From Classroom Questions to Community Solutions: Empowering Students Through Local Problems
“WHEN Will I ever use this in my life?” That is the eternal classroom question. One powerful way to bridge the gap between school and life is by connecting mandated curriculum to local problems. When students see how their learning applies to the world around them, it becomes more impactful. That belief led me to…
Teaching in the Age of AI: Reflections from the Krause Center for Innovation
Last summer, I took the AI Capstone course at the Krause Center for Innovation at Foothill College, and it completely reframed how I think about artificial intelligence in education. I’ve always been curious about new technology, but this course went well beyond learning how to “use” AI tools. We unpacked how large language models (LLMs)…
7 Smart Ways to Use AI to Support Literacy and Belonging (For Multilingual Students and Beyond)
This post draws inspiration from the book Artificial Intelligence, Real Literacy by Paul Matthews and Jason Gulya, whose work on AI and evidence-based literacy practices shaped much of what’s shared here. All of these strategies that support multilingual (ML) students are really just great strategies for teaching all students! What if the best way to…
From Classroom Questions to Community Solutions: Empowering Students Through Local Problems
“WHEN Will I ever use this in my life?” That is the eternal classroom question. One powerful way to bridge the gap between school and life is by connecting mandated curriculum to local problems. When students see how their learning applies to the world around them, it becomes more impactful. That belief led me to…
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…