Quick look: The Orange County Department of Education will host the AI Forward Summit on Aug. 3, bringing together educators, administrators and education and technology leaders to explore practical applications of artificial intelligence in schools and prepare students for an AI-driven workforce.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping classrooms, workplaces and the skills students will need for the future.
As schools continue exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance instruction, improve operations and prepare students for an evolving workforce, educators are also grappling with questions about ethics, governance and responsible implementation.
To help educators navigate those opportunities and challenges, the Orange County Department of Education will host the AI Forward Summit on Aug. 3 at the OCDE Conference Center in Costa Mesa. The one-day conference will bring together educators, school leaders and education professionals to explore practical strategies for using artificial intelligence to support teaching, learning and leadership while preparing students for an AI-driven workforce.
Moving beyond the question of whether
Rather than focusing solely on AI tools, the summit is designed to help educators think critically about how artificial intelligence can be implemented responsibly while strengthening learning and preparing students for an increasingly AI-driven world.
“Most districts are past asking whether AI belongs in schools,” said Wes Kriesel, OCDE’s AI education lead. “The harder question is who decides how it’s used, and on what principles. That’s a leadership question as much as a classroom one, and it isn’t answered one teacher at a time.”
Kriesel said the summit is designed to bring educators and district leaders together to explore practical approaches they can adapt to their own schools.
“On Aug. 3 we’re bringing district leaders and educators into the same room — not for a tech demo, but to think it through together,” he said. “People will see governance frameworks they can adapt to their own context, and they’ll spend the day actually working with them: talking through real decisions, trying the tools, comparing notes with colleagues. Practical enough to bring back Monday, and grounded in what’s right for students.”
Designed for educators at every level, the summit will feature keynote presentations, breakout sessions and networking opportunities organized around three learning strands: Executive Leadership, Classroom Practice and Future Ready.
Opening keynote speaker Dr. Kip Glazer, author of “Ready to Lead with AI,” will discuss how school leaders can thoughtfully implement artificial intelligence to strengthen learning, leadership and student outcomes. Every attendee will receive a copy of her book.
Throughout the day, participants can choose from more than a dozen breakout sessions covering topics including AI leadership, cybersecurity, classroom tools, student wellness, responsible technology use and workforce readiness. Sessions include What’s Really Happening in Cybersecurity Because of AI, AI for EQ: Using Artificial Intelligence to Strengthen Human Connection, Healthy Tech Use in Schools, Google AI Gemini for Education: From Prompts to Prototypes and Ctrl + Alt + Chill: Reframing Your AI Anxiety.
The conference concludes with a closing keynote by Antonio Vigil, who will explore governance and AI literacy as school systems continue adapting to emerging technologies.
The AI Forward Summit will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, at the OCDE Conference Center, 200 Kalmus Drive in Costa Mesa. Registration is $50 and includes continental breakfast, lunch and conference materials.
More information, including the full agenda and registration details, is available at ai-forward-summit.web.app.