Episode 9: AI in Education: Where Do We Go From Here?

Whether you are embracing–or rejecting–the onslaught of AI technology in your school, there’s simply no way to ignore them anymore. So what are we doing to address and manage ai in our schools? And are we utilizing its power and capabilities to our advantage?

In this episode of Lessons Learned, BetterLesson CEO Matt Kennard sits down with Anna Edwards, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder, Whiteboard Advisors, and Erin Mote, CEO and Founder of Innovate EDU. Together they discuss the current policies in place, and explore solutions to harness the power of AI and technology in education and beyond.

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ABOUT OUR GUESTS:

Erin Mote – CEO and Founder, InnovateEDU

Erin Mote is the CEO and Founder of InnovateEDU. In this role, Erin leads the organization and its major projects including technology product development, work on data interoperability and data systems, and an urban education Fellowship for new educators. She leads the organization’s work on creating uncommon alliances to create systems change – in special education, talent development, and data modernization. An enterprise architect, she created, alongside her team, two of InnovateEDU’s signature technology products – Cortex, a next-generation personalized learning platform, and Landing Zone – a cutting-edge infrastructure as a service data product.

Erin is also the co-founder of Brooklyn Laboratory Charter School with her husband Dr. Eric Tucker. She is a recognized leader in technology, mobile, and broadband and has spent much of her career focused on expanding access to technology in the US and abroad. She has led ground-breaking initiatives, including scaling wireless communications to the developing world, developing global and national strategic technology plans, and work with the country’s leading technology companies. Erin has served in an advisory capacity to the White House/OSTP’s US Ignite Initiative, the Obama Administration’s Global Development Innovation Policy, the State Department’s TechCamp program, and the Obama Administration’s intra-agency process for Rio 2.0 and Rio+20. Erin served as the founding Chief of Party for the USAID Global Broadband and Innovations Alliance – a $19.5 million global technology expansion project.

Erin has served in senior positions with CHF International and Coulter Companies after starting her career as the Director of External and Strategic Relations for Arizona State University. A recognized leader in alliance building, Erin serves in an advisory capacity for several leading international organizations including Digital Promise, SXSWedu Launch, XPrize, and the Barbara Bush Foundation. She is an Aspen Institute Socrates scholar and a proud alumnus of the University of Michigan.

Anna Edwards – Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-Founder, Whiteboard Advisors

For nearly two decades Anna has helped to architect change-making campaigns, and advised the leaders of the nation’s most impactful businesses and nonprofits on national policy and advocacy initiatives.

A product of the Atlanta Public School system and honors graduate of Yale University, Anna is regarded as trusted confidante and partner by both federal policymakers and state and local leaders alike on K-12, higher education and workforce policy.

A student of the policy and market dynamics that impact preK-postsecondary education, Anna is a frequent speaker and advisor to education donors and investors. She is also Whiteboard Advisors’ most frequent flyer, working with governors’ offices, state departments of education, higher education and workforce leaders, and school districts across the country.

Anna currently serves as a Senior Advisor to New Markets Venture partners and was the founding vice-chair of the national nonprofit mindSpark Learning, an initiative of the Morgridge Family Foundation.

In Washington, DC, Anna has served as an advisor to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, where she co-chaired the festival’s primary fundraising event, and Jumpstart, an early childhood organization.

Anna began her career working in CNN’s D.C. Bureau for National Correspondent Bob Franken and CNN Productions.