Captured live at the PLC at Work® Institute in Tulsa, OK, the inaugural episode of the new podcast series, “From Foundation to Future: PLCs and AI in Education,” brought passionate educators and thought leaders together for impactful conversations around professional learning communities, school improvement, and artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Read more on how educators are building better schools with AI in PLCs. ⬇️⬇️
Building AI confidence – one prompt at a time
One of those voices was William (Bill) M. Ferriter, a veteran educator with nearly 30 years of classroom experience. Bill explored how artificial intelligence (AI) is beginning to shape the educational landscape and how educators can build the confidence and skills to navigate these emerging tools.
Bill recalls his ah-ha moment when he first recognized the power of AI:
“I think the first prompt that I ever asked was, to unpack a standard. And the reason is because I always hated doing that as a classroom teacher. I always believed in the process, but it was so cumbersome I didn’t want to do it. When I saw that an AI chatbot could unpack a standard, that for me was convincing enough that this was something I should embrace.”
That spark led to a bigger realization: AI could reduce the “transaction costs” of teacher collaboration– making important tasks easier, faster, and more sustainable.
“I’m driven to help teachers see the value in collaboration. And almost everywhere I go, teachers aren’t opposed to the idea of working together, but they’re overwhelmed by the amount of time that it takes to work well together.”
Bill encourages teachers to start small by searching for AI prompts online and experimenting with different AI assistants (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) to find what works best for them and their unique teaching style.
Collaboration is the heart of educator success
Heather Frizelle, Superintendent of Schools at Fox Lake Grade School District 114, painted a vivid picture of what many educators may feel every day:
“The metaphor that I think about a lot is this idea of trying to be superheroes. We [as educators] fly these capes behind us where we’re going to be all things to all people. And that cape is made of lead. Because you can’t carry it alone.”
It’s a powerful reminder: the calling to educate is deeply rooted in care–for students, for learning, and for making a difference. But that care can come at a cost if educators don’t have the time and space to recharge.
“The thing about educators is that we care so much…we all do this because we care so much about kids, about learning, and about changing the world.” – Heather Frizelle
Heather emphasizes the importance of professional development experiences like the PLC Institute as a way to step back, recharge, and reconnect with a community of educators facing similar challenges.
“I think it’s a rare thing to have two and a half days as an educator to come, learn, and pour into yourself—and pour into others too.”
She reminds us that teaching is not a solo journey. Strength comes from leaning on one another, prioritizing professional growth, and finding ways to build your craft with others.
A sneak peek inside the magic of a PLC Institute
Following Heather’s call for meaningful connection, Gabe Smith, superintendent of Vinita Schools based in northeast Oklahoma, demonstrated what it looks like to invest deeply in educator growth. He brought an impressive 35 educators with him to the PLC institute in Tulsa– a clear sign of his commitment to professional learning and collaboration.
“You come to the source code,” remarked Gabe when asked about his commitment to bring his educators to a PLC institute. “You’re coming to people who have learned and lived…. So, instead of having to guess [about best practices], you can just see where the light is.”
Gabe’s words highlight the value of learning directly from those with real experience, but it’s not just the knowledge that makes this event special. Heather captures the unique energy of the PLC at Work institute, describing it as a transformative space for educators.
Recharge and transform into a thunderstorm of awesomeness
“This is a magical place for an educator to get to be,” remarked Heather. “[It] can change your career—can change your life—because you are empowered to change more lives. If your educational tank is empty, this is the place that you fill it up.”
The live podcast captured that vibrant energy and excitement, bringing listeners right into the heart of the experience.
“It just kind of creates this thunderstorm of awesomeness where we’re all so excited to come share and learn as presenters,” says Heather. “Participants are excited to share and learn, and it just coalesces to be this really powerful place where, by the end of day one, the energy is vibrating!”
Explore the full podcast episode to get the complete insights and behind-the-scenes experiences shared by educators making a real difference.
🏅Looking to boost your teaching and leadership practices but can’t travel to an event? These resources provide practical strategies for improvement without having to pack a suitcase.
