consortium matters for equity and access * Solving hyper-specific district problems through grassroots innovation Daniel and Patrick met 15 years ago during iPad rollouts and have remained colleagues through every technology transition since. Their work proves that the future of AI in education won't be shaped by EdTech companies, it will be shaped by practitioners solving real problems together. Subscribe for more conversations about technology, education, and what's actually possible when educators lead the way.

The Five Questions Every Parent Should Ask About School AI with Jason B. Allen

Parents discover their teenagers are using AI in school, but they're learning about it after decisions are already made. Jason B. Allen, National Director of Partnerships at the National Parents Union, isn't interested in fixing a communication gap. He's here to close a partnership gap. Jason brings 21 years in education as a certified teacher, special educator, and former school and district leader. He knows what happens when schools make tech decisions without families at the table. He also knows what it looks like when they do it right, and it changes everything about how students, teachers, and parents experience innovation together. In this conversation, we dig into why 70-84% of students are using generative AI while only 16-20% of parents believe they are. We explore the real tension between technology departments and family engagement departments—and why ego, not resources, is often the barrier. Jason shares NPU's vision for technology fairs where parents and students evaluate EdTech tools before purchase, and he walks through the questions every parent should ask their school board about AI right now. We also play the AI Effect game, a scenario-based exercise that shows how AI can actually support human connection, not replace it. The moment: using AI to prepare for a difficult conversation with a parent. Everyone at the table agreed it works. What You'll Learn: * The AI awareness gap - why 70-84% of students are using generative AI while only 16-20% of parents know * Five questions for your school board - what every parent should ask about AI adoption and student data * Technology fairs - how open partnership can shift schools from closed decisions to shared vetting * The department turf war - why ego between tech and family engagement slows everyone down * "We come when we're called" - what NPU's approach means for school districts ready to listen * 2 million members strong - how NPU and 1,800+ partners are reshaping education policy The AI Effect Game: We use a real scenario to show how generative AI can deepen parent conversations instead of replacing them. Listen for the moment the room shifts. Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma guide the conversation, Rebecca as an AI ethics researcher and voice of structural thinking, Brett as the translator between what schools are doing and what families need to understand. Tune in, subscribe, and share if you're ready to turn up the volume on what's possible in education.