AI Summit

AI Forward-AI Responsible Teaching and Learning

Dr. Julie Schell
Within the educational ecosystem, AI is increasingly everywhere. Schools are racing to develop adequate policies, strategies, and resources to support generative AI in the classroom, and teachers find themselves weighing implementing, banning, avoiding, or trying to teach students how to use AI without frameworks for pedagogical efficacy. In this keynote, we will explore best practices for using AI in ways that help instead of hinder student learning.

"A.I.’ve Got Questions: Legal + Leadership Update and Practical FAQs on Artificial Intelligence in Schools"

Marianella (Nella) Joseph
Join Walsh Gallegos attorney Marianella (“Nella”) Joseph for a key session on what administrators need to be thinking about and know about Artificial Intelligence (A.I.). We’ll bust common myths about A.I., answer top FAQs, and clarify what’s legally smart versus legally risky. In this session, we’ll explore how AI tools are being used by teachers, administrators, and students, with a focus on student discipline, academic integrity, and A.I. in the classroom. We'll unpack the legal and ethical challenges of using AI for content creation, including copyright and data privacy concerns. You'll leave with practical policy recommendations to guide your school or district through today’s issues—and a preview of what’s coming next in the AI-education landscape. It's time to reboot our thinking before the machines crash the system.

Aligning MagicSchool AI with Your District’s Goals

Artificial Intelligence is Here to Stay

Building an AI Advisory Group to Guide K12 Innovation

Less Is More: Building Strategic AI Partnerships for Student-Centered Impact

Lee Howell, Madi Houston, and John Sandobal
Tired of chasing the latest AI tools without seeing real impact? Learn how Leander ISD is focusing on fewer, better-aligned AI partners to support student-centered learning. Discover how enterprise access, thoughtful vetting, and strong vendor relationships can lead to positive, more impactful adoption and outcomes.

Efficiency Through K-12 Data Analytics & AI

Helene McMurphy and Corey Ryan
Start by familiarizing yourself with the basics of artificial intelligence—its capabilities, limitations, and ethical considerations. Equip yourself with skills that complement AI, such as critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence, which are uniquely human strengths. Businesses and individuals should also embrace lifelong learning to stay ahead of technological changes, while fostering a culture of transparency and ethical responsibility in AI usage. Being ready for AI isn't just about understanding the technology; it's about reshaping mindsets, embracing innovation, and ensuring that AI benefits everyone.

Using AI to Accelerate the Student-centered Learning Cycle

Adam Larson and Corey Ryan
Join this hands-on session to explore how AI can help expedite the student-centered learning cycle, supporting both teachers and students in the learning journey. Walk away with an understanding of how responsible, embedded, and purpose-driven AI tools can support district and curriculum leadership while planning for high-quality instruction, teachers as they build opportunities to personalize learning, and assist students as they engage in learning activities. Regardless of where you are in your own approach to AI, this session will provide a foundational understanding of the student-centered learning cycle and insights into the power and promise of AI to support learning.

Enhancing Personalized Learning with Pulse: ESC13's AI-Powered Educator Support Tool

Dr. Guillermo Lopez
Discover how ESC Region 13 is using AI to reimagine instructional support for teachers. This session will include a live demo of Pulse, our new AI-powered assistant that helps educators personalize learning and reduce workload by putting student insights at their fingertips. If you're looking for practical, affordable ways to transform teaching and learning with data, this is a session you won’t want to miss

Ethical AI Supercharging Your Students: How Stemuli’s AI with the MEP Framework is Increasing Students’ Critical Thinking

Khiry Kemp
This breakout session will cover how Stemuli builds AI alongside the MEP framework, in partnership with the Gates Foundation. We’ll cover how Stemuli’s companion AI and student community is built around the product, how our mechanisms motivate student feedback, and the most surprising outcomes of the increase in students’ sense of agency, communication skills, and their critical thinking on what they learn in the classroom is connected to their economic futures.

Let's Get Practical with AI in K-12

Sam Telles
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the world we live in, but many schools are left wondering how it fits into the everyday educational landscape. In this session, we'll take a step back to learn about AI and Machine Learning (ML) for K-12. We'll discuss key concepts, responsible use, and practical use cases beyond the classroom, including demonstrations of an AI-assisted grant eligibility checker, student enrollment using intelligent document processing, and more. You'll leave with a better understanding of how AI is already being used in K-12 education and the new ways it can benefit your organization.

Lee Howell

Lee Howell is the Coordinator of Digital Learning in Leander ISD. Starting out as an elementary classroom teacher, she was an early technology adopter. She is a digital learning leader who loves helping educators try new tools and bring ideas to life. She leads district-wide rollouts like Google Workspace, Seesaw, and Canva, and creates professional learning that’s practical, hands-on, and fun. Lee is all about building strong partnerships, solving problems together, and making learning better for everyone.

