The New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) hosted its highly anticipated AI Conference, “Preparing for Today and Tomorrow,” on Friday, June 6. The event, held at the Conference Center at Mercer, brought together school board members, administrators, and educational leaders to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in education.
Whether you’re an avid user of artificial intelligence or just beginning to explore its possibilities, it’s crucial to understand the power of generative AI in the classroom—and to be aware of areas that need careful consideration. This conference explored how AI can be used in the classroom to improve student learning, how administrators are leveraging it to perform their duties, and what board members should know about AI. The day featured insights from experienced AI practitioners and engaging panel discussions.
The conference commenced with a warm welcome from Dr. Nicholas Diaz, NJSBA deputy director, who set the stage for an insightful day. Following Dr. Diaz, Ray Pinney, NJSBA chief membership engagement officer, immediately grounded the discussion with a powerful analogy. Pinney emphasized that “AI is a tool,” likening it to a hammer – a device whose effectiveness lies in understanding its proper use. This simple yet profound comparison resonated throughout the day, reframing AI from a daunting concept to a manageable resource.
The conference featured a compelling keynote address titled, “From Fear to Fascination: The Magic of Embracing AI.” Dr. Christopher Nagy, Christopher Idell, and Pia Pal of magicEdX led an insightful presentation that explored AI’s significant impact on education. They effectively dispelled common myths and highlighted how AI can personalize learning, enhance student and staff agency, boost creativity, streamline administrative tasks, and empower educators. Attendees left with practical strategies for integrating AI responsibly, along with guidance for creating inclusive, future-ready learning environments.
Following the keynote, attendees participated in a series of dynamic breakout sessions. Morning sessions delved into AI’s role in network management, detailing its specific functions and rationale, and explored how AI tutors are providing unlimited, 24/7 private tutoring to elementary students. Discussions also focused on enhancing instruction and equity, strategies for addressing learning barriers, and relevant board policy implications. Furthermore, superintendents shared practical ways AI can efficiently handle time-consuming administrative tasks, fostering an interactive exchange of ideas among attendees, while another session explored how AI is transforming data center demands and the crucial role of onsite energy generation in ensuring reliability and reducing carbon footprints. The morning concluded with a session on how AI can streamline hiring, onboarding, documentation, and data-driven decision-making for school administrators, emphasizing ethics, privacy, and maintaining the “human” element in human resources.
The afternoon breakout sessions showcased innovative AI solutions for scheduling, data analysis, and productivity, empowering administrators to revolutionize their workflow. Other sessions explored how Virtual Reality platforms are reimagining classrooms by leveraging spatial computers to bring embodied, kinesthetic, and career-connected problem-solving to learning. Sessions guided district leaders in creating comprehensive AI strategies, establishing “AI guidelines” for staff and students, fostering a collaborative AI culture, and prioritizing student and community interests. Finally, a panel discussion featured administrators from districts that received state grants to advance AI’s role in the classroom, sharing their current use of AI and future goals, with their experiences set to inform future AI decisions for other districts.
The conference culminated with a student panel discussion that offered a unique and crucial viewpoint as educators navigate AI in schools. A moderated conversation with four Nottingham High School students from Hamilton Township, Mercer County, provided invaluable insights into their academic and personal experiences with AI, shaping perspectives on establishing effective AI usage guidelines for schools. This rare opportunity to hear directly from the learners themselves was a highlight of the conference.
