LM Jan 2025

Empowering Illinois Schools to Thrive in the Age of AI

An In-Depth Look at IASA’s Upcoming AI Workshops

I n today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, artificial intelligence isn’t just changing technology —it’s revolutionizing how we learn, work, and live. As education leaders, you have a unique opportunity to shape how the next generation harnesses and thrives in this AI transformed world. To help educators prepare for the new digital landscape, IASA has scheduled three transformational workshops in each Super Region led by Dr. Dawn Bridges and Dr. Bill Daggett. The following is a condensed and edited version of a recent IASA Podcast with Dr. Bridges and Dr. Daggett. Click Here to listen to the podcast.

Q: I want to begin with introductions. Dr. Bridges, would you please share a little background about yourself? DB: I’m Dr. Dawn Bridges, Associate Director for Professional Development for the Illinois Association of School Administrators. I’ve been in public education for 31 years. Throughout my career, identifying and addressing evolving needs for leaders has been my educational journey. As soon as I joined IASA, it was clear to me that AI was an emerging and pivotal factor in shaping the future of education. Throughout my career, I’ve embraced a future-driven mindset, always striving to understand trends and think progressively about what’s next for our students. Dr. Daggett was very pivotal in my career around 2010 when I saw him speak about successful schools. Q: Dr. Daggett, could you share an overview of your background and your personal journey with AI? BD: My experience began as a classroom teacher, then building administrator and central administration. I moved to the state education department in New York State where I was the director. I concluded that we needed successful models more than policy discussions. So I started the International Center for Leadership and Education and the Successful Practices Network to search for the nation’s most successful, innovative school districts. Through our non-profit work with 11 research universities, we found something unexpected: the nation’s most

0 LM Nov–Dec 2024