Building an AI Classroom Policy With Your Students, Not For Them
It’s the beginning of school. Your students file in with Chromebooks under their arms, buzzing about ChatGPT, AI art, and the apps they swear will “help” with homework. One student raises a hand before you’ve even taken attendance: “So… are we allowed to use AI in this class?” You know the answer matters. Not just…
Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Impact Report
The Krause Center for Innovation (KCI) and the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) partnered in the 2024-2025 school year to help the district better support its Newcomers. Background It is estimated that by 2030, 40 percent of all U.S. K–12 students will be English learners (ELs)(1). As the population of multilingual students continues to…
Partner Thank You! Synopsys Outreach Foundation
It’s not often that the CEO of a giving foundation volunteers to provide a workshop for the program/organization that it funds. Well, that’s exactly what happened at the KCI on Monday, June 23. Lauren Foote, CEO of the, a foundation whose mission is “To ignite interest, nurture potential, and empower all students in science, technology,…
Why VAPA, PE, and CTE Matter More Than Ever in Our Future With AI
It’s not just STEM. In a world of AI, we need to center our humanity. My Unexpected Path When I first stepped into the world of AI education, I didn’t come from coding or robotics. I came from dance. From physical education. From spaces where students move, create, collaborate, and discover who they are. So…
Igniting the Future: Key Takeaways from KCI’s AI Working Session
The Krause Center for Innovation (KCI) recently hosted educators and thought leaders from across the Bay Area for our second working session of the Silicon Valley Artificial Intelligence Project. Focused on “AI for the 25-26 School Year: How to Prepare Your Students and Educators,” the day proved to be a dynamic exploration of the evolving…
Stick to Your Core Beliefs
How to use AI to stay super aligned to your values Values are like fingerprints. Nobody’s are the same, but you leave them all over everything you do.” — Elvis Presley So here’s a question for ya: What kind of fingerprints are you leaving behind in your classroom, your meetings, your plans? Because whether we…
Why AI Literacy Matters for Every Educator and Student
As part of the Silicon Valley Artificial Intelligence Project (SVAIP) initiative, KCI recently hosted a working series on February 7, 2025, bringing together educators, policymakers, and innovators to explore why AI literacy is essential for preparing students for the future. California 23rd district Assembly member Marc Berman and National Board Certified Educator Victoria Salas Salcedo…
AI Terms Every Educator and Leader Needs to Know
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education—not just as a tech trend but as a tool to enhance teaching, learning, and leadership. For educators, understanding AI isn’t about chasing the latest innovation. Strengthening critical thinking, creativity, empathy, and ethical decision-making is really the goal. By mastering the basics, we can integrate AI with purpose, using it…
Choosing Connection Over Convenience: 3 Things I’m NOT Using AI For
I don’t really like to cook. While I love to eat, cooking is just not something that brings me joy. If there’s a faster option, like ordering in or using the microwave, I’m all about it. But even I know that some meals require care, effort, and that personal touch you can’t outsource to DoorDash….
From GPS to GPTs: Steering Students Toward AI Literacy
AI is like your GPS. You plug in the destination, and it gives you directions. It’s great at finding the fastest route, avoiding traffic, and even letting you know when there’s an In-N-Out Burger nearby. But here’s the thing: if you don’t know where you’re going in the first place, the GPS is useless. And…
A Beginner’s Guide to Using AI for Lesson Planning
The Sunday night scaries have crept in. You’re thinking about your stack of ungraded papers, unfinished lesson plan for tomorrow, and your to-do list is reminding you to buy snacks for tomorrow’s staff meeting. Besides turning on the Calm app to try and squeeze in some mindfulness (Free to CTA members, btw!), what if I…