Perspective | Preparing students for their AI future

In an ever-changing world, teachers need to be nimble. That was the message from Dr. Bill Daggett, a global leader in education reform. Daggett spoke with teachers and staff in March as part of his work with Alexander County Schools on school transformation. Daggett told the audience that workplaces want students who can go beyond the content of the curriculum.

“Business and industry want to know if you can apply anything and if you can work as a team,” said Daggett.

Superintendent Dr. Bill Griffin invited Daggett to speak after the district received a grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Griffin told staff he wants them to begin to consider how they might adapt their practices.

“Be open to listening and be ready for the challenge to do everything we need to do to fit all of our students,” advised Griffin.

Daggett said artificial intelligence (AI) is complicating our world and education. But he challenged staff to use it as a tool. West Alexander Middle School math teacher Heidi Hefner says she’s willing to try. 

“Knowing that there’s something out there that I can really help develop and not put a lot of my time into it, the internet’s going to do it for me, using AI to help develop that, that excites me,” says Hefner.

Daggett explained to the group his work tries to build bridges between education and the workplace.

“Our job is to try to find the best practices around the country and share some of the best practices to see if you want to try them,” Daggett said.

During his 90-minute presentation, Daggett said students’ brains are different now. Young people have grown up with technology, but are not connected to each other. He said less than half (43%) of high school seniors had a part-time job in 2024 — compared to 78% of students in 2000.

“I loved what he said about preparing them for their future lives ahead, not just how they are performing day to day in school and their daily transcript,” said Kristine Ford, a teacher in Wittenberg. “But really preparing them for their future lives as far as interacting, communication, dealing personally with other people, relationships.”

Teachers agreed Daggett’s speech pointed them toward doing their own research.

“One of our constant conversations is how to develop more rigor for our AIG students, because I’m not trained,” Hefner said. “I don’t know a lot of teachers that are trained in that, so hearing him talk about ChatGPT, plugging in the standards and their interests and then having them create something excites me for our AIG kids.”

Alexander Central High School English teacher Matt Rogers is part of a district team that’s working with Daggett on instruction and planning.

“I think if people understand a little bit better, it’s not as scary as what they probably thought it was or what it could be,” Rogers said. “I think it’s like any tool, we need to respect the tool and understand the tool.”

Daggett talked about all the jobs that are disappearing or that will disappear in the next 20 years due to technology.

“Workers are not going to be replaced by AI,” Daggett said. “They’re going to be replaced by people who have skills that AI doesn’t have.”

He says teachers will need to grow and adapt their practices acoordingly. That’s part of the work a group of Alexander County teachers and district administrators are doing to create a three-year plan for AI policies, guidelines, and instructional strategies. The plan should be ready to roll out this fall. 

Dr. Daggett is also working with Ashe County Schools and Hickory City Schools.

Editor’s Note: EdNC receives financial support from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund.