AI Beyond the Talk with Dr. Rachelle Denê Poth

Outline and Show Notes

Show Title: AI Beyond the Talk with Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth

Power Quote: “We don’t need to be the expert”


Teaser:
I recorded today’s interview on July 8 and it’s just a week since I was at the ISTE-ASCD national conference in Orlando and ISTE is a very tech focused, educational organization and as you can imagine so much of the talk at the conference was about AI to be honest I’m feel like I’m a bit over AI I’m getting deluge with AI generated emails in my business and seeing stuff on LinkedIn that is clearly AI generated and it just feels like it’s making part of my world of more fake was less authentic and less human centered and yet AI is a useful tool and it’s not going away so I wanted to have someone on the show who could help us navigate AI and look at it specifically for the role of the assistant principal.

Sponsor Spot 1:I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.

Show Intro


Guest Bio:
Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is an edtech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and teacher. Rachelle has a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Doctorate in Instructional Technology. Rachelle specializes in Artificial Intelligence, AI and the Law, AI and Healthcare, Cybersecurity, and STEM. She has more than 8 years of experience teaching and presenting on AI in her classroom, as well as working with educators worldwide. Rachelle is currently serving as the Grant Coach for an initiative through ISTE and Pinterest. Rachelle works with a Task Force from 12 districts in the United States and assists with policy revision, professional development, and the design of digital wellness resources for students, educators, and families. She also provides professional development related to AI policy and implementation to school districts, universities, and organizations and is a keynote speaker. Rachelle is an ISTE-certified educator and recipient of the ISTE Making IT Happen Award and several Presidential Awards for volunteer service to education. Rachelle received the EdTech Trendsetter Award from EdTech Digest in 2024 and 2026. She is the author of ten books, including "What the Tech? An Educator's Guide to AI, AR/VR, the Metaverse and More!” She has written curricula and courses on AI for all levels and is the host of the ThriveinEDU podcast, ISTE's Learning Unleashed podcast, and The Lift by Amazon on BAM Radio Network. Learn more about Rachelle's work via ThriveinEDU LLC at www.Rdene915.com or on LinkedIn.


Warmup questions:
  • We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?
  • Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?


Questions/Topics/Prompts
  • Can we begin with clarifying the difference between AI in education and AI Education?
  • In a May 28th blog post, you wrote, “What I have learned from working with school Task Forces across the country is that they have had many conversations around AI, screen time, and tech use. They have explored the possibilities and understand the urgency with these topics, but they also have a similar question. What do we do now? And this is where I believe that leadership matters most.”
  • I’d like to begin there. Actually, not with the what but with the why – why do we need to act and why do we need to act now? What’s the danger of not getting this right?
  • You advocate for a systems approach. Please take us through that.


Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…
Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions.
And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started.


Closing questions:
  • What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?
  • If listeners could take just one thing away from today’s podcast, what would it be?
  • Before we go, is there anything else that you’d like to share with our listeners?
  • Where can people learn more about you and your work…


Summary/wrap up
  • Don’t be an expert, just move forward
  • Leverage interest into teacher-led PD
  • Support early career teachers

Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!


Sponsor Links:


Close
  • Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.
  • You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/
  • I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.
  • If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html 
  • Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
  • Remember the secret to good leadership:
    • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
    • Be fully present
    • Ask reflective questions
    • And then just listen
    • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
  • Have a great rest of the week!
  • Cheers!

Guest Links:
Homepage: www.Rdene915.com  

Frederick’s Links:
The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520


AI Beyond the Talk with Dr. Rachelle Denê Poth
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