Preparing Students for the AI Future with Jeff Riley (Day of AI)
In this listener-recommended episode of At Scale, hosts Ben Sterling and Graham Thomas sit down with Jeff Riley, former Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education and current Executive Director of Day of AI, a nonprofit launched out of MIT that helps schools and communities understand and responsibly use artificial intelligence.
After more than three decades in public education, Jeff now leads a team combining MIT technologists and veteran educators to help teachers, administrators, and students navigate the promise and pitfalls of AI. Through teacher training, student curriculum, and policy guidance, Day of AI is preparing the next generation to use this technology with curiosity, caution, and purpose.
Jeff shares how AI can reduce administrative burdens, personalize instruction, and reignite engagement in the classroom, offering practical ways that K–12 leaders and teachers can begin integrating AI thoughtfully into their schools. The discussion also examines the need to balance innovation with ethics—tackling issues like misinformation, bias, and student safety—while emphasizing the importance of foundational skills and critical thinking.
For K–12 administrators, teachers, and education leaders, this episode offers real-world insight into how AI can make teaching more human, not less. For Tennessee Promise, community college, and technical college audiences, it connects AI literacy to career readiness, postsecondary success, and workforce development.
💡 Episode Highlights:
How AI can free teachers from administrative tasks and restore time for creativity and connection.
The role of Day of AI in helping schools adopt AI responsibly through free curriculum, training, and resources.
Why students need a strong knowledge base and critical thinking skills before diving into AI.
The potential of AI to personalize learning for students at every level—K–12 through college.
A candid discussion about AI ethics, including bias, misinformation, and “AI companions.”
How community colleges and technical programs can use AI to build career pathways and meet workforce demands.
Why curiosity, adaptability, and lifelong learning are the most valuable skills in an AI-driven economy.
🎧 Tune in for a grounded yet inspiring conversation about how organizations like Day of AI and tnAchieves are helping students, educators, and communities prepare for the AI-powered future of learning and work.