School Leaders Project

In this episode of The School Leaders Project, host Cindy Blackburn sits down with education leader and author Al Kingsley to explore AI in education, AI in schools, and what it really means to be AI literate today.
While many conversations about artificial intelligence in the classroom focus on tools, prompting, or policies, this episode takes a different angle. Together, Cindy and Al unpack AI literacy as a thinking discipline. One grounded in judgment, critical thinking, and teacher expertise.
They dive into some of the biggest questions school leaders and educators are asking right now:
What is AI literacy, really?
How should schools approach AI in the classroom?
Do teachers need to learn AI before students?
What skills matter most in an AI-driven world?
And can AI ever be unbiased?
One of the most powerful moments in this conversation centers on AI bias in education. As AI tools become more embedded in teaching and learning, Al challenges a common assumption: that avoiding AI is the safest path. Instead, he raises a critical question: If schools and communities don’t actively shape these systems, how can we expect them to reflect our students?
This episode is especially relevant for:
School leaders and administrators navigating AI strategy
Teachers exploring AI in the classroom
Educators thinking about the future of learning and curriculum
Anyone interested in AI literacy, bias, and equity in education
Topics covered include:
AI in education, AI in schools, AI literacy, artificial intelligence in the classroom, teacher AI use, AI bias, bias in AI systems, education technology, EdTech, digital strategy in schools, future of education, skills vs knowledge, critical thinking, and teacher readiness.
If you’re thinking about how to bring AI into your school in a way that is thoughtful, ethical, and impactful, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of School Leaders Project, host Cindy Blackburn is joined by Denise Pope, Jay McTighe, and Eric Hudson, the founding panelists of The 100.
The 100 is a new national initiative designed to recognize and connect 100 educators who are advancing some of the most meaningful, innovative, and sustainable work happening in independent schools today. More than an award, it is an effort to surface powerful ideas, celebrate the people behind them, and create a community where innovation can be shared, strengthened, and sustained.
Organized around the three focus areas of The 100, AI, curriculum innovation, and leadership, the conversation explores what it takes for new ideas to move beyond isolated initiatives and become meaningful, sustainable change within schools. Along the way, the panel discusses the future of AI in education, the evolution of curriculum and assessment, student well being, leadership, and the systems that help great ideas take root and endure.
Denise, Jay, and Eric also share their hopes for The 100, reflecting on the importance of elevating practitioner voices, creating stronger networks of innovators, and building a future where great work is more visible, connected, and impactful.
Whether you're a teacher, school leader, or educational changemaker, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how innovation is recognized, supported, and sustained across schools.

In this episode, Cindy Blackburn sits down with Rachel Gorsky, Director of Institutional Research and Data Analytics at Gilman School, to explore how schools can actually use data to drive meaningful change.
They unpack what institutional research looks like in K–12 independent schools, how to move from vague questions to actionable insights, and why combining qualitative and quantitative data is essential for understanding school culture.
Rachel shares her process for analyzing school climate surveys, navigating sensitive topics, and turning complex data into findings that leaders can actually use. The conversation also dives into a real research project on women’s experiences in boys’ schools, offering a powerful example of how data can surface hidden patterns and inform leadership decisions.
They also explore the ethical challenges of working with sensitive data, how to build trust through transparency, and why sharing findings is often the hardest part of the process.
If you're a school leader, educator, or anyone interested in data-informed decision-making in education, this episode offers practical insights you can apply right away.

On this episode of the School Leaders Project, host Cindy Blackburn sits down with Dr. Danielle Mirliss, Director of Research and Academic Innovation at Pingry School, to explore how schools can build AI literacy with purpose, ethics, and trust.

Danielle shares how Pingry has shifted from creating rigid AI policies to grounding its approach in clear values, keeping relationships, critical thinking, and student agency at the center of teaching and learning. Together, they unpack what families are most concerned about when it comes to artificial intelligence in schools, from academic integrity and misinformation to the future of education and work.

The conversation dives into practical strategies for supporting teachers, engaging parents, and developing an AI literacy curriculum that helps students understand how AI works, how to use it responsibly, and how to think critically about its ethical impact.

If you’re a school leader, educator, or parent looking for a thoughtful, real-world approach to teaching AI in K–12 schools, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and actionable ideas.

On this episode of the School Leaders Project, host Cindy Blackburn sits down with Antonio Vigil, Director of Innovative Classroom Technology at Aurora Public Schools, to explore what it really takes to transform public education in a moment of rapid change.

Together, they unpack how Aurora Public Schools is rethinking equity, AI, and instruction through its districtwide strategy, Destination APS. Antonio shares powerful stories of using AI to support multilingual learners, build belonging through real-time translation, and strengthen relationships between schools and families.

The conversation dives into the “both and” philosophy of education: creating rigorous, engaging learning experiences while also centering relationships, empathy, and student voice. You’ll hear practical insights on data literacy, dashboards for educators, street data for equity, liberatory design, and why adaptive leadership matters when schools are moving beyond improving the status quo.

If you’re a school leader, educator, or anyone interested in the future of teaching and learning, this episode offers a hopeful, grounded look at how systems can change in meaningful ways.