Invest in dedicated instructional technology leadership roles and role-specific professional learning for AI literacy¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The report's third use case illustrates Recommendation 3—investing 'in role-specific professional learning aligned to grade levels and disciplines to build educator capacity for teaching AI literacy.' In May 2025 Allentown School District approved instructional technology leaders, including a Director of Innovation and Instructional Technology and Supervisors who support teachers and coaches, 'creating a multi-tier professional learning ecosystem.' For example, Bridgeview Academy hosted a PD session where teachers used Playlab AI to design custom classroom apps from question generators to behavior tracking systems.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Strategic plan alignment so professional learning investments support stated innovation goals
• dedicated leadership positions

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• building leaders
• classroom teachers
• instructional coaches
• district leadership

Target Learning Goals¶

• AI literacy
• tech-enhanced instruction
• digital fluency

Related Strategies¶

• Join national innovation networks and build internal leadership academies to advance responsible district AI adoption
• Pair technology access with targeted investments in infrastructure, staffing, and support, and pilot initiatives with dedicated budgets
• Invest in sustained, role-specific, discipline-specific professional learning and structured student AI literacy pathways across PK16
• Invest in educator professional learning on experiential AI pedagogies using existing federal funding streams
• Layered educator support: coaching, curated resources, low-lift entry points, and community engagement
• Embed AI literacy across disciplines by identifying intersections with existing content and using case studies, interdisciplinary modules, and collaborative projects
• Support digitally fluent career pathways through ecosystems, educator training, work-based learning, convenings, and showcases
• Pair digital-infrastructure funding with blended-learning support and AI literacy training for students
• Share discipline-specific GenAI examples aligned with instructional needs to improve teacher adoption
• Provide teachers with adequate training and support for AI use, embedded in leadership-led professional development
• Teacher AI professional development should pair readiness-building with structured engagement with attribution and pedagogy
• Pair literacy accountability indicators with funded professional development and aligned mandates

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Prado, Y.; Ruiz, P.; Fusco, J.; Adler, K., Falck, B.; Smith, M.L. (2026, April). Operationalizing AI in K-12 Education: Five District Use Cases for Ethical and Strategic Adoption. Digital Promise. https://doi.org/10.51388/20.500.12265/290