By CSBA President Dr. Debra Schade
I had the opportunity to attend the Student and Community Voice AI Summit in Anaheim March 20-21, representing CSBA. The energy in the room was undeniable — students, educators, parents, technologists and community leaders all grappling with one central question: how do we ensure artificial intelligence (AI) serves our students, not the other way around?
The overarching theme was clear: purpose must come before implementation. As AI rapidly enters classrooms and systems, governance cannot be an afterthought. School boards play a critical role in setting direction, establishing guardrails, and ensuring that innovation aligns with the core mission of public education: student learning, human connection and opportunity.
Some key highlights from the summit:
- Student voice is front and center and young people are not just using AI, but shaping how it should be used responsibly and ethically
- Powerful student perspectives on environmental justice were shared — raising important questions about the energy demands of AI and advocating for thoughtful, balanced use
- Real-world applications are already emerging in classrooms, from personalized learning supports to teacher planning tools
- A strong emphasis was placed on responsible AI — addressing bias, data privacy and transparency
- Grounding technology in pedagogy, not letting tools drive instructional decisions, is of high importance
- Cross-sector collaboration between education, industry and community partners is necessary to ensure equitable access and outcomes
- Connections can be made to broader system transformation efforts, including the CCEE’s Secondary School Redesign work — reimagining learning environments to better prepare students for a rapidly changing, AI-driven world
What stood out most was the reminder that no technology can replace the “magic” of a great classroom teacher. AI can enhance, support and streamline, but relationships, trust and human connection remain at the heart of learning.
As governance leaders, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to lead thoughtfully in this space — asking the right questions, setting clear expectations and keeping students at the center of every decision.