Madi Houston

Marianella (Nella) Joseph

Marianella has over 25 years of legal experience as an attorney in Costa Rica and Texas. For the last 15 years, Marianella has focused on working with governmental entities, specifically with public school districts, charter schools, and cities. Her practice centers on construction law, helping schools from bond passage to closeout. Marianella also works with schools on procurement, real estate, construction dispute resolution, general transactional matters, and intellectual property.

Prior to joining Walsh Gallegos, Marianella represented cities and municipalities across Texas. Marianella also worked in the Legal Department of the Leander Independent School District dealing with general school law matters including student issues, open records, purchasing, construction, policy review, and grievances.

Marianella obtained her law degree from the Universidad Escuela Libre de Derecho in San José, Costa Rica, and has an LL.M. from the University of Texas School of Law in Human Rights and Comparative Constitutional Law. While obtaining her Master of Laws, Marianella clerked at the Texas Association of School Boards.

Marianella is licensed to practice law in Costa Rica and Texas.

John Sandobal

Nellie Wale, M.A. Ed.

Nellie Wale, M.A. Ed. is an experienced education and business development leader with a passion for AI-driven innovation in K-12 learning. As an Account Executive at MagicSchool AI, she collaborates with school districts to implement AI solutions that enhance teaching, streamline administrative tasks, and improve student outcomes.

With over two decades of experience in education, she has served as a teacher, academic dean, and EdTech consultant. Nellie brings a unique perspective on the challenges educators face and how technology can support meaningful learning experiences. Her expertise in instructional leadership and consultative sales allows her to bridge the gap between AI tools and real-world classroom needs.

Helene McMurphy

Helene McMurphy is an accomplished education and technology professional with over 25 years of experience in K-12 management and implementation services. She has expertise in data solutions and AI infrastructure for large language models. Helene believes in building relationships and trust to address real problems, and she is comfortable engaging with individuals at any level. Her dedication to helping school districts find solutions that enhance student learning and office efficiency drives her success. Known for her excellent conflict management and communication skills, Helene is self-motivated and thrives in both large office and home office environments, always maintaining an optimistic outlook and a commitment to continuous learning and growth.

Adam Larson

Adam Larson is a Senior Solutions Engineer with extensive experience supporting classroom solutions presentations. Based in Spring, Texas, Adam excels in demonstrating the value of educational technologies to prospects and clients, whether addressing large audiences or responding to detailed inquiries. His role involves close collaboration with marketing and product teams to ensure alignment with the company's vision and messaging. Adam's passion for helping others achieve their goals is evident in his dedication to engaging users and addressing their needs. With a background in instructional technology and academic solutions, Adam brings a wealth of experience to his work, making him a valuable asset in AI-driven educational solutions.

Corey Ryan

Corey Ryan serves districts in Regions 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, and 20 as an Account Manager for PowerSchool. He worked in Texas public school districts for 16 years, including roles in Harlingen CISD, Round Rock ISD, and Leander ISD. He specializes in supporting large system change, strategic planning, communications, and community engagement, and maximizing state funding. He has a passion for innovation and supporting districts with world-class solutions. He's most excited about the potential for AI to automate tasks for educators to maximize efficiency and to use large language models to bring data together, making it actionable for classroom, school, district, and community leaders. He lives in Georgetown with his two sons and his wife.

Dr. Guillermo Lopez

With over a decade in educational technology and a PhD in Education, Dr. Lopez leads projects that harness AI for personalized learning, data-driven decision-making, and operational efficiency. His work includes creating Pulse, an AI teaching assistant that integrates student data to support contextualized learning and reduce teacher workload. I bring experience in data strategy, AI ethics, and curriculum alignment to empower educators and enhance educational outcomes through technology and privacy-centered practices.

Khiry Kemp

Khiry Kemp is an entrepreneur dedicated to empowering students in their career development. As Head of Operations at Stemuli, a groundbreaking gaming company at the intersection of AI, education, and workforce development, Khiry is at the forefront of innovative learning in the Future of Work. In April 2023, Stemuli acquired Oppti, the "Learning to Interning" platform he founded to support high school students. Today, Khiry leverages cutting-edge AI technology to create transformative skill-building experiences for over 90,000 learners nationwide.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Khiry moved to California to earn his degree in International Development from UCLA. His career in Management Consulting saw him drive Strategy and Operations for Fortune 500 companies nationwide. Fueled by a commitment to give back to low-income communities, like the one he grew up in, Khiry is passionate about helping teens unlock their potential through targeted training and opportunities. In 2019, he authored "Starting Your Own Microbusiness," inspiring youth entrepreneurship and paving the way for the next generation of innovators.

Sam Telles

Sam Telles is an AWS Solutions Architect based in San Antonio, Texas, where he supports the Texas area’s K-12 and Higher Education institutions. As Solutions Architect, Sam serves as a trusted advisor by providing best-practice and technical recommendations during a customer’s cloud adoption journey. Leveraging his more than 15 years of experience in storage, networking, security, and now AI/ML, Sam designs bespoke solutions that enable his customers to succeed. When he is not serving his customers, Sam enjoys exploring the Texas Hill Country with his wife and two kids.

8:00 am - 4:00 pm