This episode of the Independent School Moonshot Podcast is sponsored by Blackbaud.

Blackbaud helps independent schools unify admissions, advancement, academics, and finance so leaders spend less time chasing data and more time leading. Visit blackbaud.com to learn more.

Is AI disrupting your school, or are you intentionally shaping how it fits into your future? In this conversation, Eric Hudson, independent consultant and author of the Substack, Learning on Purpose, digs into what schools are doing as they navigate generative AI.

His recent article, "25 Observations About the State of AI in Schools," serves as the foundation for this discussion, offering a grounded and wide-ranging look at what's happening inside schools right now.

The result?

A nuanced look at how AI is more about people and culture than it is about tools and tech. From hiding AI use to redefining assessment, Eric outlines where the real work lies for educators and school leaders.

Whether you're just getting started or looking to build long-term capacity, this episode is essential listening for anyone committed to preparing their community for the age of AI.

What You'll Learn from Eric Hudson:

• AI's Impact Is Cultural, Not Just Technological: The biggest differentiator between schools making progress and those falling behind? Culture. Institutions that focus on people, mindsets, and openness are better positioned to respond to AI.
• Arrival Technology Demands Engagement, Not Optional Adoption: Generative AI is not like smart boards or 1:1 devices. Whether schools adopt it or not, it's already impacting everyone. Engagement is non-negotiable.
• The Real AI Innovation May Come from Staff Outside the Classroom: Enrollment, communications, and advancement offices are natural use cases for AI. Yet they're often excluded from professional development and policy conversations.
• Teachers and Students Are Still Hiding Their AI Use: Despite the hype, there's a stigma around using AI in schools. Many educators and students fear judgment or punishment, creating a culture of secrecy instead of shared learning.
• Before the Policy. Focus on Position and Practice: Eric reasons that AI policies often fall short. Instead, schools should first articulate a clear stance and guidelines tied to their mission, then support that with flexible ethical guidelines and PD.

Recommended Next Steps

• Invest in Professional Development for Non-Teaching Staff: Bring your advancement, admissions, and communications teams into the AI conversation. They’re ready and often eager to experiment.
• Run a Faculty Audit of Assessment Vulnerability: Ask teachers to evaluate where generative AI could undermine their assessments and what pedagogical updates could strengthen them.
• Create a Community AI Position Statement: Before writing policy, lead a process to explore your school’s values around AI and how it connects to your mission.
• Facilitate Reflection on AI Use with Students and Faculty: Move from suspicion to transparency. Encourage open discussions about how people are using AI and what they find productive or unproductive.
• Define the Purpose and Power of Your AI Task Force: Don’t let your AI committee just talk. Clarify its charter, which includes mission and authority. What is the task, and what is the force?