Heather Sherburn is a retired Assistant Superintendent, K–12 Education and the Chief Academic Officer for SchoolDay.
When I started teaching, the most advanced technology in my classroom was an overhead projector and a rolling TV cart we all signed up for. Over the years, we adapted to the internet, mobile devices, and digital curriculum. Each shift felt big at the time.
But nothing has moved as fast — or as quietly — as artificial intelligence.
For decades, teachers were the technology leaders in the room. We introduced the tools. We set the expectations. We helped students navigate what was new.
Today, that dynamic is changing.
Not because students are suddenly experts.
But because AI is evolving faster than our systems, policies, and professional learning can keep up.
And while we debate how to respond, students are already forming habits around it.
They’re deciding when to trust it.
When to question it.
When to rely on it.
And whether it’s a learning partner — or a shortcut.
Those habits are being shaped right now.
And if educators aren’t helping students develop them, someone else will.
This isn’t a story about technology.
It’s a story about leadership.
AI Is Already Changing How Students Learn
One of the most overlooked truths about AI is this: for many students, it’s the most accessible academic support they’ve ever had.
A student stuck on algebra at 9 p.m. can get step‑by‑step explanations.
An English learner can ask questions without fear of embarrassment.
A student preparing for a test can generate practice questions tailored to their needs.
AI is becoming the tutor that never sleeps.
And it’s not just in standalone tools. It’s woven into search engines, writing platforms, productivity software, and learning apps.
AI is becoming less visible while becoming more influential.
That’s exactly what makes this moment so important.
Students are using AI whether we talk about it or not.
Used well, AI expands access.
Used poorly, it replaces thinking.
Our job is to help students tell the difference.
Teachers Are Learning This in Real Time — And That’s Okay
Most educators didn’t receive formal training in AI. They’re learning alongside their students, often with limited guidance. That’s not a failure — it’s the reality of a technology moving faster than our professional development cycles.
The real question isn’t, “Do teachers know everything about AI?”
It’s, “Are we willing to learn enough to lead?”
Because the educators who understand AI — even at a basic level — will be the ones shaping policy, instruction, and expectations for years to come.
And those conversations are happening now.
The Cheating Conversation Is Too Small
Let’s be honest: yes, some students use AI to avoid work. They have always found shortcuts; the tools just look different now.
But banning AI won’t solve the problem. It will only push it underground.
A better question is:
How do we design learning so students must show their thinking, even when AI is available?
That’s the shift.
From policing to teaching.
From fear to purpose.
Imagine a research assignment where students must compare AI‑generated information to vetted sources, identify inaccuracies, and defend their conclusions. That’s not just an assignment — that’s a life skill.
AI May Be One of the Most Powerful Teacher Tools We’ve Ever Had
While the public conversation focuses on students, some of the most exciting AI applications are helping teachers themselves.
Educators are using AI to:
- Draft parent communications
- Differentiate reading materials
- Generate rubrics and assessments
- Create enrichment and intervention ideas
- Analyze student performance trends
- Build presentations, mind maps, and printables
One teacher described AI as a “game changer” for lesson preparation — not because it replaces teachers, but because it gives them back time.
Time to think.
Time to plan.
Time to connect with students.
At a moment when burnout is real, that matters.
The Skills That Matter Are Changing
AI doesn’t make human skills less important — it makes them more essential.
Students still need to read, write, and think. But they also need to:
- Ask better questions
- Evaluate AI responses
- Spot inaccuracies
- Recognize bias
- Verify sources
- Use technology ethically
These aren’t “future skills.”
They’re right-now skills.
And they require educators who understand the tools well enough to teach students how to use them responsibly.
Educators Should Help Shape AI — Not Watch From the Sidelines
Decisions about AI are being made today — in districts, in statehouses, in companies, and in higher education. If educators aren’t part of those conversations, the decisions will still be made. Just without us.
AI literacy is no longer optional.
It’s part of our responsibility to students.
The Moment Is Here
Every generation of educators faces a turning point. The internet was one. Mobile devices were another.
AI may be the most consequential yet — not because it replaces teachers, but because it changes how students access information, create content, and solve problems.
The question isn’t whether AI will shape education.
It’s whether educators will shape AI’s role in education.
Students are learning how to use AI.
The only question is who they’re learning it from.
That choice is being made right now.
A Practical Place to Begin
If this article has sparked your curiosity—or perhaps even a little urgency—you don’t have to become an AI expert overnight.
You simply need a place to begin.
That’s what I like about the work we do at SchoolDay Academy. It was created to give educators practical, high-quality professional learning they can apply immediately in their classrooms and schools. Because it’s powered by Coursera, the catalog includes learning from leading universities and industry experts rather than just one perspective.
For educators who want a comprehensive foundation, the Generative AI for Educators & Teachers Specialization from Vanderbilt University, taught by Dr. Jules White, explores AI literacy, prompt engineering, classroom applications, ethics, and responsible implementation. Upon completion, educators earn a Coursera digital credential that can be shared as evidence of their professional learning.
If you’re looking for practical skills you can use this week, SchoolDay Academy also offers shorter AI-focused courses and guided projects, including:
- Innovative Teaching with ChatGPT (Vanderbilt University) — practical strategies for creating personalized lesson plans, classroom activities, assessments, and differentiated learning experiences.
- AI for Course Design — ideas for building stronger lessons while reducing planning time.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot: Personal Productivity for All (Vanderbilt University) — practical ways to use AI to draft emails, summarize documents, organize information, and save time on everyday work.
- Google AI Essentials (Google) — a practical introduction to using AI responsibly and effectively across everyday tasks.
- Introduction to Responsible AI (Google Cloud) — understanding bias, ethics, transparency, and responsible AI use.
- ChatGPT Playground: The 2-Hour Guided Project — a hands-on introduction to writing better prompts and getting more useful results from AI.
Right now, SchoolDay Academy is offering a Summer of Learning special for 90 days of unlimited course access, all for $29.
Because this isn’t really about learning another new tool.
It’s about ensuring educators remain the leaders of learning in a world where AI is becoming part of almost everything we do.