Kinwise: AI Insights for Educators

In this episode, we're joined by McKenna Akane, an award-winning STEM teacher and the Frontier Learning Lab Ambassador at the Montana Digital Academy. McKenna shares her incredible journey from being a first-year teacher in a rural Montana school to becoming a nationally recognized leader in educational technology, winning accolades like Discovery Education's "Educator of the Year" and a state championship in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition.
 
Listen in as we discuss how to move beyond basic AI tools and design award-winning VR projects, the unique opportunities and constraints of teaching in a rural district, and how to address equity and cultural responsiveness when bringing new technology into underserved communities. McKenna offers practical advice for educators who are new to AI, shares her "aha" moments with immersive technology, and provides a hopeful vision for the future of STEM education.
Key Takeaways
Technology as a Bridge, Not a Replacement: McKenna's work demonstrates how VR and AI can be used to extend learning opportunities and immerse students in their subjects, from walking through ancient Rome to preserving Indigenous cultures.
Rural Schools as Innovation Hubs: While rural districts face budget constraints, they also offer unique advantages, such as strong community ties and the ability to be nimble and innovative.
Student Authorship in the Age of AI: The conversation emphasizes the importance of teaching students to use AI ethically and responsibly, with a focus on tools that support student authorship and critical thinking.
The Human Element is Irreplaceable: When working with Indigenous and underrepresented communities, it's crucial to remember that AI is a tool and cannot replace the lived experiences and cultural knowledge of the people themselves.
Support for Educators is Key: As technology evolves, so does the need for professional development. McKenna highlights the importance of resources like the Frontier Learning Lab and the AI Help Desk to support teachers in their journey with new technologies.

Mike McGuckin, a Computer Science Teacher at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, joins us to share his on-the-ground perspective on navigating AI in education. Mike's passion for technology led him to become the only North Carolina educator in the inaugural AIEDU Trailblazer Fellowship. This experience "skyrocketed" him into a leadership role where he now helps shape AI curriculum and guides fellow educators across the state.
 
With a background that uniquely blends practical classroom experience with state-level policy work, Mike offers a realistic and hopeful roadmap for integrating AI thoughtfully. In this practical conversation, we discuss how he uses AI as an "idea bouncer" to reclaim time for students, his strategies for teaching AI ethics, and why the future of education depends on preparing both teachers and students for a world of constant change.
Highlights:
The journey from swim coach to one of North Carolina’s leading voices on AI in education
How to use AI as an "idea bouncer" to reduce lesson-planning stress and burnout
Practical classroom examples: teaching AI ethics with self-driving cars and building chatbots with students
Why "knowing your students" is a more effective AI detector than any software
The big question keeping him up at night: What will school look like for his own children in just a few years

Susan C. McLeod, VP of Data Center Market Development at Hitachi Energy, joins us to explore how large organizations can successfully navigate AI adoption. Drawing from over 20 years in enterprise tech, Susan offers practical insights for turning complex technology into a wins for people on the ground.
With a background leading global support and success at Hitachi Vantara, Susan now works at the critical intersection of AI, data centers, and the energy sector. In this practical conversation, we discuss why most AI pilots fail, how to truly prepare your data and teams for new tools, and why communication is the most vital skill for a future shaped by automation.
Susan's insights challenge us to look beyond the hype, preserve the invaluable human knowledge within our organizations, and champion the critical thinking skills that will define the next generation of leaders.
Highlights:
The "leapfrog" moment that sparked a shift from simple bots to generative AI
Why leaders need to say everything seven times
The reason 95% of corporate AI pilots are failing
How to prevent the loss of irreplaceable knowledge as experts retire
Why the next generation’s greatest challenge is protecting their own critical thinking

Angeline Corvaglia, founder of Data Girl and Friends and the soon-to-be-announced SHIELD, joins us to explore how AI education can equip the next generation to stay thoughtful, self-aware, and socially grounded in an age of algorithmic influence.
With a background in global finance and digital transformation, Angeline now works at the intersection of AI literacy and youth empowerment. In this expansive conversation, she shares how emotional design, biased data labeling, and chatbot companions are already shaping young minds, and what parents, teachers, and communities can do about it.
Angeline’s insights challenge us to center student voice, rethink “neutral” tech, and reclaim our inner compass in a time of persuasive machines.
Highlights:
The chatbot conversation that sparked her shift from CFO to AI literacy advocate
How young people are unknowingly outsourcing critical thinking to chatbots
What educators need to know about AI bias, trust, and voice development
Global stories from Nigeria to Italy revealing AI’s cultural blind spots
Simple metaphors (like cookie crumbs!) that make data concepts stick

William A “Bill” Brown, former Chief Architect at IBM and founder of Application Engineering Services, joins us to explore how AI can drive access, equity, and innovation when guided by human intention.
From wiring office networks in 1980s New York to building AI agents today, Bill’s career is rooted in curiosity and continual learning. In this expansive conversation, he shares how he navigated each wave of technological change, why he sees AI as the most transformative shift of his lifetime, and what skills educators and students need to succeed in this new era.
Bill’s insights connect the dots between lifelong learning, technical fluency, and the people-first mindset that shapes meaningful progress.
Highlights:
- The homemade database that sparked Bill’s 35-year tech career
-What AI fluency looks like for students, educators, and career-changers
-Designing global cloud architecture with human needs in mind
-Building AI tools that support learning and skill development
-Centering equity, sustainability, and impact in AI work

