The Integration of AI in Education

Kris Hagel, CIO, Peninsula School District

With over 24 years of experience in K-12 education, Kris Hagel serves as the CIO at Peninsula School District, leading IT, Communications, and School Safety. Hagel is passionate about integrating technology with pedagogy to support all learners. He is also a speaker and consultant dedicated to enhancing educational experiences through innovative tech solutions.

Building Bridges in Education Technology

I have spent 25 years in education technology, during which I had the privilege of working in two distinct school districts. I started out as a computer science major, and my first job was as a computer operator, where I was printing things right off the mainframe. From there, I worked my way up through the ranks, focusing heavily on programming and data integration. I have spent seven years in one district and the last 18 years in my current one, and a big part of my early career involved building data warehouses and integrating systems.

I am leading the technology department from past decade, overseeing everything from classroom technology to operational infrastructure. My role includes ensuring teachers have the right tools in the classroom and making sure the networks and infrastructure on the operational side run smoothly. Having a strong background in data has been invaluable, especially now with the rapid rise of generative AI. Over the years, I have dabbled in machine learning and sentiment analysis, and while those earlier projects required massive datasets, the landscape has changed drastically.

“The most exciting aspect is AI's potential to personalize learning, allowing teachers to tailor lessons to individual student needs.”

The Future of Teaching with AI

Today’s large language models are making AI increasingly accessible, even for districts of our size, and it's exhilarating to see how quickly these advancements are evolving. We are proactive in this journey. Before ChatGPT gained widespread attention, a group of teachers completed an AI explorations course in early 2022, laying the groundwork for our ongoing efforts. This head start positioned us to adapt quickly when generative AI became mainstream. In January 2023, we took the proactive step of meeting with our high school English teachers, knowing they would be among the most impacted. We wanted them to grasp how generative AI was about to reshape everything in their classrooms. Initially, there was some hesitation, but within minutes, they began to realize that this technology could drive much-needed changes in their teaching methods.

While not every teacher embraced AI immediately, by the end of the school year, 82 percent of our teachers had used the generative AI tool we provided. That's an incredible rate of adoption. Our focus has been on how AI can streamline daily tasks, eliminating the time-consuming work that doesn’t necessarily improve student outcomes. After years of hearing concerns about new tools adding to their workload, teachers are now seeing AI as a way to reduce their burdens, not add to them. For the first time, they have something that truly helps them work smarter, not harder, and they recognize the power of AI to transform their teaching.

Aligning AI with Educational Vision

When it comes to adopting new technology in education, especially generative AI, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Many of the best practices we have relied on for years—like cybersecurity, data privacy and data integration—are just as relevant today, if not more so. One of the main challenges districts face is figuring out how to implement AI safely, but it is not as daunting as it may seem. By sticking to established standards, ensuring data privacy agreements are in place, and clearly communicating expectations with vendors, schools can move forward confidently. Sometimes, we tend to overthink it, but the process doesn’t have to be complicated.

Generative AI is advancing at lightning speed, faster than many are prepared for. We are seeing new models and features emerge almost daily, and this rapid evolution requires flexibility and foresight. Schools need to be nimble and proactive, considering the future of education and how AI can align with their vision. It is crucial to be thoughtful when selecting AI tools—choose ones that match your instructional goals rather than adjusting your methods to fit the tool. By focusing on what’s best for education, rather than being swayed by flashy tech, schools can harness the full potential of AI to truly enhance learning.

A New Era of Learning

I believe we are on the verge of a significant increase in AI tools, particularly in creating custom solutions like chatbots that utilize organizational knowledge. The most exciting aspect is AI's potential to personalize learning, allowing teachers to tailor lessons to individual student needs. Additionally, the rise of multimodal AI, which integrates speech, voice and video recognition, is rapidly evolving and will enhance engagement through personalized content. The main challenge will be adapting quickly to these changes, but I am confident that personalization and multimodal capabilities will profoundly impact the future of education.

The Road to AI Expertise

I often advise my colleagues and newcomers in the field that consistently engaging with these tools is essential for personal productivity and daily life. Familiarity with the capabilities of AI is crucial, especially with the imminent launch of AI integration for every iPhone user, which will significantly change how we operate. Leaders need to stay proactive by experimenting with AI—finding out what works for them and what can be beneficial overall. While there are certainly limitations to AI at the moment, many functions can enhance our efficiency. The more you explore and utilize these tools, the clearer the potential applications will become for your school and district in the future.