AI for Whole Child Development
Read this month's digest of leadership insights focused on AI and whole child education.
Welcome to the first (!) edition of ThriveAI🤖❤️—a unified newsletter designed to help you lead at the intersection of artificial intelligence and whole child education.
Each monthly issue will include:
3 insights on how AI is reshaping the future of learning
2 quotes from thought leaders and researchers
1 bold question to help you think critically and creatively about what’s next
This month’s newsletter features insights from aiEDU, Stanford University, McGraw Hill, Adobe, and more.
Thanks, as always, for reading and we look forward to delivering the same trusted content to your inbox with a broader, future-focused lens.
AI Insights
AI as a Thoughtful Collaborator…
AI can be a powerful partner in learning—like a tutor, a sounding board, and a creative spark all in one. It can help students sharpen their arguments, clarify their thinking, and find their voice. That’s the mindset I want to instill. AI shouldn't replace their thinking—it should stretch it.
I want my students to ask not, “What can you write for me?” but, “How can you help me shape my ideas?” That shift matters. AI isn’t going anywhere, and its role in education will only grow. If we treat it as a threat to be policed, we lose a chance to teach students how to engage with it critically. But if we treat it like a thoughtful collaborator, we equip them with a skill they’ll carry long after they leave our classrooms.
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On AI Literacy…
Lately, I’ve been reflecting a lot about what “AI literacy” really means—and where it should lead us. What’s the long-term goal? Is it just about using AI responsibly, or is it about using it with intention? Can AI actually help us become more human?
I don’t have all the answers, but I do believe we should aim for AI fluency, not just literacy. Right now, literacy is the priority because many students, educators, and community members are just getting started. But the real goal is deeper: to help people build confidence in their distinctly human strengths—and learn to think with AI, not just learn about it.
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On AI for Whole Child Development…
We talk a lot about AI in terms of academic support—tutoring, writing help, content generation. But its potential goes beyond academics. The right AI tools can also support the whole child: helping students build self-awareness, set goals, reflect on their growth, and practice empathy.
Imagine a student using AI to track progress on a personal goal, get feedback on how they express themselves, or explore different perspectives in a safe, low-stakes space. These are the kinds of experiences that nurture not just skills, but character. AI can’t (and shouldn’t) replace human connection—but, when used thoughtfully, it can create more room for it by helping students understand themselves and others more deeply.
Words of Wisdom
“We might need to fundamentally rethink how we approach AI integration in educational settings. Instead of focusing on specific tools or techniques, perhaps we should be creating spaces for this cyclic exploration and reflection. It's less about teaching AI usage and more about fostering the capacity to navigate complexity with AI as a partner.” – Nick Potkalitsky, PhD
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“AI *Readiness* is about more than using tools, it's about doubling down on the stuff we've been talking about for decades: durable skills, and, yes, reading, writing, math, science, and CS. AI is most impactful in the hands of someone with their own independent expertise and knowledge.” – Alex Kotran, CEO of aiEDU
Question to Ponder
Are we preparing students to use AI as a shortcut—or as a mirror, mentor, and amplifier of their humanity?
Here’s what else we're reading/listening to…
Draft executive order outlines plan to integrate AI into K-12 schools (WaPo)
GPT 4.1 Prompting Guide (OpenAI)
McGraw Hill Global Education Insights Report (McGraw Hill)
The 2025 AI Index Report (Stanford)
Creativity with AI Report (Adobe)