Empowering Teachers with AI: Insights from ITEC Conference

This week, I had the absolute joy of presenting at the ITEC Conference in Des Moines alongside my colleague, Katie Mummert. There’s something about sharing space with educators who are curious, courageous, and willing to try new things that fills my cup every single time. Our session, “AI in Action in the Classroom,” was all about meeting teachers where they are, whether that’s cautiously dipping a toe into AI or already knee-deep in experimentation.

We built our session around four main goals: to inspire, to adapt, to enrich, and to experiment. And honestly, by the end, I think the presenters were just as inspired as the participants.

Our first goal was to inspire teachers to keep moving forward on their AI journey: the “why” behind all of this. I reminded everyone that AI in education isn’t about replacing teachers. It’s about reclaiming time for the things that truly matter: building meaningful relationships, providing constructive feedback, and designing engaging learning experiences. Teachers everywhere are exhausted, and if AI can take one thing off our overflowing plates, that’s a win. When I saw those little nods across the room, I knew we were striking a chord.

Next, we moved on to GPT Prompting: our ready-made framework for crafting more effective prompts. It’s a simple way to think about prompting that helps AI become a teaching partner instead of just a fancy search engine.

For example, instead of saying, “Make me a lesson plan,” a teacher might say, “Create a 9th-grade English lesson introducing The Great Gatsby (context), with the goal of helping students understand symbolism (purpose), in a conversational, student-centered tone (tone).” The difference is night and day! Suddenly, the output sounds like something a real teacher could actually use. I joked that GPT doesn’t stand for “ChatGPT Please Try,” but maybe it should.

Then came the part that everyone loved: real classroom stories. Katie shared how she’s using tools like Brisk and Snorkl to support learning in her classroom. Brisk helps with differentiation and feedback, while Snorkl adds interactivity that keeps students engaged and curious. She shared how her students have responded; honestly, joyfully, and with plenty of those “wow” moments that teachers live for. There’s just something powerful about hearing what’s actually happening in classrooms. Theory is good, but lived experience always wins the room.

Finally, it was time for teachers to experiment. We called it our “Experimentation Lab,” and it was hands-on and lively, exactly what we’d hoped for. Teachers explored new tools, tried out GPT Prompting, and swapped ideas with each other. One teacher created an AI-generated parent communication template that sounded both professional and kind. Another designed a study guide tailored to her students’ reading levels. Watching those lightbulbs go off reminded me why I love this work. When teachers are permitted to play, they rediscover their creativity.

As Katie and I packed up afterward, I found myself reflecting on how much this moment in education feels like both a crossroads and a launchpad. Yes, AI is changing things rapidly, and that can feel overwhelming. But it’s also giving us new ways to connect learning to the learner, to ensure equity, and to nurture curiosity, which is the very heart of teaching.

So, as I drove home (conference coffee in hand, of course), I kept thinking: AI in education isn’t about the tools: it’s about the teachers. It’s about empowering them to innovate, adapt, and reimagine what’s possible.

And if this week’s session helped even one teacher feel a little braver or a little more curious about AI, then it was absolutely worth every late-night slide edit and early-morning tech check.