Cary Wright, a 30-year veteran educator and co-founder of T.E.A.C.H., joins us to share how he’s helping teachers go from overwhelmed to empowered through practical, responsible AI use. From streamlining lesson planning to unlocking data insights, Cary explains how he and his co-founder, Tyler Hunt, are building a future where AI supports educators.
In his role as K-12 Coordinator of Humanities in Martinsville, Virginia, Cary has seen firsthand the emotional toll of teaching, and the real impact AI can make. In this candid and energizing conversation, he unpacks the simple workflows that save hours, the mindset shifts required to adopt new tools, and the deeper why behind his mission: keeping teachers in the classroom and helping students thrive in an AI-powered world.
Whether you're a classroom teacher, school leader, or just curious about what AI really looks like in K-12, this episode offers a hopeful, human-centered look at what’s possible.
Highlights:
The story behind T.E.A.C.H. and its grassroots beginnings
A teacher trades coffee for wine after a lesson-planning breakthrough
How AI can amplify veteran educator expertise
Navigating ethical data use and student privacy
Preparing students for a future alongside AI

What happens when a centuries-old set of values meets one of the most disruptive technologies of our time?In this episode, we slow down the AI conversation with John Sharon, Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning at Carolina Friends School. With over 34 years in education, John has seen fads come and go and knows the importance of discernment.
Grounded in the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, integrity, environmental stewardship, and the belief that truth is continually revealed, John offers a deeply reflective approach to integrating AI in schools. We explore:
Why AI in education reminds him of the early laptop push from Microsoft
The balance between innovation and caution by keeping “one foot on the brake and one on the accelerator”
How Quaker values prompt unique ethical questions about AI’s environmental impact and its effects on human relationships in learning communities
Examples of how teachers and students are experimenting with AI while protecting privacy and nurturing critical thinking
Whether you’re a school leader, classroom teacher, or simply curious about AI’s role in shaping young minds, this conversation offers a fresh, values-driven perspective. John’s central reminder: AI should remain a tool for learning, not the learning itself.
If you want to explore how to bring the same balance and intentionality into your organization, visit kinwise.org/programs to learn more about our hands-on professional development for schools, nonprofits, and mission-driven businesses

Montana science teacher and district AI lead Connor Mulvaney joins host Lydia Kumar to share how he turned fishing photos, traffic-light rubrics, and a healthy dose of curiosity into AI leadership in Montana and across the nation. Fresh off announcing aiEDU’s largest Trailblazers Fellowship expansion, Connor shares stories about leading students and educators to responsible AI adoption. 
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Break-the-Ice Questions – Three questions that instantly surface student misconceptions (and enthusiasm) about AI.
Fake Fish, Real Ethics – Using deepfake trout to spark serious debate on consent, bias, and digital citizenship.
Trailblazers 2.0 – What’s inside the 10-week fellowship (virtual sessions, $875 stipend, national recognition) and why rural teachers asked for it.
This episode is for K-12 educators, district leaders, and mission-driven education organizations who want to shift AI conversations from fear and plagiarism to possibility and purpose. 

In this episode, Guide and curriculum designer Ben Gordon Sniffen pulls back the curtain on Alpha School’s two-hour learning model, where an AI tutor condenses core academics into a focused morning block and frees guides for passion-driven life-skills workshops in the afternoon.
Listen in as Ben explains:
How 120 minutes of adaptive learning hits each child’s “productive-struggle” zone.
The role of guides as emotional & motivational coaches, and why more AI means more adults
Real-world workshop wins, from third-graders pitching businesses to middle-schoolers coding robot
Teaching AI literacy: getting students to critique ChatGPT drafts instead of outsourcing thinking
A hopeful vision for the future of work where human mentorship matters more
Connect and Resources
I hope you enjoyed hearing Ben Gordon Sniffen’s perspective on Alpha’s two-hour learning model and student-driven life-skills workshops. If you’re curious to see the model in action, or to follow Ben’s ongoing work at the intersection of AI and education, here are a few easy ways to connect:
Alpha School Official Website – Explore the two-hour learning structure, outcomes data, and campus locations. Visit the website: alpha.school
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn – Follow Ben’s reflections on AI-powered tutoring, curriculum design, and student coaching. Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/benjamin-gordon-sniffen-423a91229
2-Hour Learning Model Overview – Watch a short explainer and see sample schedules that condense core academics into a focused morning block. Read the overview: alpha.school/2-hour-learning
Adaptive-Learning Apps Mentioned – Khan Academy, IXL, Newsela, and EGUMPP power personalized practice across subjects. Explore the apps: khanacademy.org | ixl.com | newsela.com | egumpp.com
AI Research Tools – Try ChatGPT or Perplexity AI for cited summaries, brainstorming, and deeper dives into any topic. Start exploring openai.com/chatgpt | perplexity.ai
 
For more support from our team in implementing human-centered AI strategy, go to kinwise.org to explore our pilot program and custom resources. 

Kinwise Conversations is your weekly AI learning lab for teachers, principals, and district leaders. In Season 2 we dive into real classroom pilots, district-wide roll-outs, and cross-sector insights that show exactly how AI can boost student learning without losing the human heart of education. 🎙 What to expect
• Classroom and district innovators already pushing AI to its limits • Warm, grounded conversations about equity, ethics, and practical wins • Cross-sector voices that connect today’s lessons to tomorrow’s jobs🎙 Who's in the trailer• Season 1, Episode 3: Vera Cubero, NCDPI Emerging Technologies Consultant• Season 1, Episode 7: Tanzania Brown, Instructional Designer• Season 2, Episode 1: Ben Gordon Sniffen, Guide at Alpha• Season 2, Episode 4: Cary Wright, AI K-12 Coach at T.E.A.C.H
Season 2 launches Wednesday, July 30. Follow Kinwise Conversations wherever you get your podcasts, then explore hands-on educator PD, Communities of Practice, and AI Leadership Labs at kinwise.org. Questions? Email lydia@kinwise.org, and bring a colleague along for the ride.