In this episode of Educast 3000, Ryan Lufkin is joined by guest host, Jody Sailor, Sr Director, Academic Strategy & Innovation at Instructure. Together they welcome Matt Winters, AI Education Specialist at the Utah State Board of Education, for a powerful conversation about how Utah is trailblazing the integration of artificial intelligence in K–12 education. From his roots as an English teacher to leading statewide professional development for thousands of educators, Matt shares how visionary leadership and collaborative action have positioned Utah at the forefront of digital equity and innovation. He dives into how teachers are being empowered with practical AI tools, how student data privacy is safeguarded, and how AI is already transforming classrooms—especially for students with diverse learning needs. Packed with real-world success stories and forward-looking strategies, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the future of education.

Takeaways:

• Utah is leading the way in AI integration in education with visionary leadership.
• Professional development for teachers must be ongoing and adaptive to keep pace with AI advancements.
• AI can enhance creativity and inclusivity in the classroom, benefiting diverse learners.
• Data privacy is a critical concern when implementing AI tools in schools.
• Utah's collaborative environment fosters innovative educational practices.
• The future of AI in education requires a long-term perspective and structural support.
• Teachers need to be empowered to explore AI's capabilities beyond just productivity.
• AI tools can provide real-time data to inform teaching and learning.

Links:

• Artificial Intelligence Framework for Utah P-12 Education:
• https://schools.utah.gov/informationtechnology/artificialintelligence/AI_Framework_V2.pdf
• https://web.stanford.edu/group/archaeolog/cgi-bin/archaeolog/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Playbook-for-Strategic-Foresight-and-Innovation-US-Stanford.pdf 
• https://schools.utah.gov/