Aug. 20, 8 a.m.-Noon CT | Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum | Nashville, TN

AI in K-12 Education: Keeping Students at the Center

The future of artificial intelligence (AI) in education will not be shaped by technology alone but also by the decisions educators, leaders, policymakers, and families make about how AI is used in service of students. This SCORE symposium brought together education leaders from across Tennessee to learn from national experts, hear about innovation in Tennessee schools and classrooms, and engage in important conversations about AI and the future of teaching, learning, and student success.

AI is rapidly changing how people learn, work, access information, and find solutions. As its use and impact continue to grow, education and business leaders are navigating important questions about how AI may shape teaching and learning, workforce preparation, and the future of education.

The symposium created space for leaders across Tennessee and beyond to further explore emerging research, hear perspectives from educators in schools and classrooms, and engage in student-centered conversations about how AI can be an accelerant of student success while maintaining a strong focus on empowering educators and protecting students.

During the symposium, SCORE also announced the nine recipients of its new AI Innovation Fund, a $450,000 investment in projects designed to test, optimize, and scale responsible, student-centered uses of AI in education. The fund will give nine Tennessee organizations the resources and support to tackle real challenges facing students and educators. Over the next 12 months, recipients will test ideas spanning instruction, student advising and career pathway planning, AI literacy, and educator support.

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7:45-8:30 A.M. | Registration, Networking, Light Breakfast, and Coffee

8:30-8:40 A.M. | Opening Remarks

Keeping Students at the Center in the Age of AI

Sen. Bill Frist, M.D., Chairman & Founder, SCORE

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way we live, work, and learn, creating both new opportunities and new responsibilities for education leaders. Frist will frame the promise and importance of this moment as he reflects on Tennessee’s long-standing commitment to educational innovation and student success, while also drawing on lessons learned from AI use cases in healthcare. He will encourage participants to consider how AI can be harnessed to strengthen teaching and learning and prepare students for the future while ensuring that every decision remains grounded in what matters most: improving outcomes for students.

8:40-9:30 A.M. | Opening Panel

National Perspectives on AI and the Future of K-12 Education

Moderator: David Mansouri, President & CEO, SCORE
Bree Dusseault, Principal & Managing Director, Center on Reinventing Public Education
Dr. Babak Mostaghimi, Founding Partner, Learner Studio
Andrea Pasinetti, Co-founder & CEO, Kira
Davis Zaunbrecher, Founding Director, New Orleans AI Education Fund

National leaders will explore how AI is reshaping teaching and learning across the country and how Tennessee can position itself as a state leading with a student-centered approach. This discussion will examine emerging trends, lessons from early adopters, and the opportunities and challenges facing state and local leaders as AI becomes more deeply embedded in education. Panelists will consider what it takes to move toward responsible, effective implementation while also highlighting the conditions necessary to ensure AI strengthens instruction, expands opportunity for student futures, and improves educational systems.

9:30-9:55 A.M. | Keynote Presentation

Leading AI Adoption with Clarity: Building Literacy, Capacity, and Responsible Practice

Amanda Bickerstaff, Founder & CEO, AI for Education

As AI use and capability continue to grow, education leaders face important decisions about building staff capacity, identifying and planning for high-quality use of AI to support students, and translating experimentation into meaningful action. Bickerstaff will share lessons learned from working with educators across the country and offer practical guidance for leading AI implementation with clarity and intention. Participants will leave with a framework for balancing innovation and responsibility while building the conditions for effective, sustainable adoption that keeps students at the center.

9:55-10:05 A.M. | Break

10:05 - 11:05 A.M. | Spark Sessions

What’s Working, What’s Not: Early Evidence on AI in Education

Chris Agnew, Managing Director, AI Hub for Innovation, SCALE Initiative, Stanford Accelerator for Learning

School, district, and state leaders are increasingly being asked to make decisions about AI while the evidence base for generative AI is still emerging. Drawing on his work connecting research to practice at Stanford and the AI Hub for Education, Agnew will examine what we are learning about AI’s impact on teaching and learning, where further exploration is warranted, and which critical research questions will shape the next phase of AI implementation in education.

AI Built with Intention: Improving Reading Achievement by Extending Effective Teaching

Dacia Toll, Co-CEO, Coursemojo

When it is thoughtfully designed and grounded in what we know about cognitive science and impactful teaching, AI has the potential to improve student achievement in subjects like reading. Toll will share how Coursemojo uses AI to extend the impact of effective teachers and high-quality curriculum, providing students with individualized, data-informed support and real-time feedback while enhancing the essential role of educators. Participants will learn lessons from implementation and what the next chapter will look like for Coursemojo.

AI in Action: What Tools Are Being Used and What Value They Offer

Emily Freitag, CEO & Co-founder, Instruction Partners

Educators face an important question when it comes to evaluating AI: Which solutions support stronger teaching and learning? Freitag will share insights from the AI in Action Tour and 20 AI-powered instructional tools. While some tools are outperforming paper-pencil instruction or earlier edtech, others leave students isolated or allow for cognitive offloading. This session will shed light on what separates the two and what K-12 leaders need to know to identify high-quality AI tools.

Preparing Students for an AI-Enabled Future: Pathways, Credentials, and Career Opportunity

Dr. Katie Cahill, Assistant Dean of Partnerships and Economic Development & Director of Workforce Development, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Tennessee has a unique opportunity to prepare students for emerging careers shaped by AI and data science. Cahill will share how partnerships across K-12, higher education, and industry are creating pathways that connect students to in-demand skills and credentials that prepare them for career opportunities. Participants will hear how AI is reshaping the knowledge and experiences students need to succeed in an AI-enabled world.

11:05-11:50 A.M. | Closing Panel

Leading and Learning with AI in Tennessee

Moderator: Dr. Sara Heyburn Morrison, Executive Director, Tennessee State Board of Education
Daren Dickson, Executive Director of Innovation, Valor Collegiate Academy
Dr. Blake Freeman, Chief Academic Officer, Hamilton County Board of Education
Amanda Glover, Director of AI Initiatives, SCORE
Sarah Robinson Chin, Member, The Ingram Group

Many Tennessee schools and districts are moving from AI exploration to implementation, testing how the technology can support teaching and learning, strengthen operations, and address problems of practice. This discussion will highlight examples from districts, public charter schools, and statewide initiatives with a focus on how leaders are building educator capacity, establishing clear guardrails, and identifying high-impact use cases aligned to student success. Panelists will share lessons learned, promising practices, and practical insights from their own work, offering attendees a clearer picture of what responsible, student-centered AI implementation looks like in Tennessee today.

11:50 A.M.-Noon | Closing Spotlight on AI Innovation Fund Recipients

Building Momentum: Investing in Student-Centered AI Innovation

Mary Cypress Metz, Senior Vice President of Strategy, SCORE

After a morning of exploring how education leaders are using AI to strengthen teaching and learning, support educators, and prepare students for their futures, this closing session will spotlight Tennessee innovators putting those ideas into practice. Metz will announce the inaugural recipients of SCORE’s AI Innovation Fund and highlight their promising AI projects designed to address problems of practice in K-12 and postsecondary education.