Class Disrupted

Cady Ching, CEO of Summit Public Schools, and Dan Effland, Senior Director of Innovation, joined me and Diane on Class Disrupted to discuss Summit’s ongoing transformation from Summit 2.0 to a new, AI-native school model. This is the third and final episode in this mini-series exploring new school models powered by AI—check out our first two on Alpha and Flourish. This conversation explored how clarity around school outcomes and model design enables effective integration of AI. Cady and Dan shared insights into the evolution of Summit’s expeditions, the importance of holistic, purposeful education, and the need for a robust technology infrastructure to scale innovation. https://archive.org/download/summit-2.0-updated-final/Summit%202.0%20updated%20final.mp3 Episode transcript: Transcript_ Behind the Reinvention of Summit Public Schools with AIDownload

John Danner, founder of Flourish Schools and Rocketship cofounder, brings tech and education experience to AI-native microschools. He discusses AI-driven conversational tutors for reading and math. He explains real-time assessment, knowledge graphs for coherent learning, and how AI frees teachers to nurture relationships, passions, and students’ “superpowers.”

Mackenzie Price, co-founder of Alpha School and education entrepreneur, explains how AI personalizes learning and reclaims student time. She discusses a two-hour core academic block, AI-driven assessments and dashboards, vision models that monitor engagement, and AI-enabled workshops and project-based high school tracks. Short sentences highlight tech, new school design, and changing staff roles.

Paymon Rouhanifard, CEO and co-founder of Timely and former superintendent, builds AI tools to automate school master schedules. He discusses how AI optimization replaces slow manual processes. Conversations cover time savings, resource allocation, district case studies, integration challenges, and the promise and risks of AI in classroom workflows.

Michael and Diane stepped back from their interviews to have a one-on-one conversation and reflect at the midpoint of their season on AI in education. They dove into the evolving role of AI in education and questioned whether AI is truly transforming the system or simply being layered onto outdated structures. They explored a framework of three school models that Diane posed and discussed the challenges of meaningful innovation amidst existing accountability systems and education policies. From these models, they analyzed how one might expect transformational change to occur in K–12 schooling—through traditional schools incrementally changing and evolving over time or, as Michael and Diane both argued, through fundamental migration away from the existing system. https://archive.org/download/115147-v-1-1/115147_V1_1.mp3 Episode transcript: Transcript_ Reflections on Whether AI is Actually Changing Schools—and WhereDownload

Irina Jurenka, the research lead for AI in education at Google DeepMind, joined Michael and Diane to discuss the development and impact of AI tutors in learning. The conversation delved into how generative AI, specifically the Gemini model, is being shaped to support pedagogical principles and foster more effective learning experiences. Irina shares insights from her team’s foundational research, the evolution of AI models over the past three years, and the challenges of aligning AI tutoring with the learning sciences. Irina closed with reflecting on how these innovations may shape the future of education for the next generation—with a hope for a thoughtful blending of technology with the irreplaceable role of human teachers. https://archive.org/download/115837-future-of-education-deep-minds-learnings-in-developing-an-ai-tutor-v-01/115837_Future%20of%20Education_DeepMind%E2%80%99s%20Learnings%20in%20Developing%20an%20AI%20Tutor_v01.mp3 Episode transcript: Transcript_ DeepMind’s Learnings in Developing an AI TutorDownload

Laurence Holt, a senior advisor at XQ Institute and The Teaching Lab, dives into the evolving role of AI in K–12 education. He highlights the three main use cases: generating materials, providing feedback, and AI tutoring. The discussion distinguishes between feedback and grading, emphasizing the need for revision in learning. Holt also critiques the limitations of current AI tutoring, the pitfalls of generic chatbots, and the importance of fostering curiosity in classrooms. They touch on the barriers to effective edtech and the necessity for tools that encourage social learning.

Michael and Diane sit down with Alex Kotran, founder and CEO of the AI Education Project (AIEDU), to dive into what true “AI readiness” means for today’s students, educators, and schools. They explored the difference between basic AI literacy and the broader, more dynamic goal of preparing young people to thrive in a world fundamentally changed by artificial intelligence. The conversation ranged from the challenges schools face in adapting assessments and teaching practices for the age of AI, to the uncertainties surrounding the future of work. The episode leaves listeners with some key questions about the role of education, the need for adaptable skills, and how we can collectively steer the education system toward a future where all students benefit from the rise of AI. https://archive.org/download/114900-future-of-education-what-does-ai-readiness-mean/114900_Future%20of%20Education_What%20Does%20AI%20Readiness%20Mean.mp3 Episode transcript: Transcript_ What Does AI Readiness MeanDownload

In this engaging discussion, Reed Hastings, founder of Netflix and education advocate, shares his insights on AI's transformative potential in schools. He highlights how AI can personalize learning and shift teacher roles to focus more on social-emotional skills. Reed emphasizes the need for schools to maintain civic values while leveraging technology for instruction. The conversation also touches on innovative school models, the importance of foundational knowledge, and how AI could reinvent assessments and enhance early reading interventions.

Diane and Michael sit down with Dr. Tom Lee, acclaimed physician and founder of One Medical and Galileo Health, to explore the parallels between healthcare and education in the age of AI. The conversation dives into how Dr. Lee’s mission to radically transform healthcare systems mirrors similar challenges and opportunities in education, especially around the adoption and integration of AI. They discuss shifting from legacy models to more holistic, technology-enabled frameworks that prioritize both personalized service and systemic change. https://archive.org/download/112204-future-of-education-what-ai-teach-us-v-2/112204_Future%20of%20Education_What%20AI%20Teach%20US_V2.mp3 Episode transcript: Transcript_ What AI in Healthcare Can Teach Us About Its Impact on EducationDownload