Future-proof Education: AI and Beyond

Bob and co-host Dr. Jessica White pick up the AI literacy conversation they started last episode, this time going further into how it changes what students learn and how teachers teach. They're joined by Rosie Giannetti, Assistant Director of Professional Learning and School Improvement at ACES, and returning guest Stacey Simpson, a professional learning specialist with a background in high school...

Bob and Dr. Jessica White welcome three ACES professional learning specialists to the show: Nicole Beauchamp, Melissa Rosenthal, and Stacey Simpson. Together they pull back the curtain on what's actually happening with AI in Connecticut classrooms, and the answers might surprise you. Stacey shares findings from interviews with three students at different stages, from middle school to college. All...

Megan DaCosta teaches fourth grade math and science in Windsor, Connecticut. This is her first year bringing AI into the classroom in a real way, and she joined Bob and Jess to talk about what that looks like with 9 and 10-year-olds. Her district runs on paper and pencil at the intermediate level, on purpose. So Megan's challenge isn't more screen time. It's making the technology she does use coun...

Dr. Nicole Danishevsky spent 27 years teaching middle school math and leading district-level curriculum work before stepping into higher education this year. Now an assistant professor at Southern Connecticut State University, she's preparing the next generation of teachers to walk into classrooms where AI is already part of the landscape. In this conversation with Bob Hutchins, Phd and Dr. Jessic...

In this episode, Bob and Jess sit down with Zahra Amed to explore the fluid boundary between K-12 education and the rigorous expectations of higher education in the age of generative AI. Zahra brings a unique perspective, having moved from school programs at children's museums to training faculty at Harvard. The conversation moves beyond the technical mechanics of AI. It focuses on the human eleme...

Dr. William Rice steps into the Executive Director role at ACES this summer. His philosophy is clear: leadership is an embodied practice requiring physical presence and proximity. In this episode, we discuss protecting the human element of education as technology grows increasingly sophisticated. The Meaning of Models Drawing from his background as a chemical engineer, Dr. Rice views math as build...

Guests Dr. Jess White and Tim House join Bob Hutchins for a conversation about what's actually happening with AI in schools right now. In This Episode The three of us recently spoke to a group of student teachers at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut. Around 50-60 seniors, all preparing to enter classrooms. When asked if they'd received any formal AI training or integration frameworks, not a s...

Episode Summary In this episode of Future Proof Education host Bob Hutchins sits down with Myriam Da Silva, the CEO of CheckIT Learning and the architect behind the AI neuro mentor known as Cleo. Myriam shares her journey from being a struggling student who found her own path to learning, to becoming an educational leader focused on the intersection of neuroscience and technology. The conversation...

When technical tasks like writing and coding are increasingly handled by machines, what remains for the human professional? Drew Brown, who leads the Strategic Communication and Innovation program at Texas Tech, joins Bob Hutchins to discuss why "people skills" are the new hard skills. Key Discussion Points The Market's New Demand: Why industry leaders are prioritizing conflict resolution, priorit...

Season 2 opens with a raw and timely conversation between Bob Hutchins and Tim Howes about one of education's biggest challenges: academic integrity in the age of generative AI. As schools race to adapt, many are responding with surveillance and bans, but Bob and Tim ask a deeper question- what if the problem isn't AI, but the system itself? They explore how generative tools are not creating disho...

In this special episode, we pause our usual conversations with educators and leaders to reflect on an essay I wrote, Teaching Humans, Not Machines . For decades, schools trained students to follow procedures, memorize answers, and perform for tests. The irony is that artificial intelligence now does those things better than we ever could. We look at how systems shaped students to value compliance...

📝 Episode Summary: In this back-to-school conversation, Bob Hutchins sits down with Tim Howes to explore how schools can embed AI literacy into the core of teaching and learning—without losing the skills, creativity, and human connection that make education meaningful. Together, they tackle questions on what belongs on a "must teach" list when AI can already perform so many traditional academic t...

📝 Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, Bob Hutchins sits down with Dr. Lisa Simone—licensed clinical social worker, longtime educator, and director of Youth Justice and Education Services at ACES—to explore what it means to build systems that actually serve our most vulnerable youth. From court-involved students to young people navigating trauma, disconnection, and deep educational gaps, Dr...

In this thought-provoking conversation, Bob Hutchins sits down with Dr. Kris DeFilippis, a former K–12 educator turned NYU professor, to explore the collision of AI, education systems, and equity. With experience ranging from custodian to assistant superintendent, Kris brings a rare, ground-level and systems-wide perspective to what's happening in schools as artificial intelligence gains traction....

In this insightful episode, Bob speaks with Olga Simoes, CFO of the Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA), about the financial realities behind educational innovation. Drawing from her time at ACES and her current national role, Olga shares how leaders can navigate limited budgets while making forward-thinking decisions that prepare students — and schools — for an AI-driven future. Ol...

👤 Guest: Autumn Caraglio, Reading Specialist at ACES Mill Road School, North Haven, CT 📝 Episode Summary: In this episode, Bob Hutchins speaks with Autumn Caraglio, a reading specialist at ACES Mill Road School, where she works with K–8 students facing profound emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges. Autumn brings over a decade of experience in trauma-informed, individualized literacy in...

👤 Guest: Tim Howes, Assistant Executive Director at ACES (Area Cooperative Educational Services) 📝 Episode Summary: In this episode, Bob Hutchins sits down with education leader Tim Howes to unpack a recent Gizmodo article provocatively titled "It's Breathtaking How Fast AI is Screwing Up the Education System." Rather than reacting with fear or fanfare, Bob and Tim take a grounded, inside-the-cl...

👤 Guest: Virginia "Jenny" Tagliatela, Principal of Village School, North Haven, CT 📝 Episode Summary: In this episode, Bob Hutchins sits down with Virginia "Ginny" Tagliatela, the dedicated principal of Village School—an extraordinary program serving students with profound cognitive, medical, and behavioral support needs. Together, they explore how AI is being thoughtfully introduced into specia...

​ In this episode of Future-Proof Education: AI and Beyond , we continue our conversation with Melissa Alers, World Languages Coordinator at ACES in New Haven, Connecticut. This time, we delve into the intersection of artificial intelligence and language services in education, exploring how AI can support, yet not supplant, the human elements essential to effective communication. ​ Key Topics Disc...

In this episode of Future-Proof Education: AI and Beyond , we engage in a practical and timely conversation with Tim Howes, Deputy Executive Director at ACES in New Haven, Connecticut. Tim brings decades of experience as an educator, principal, and executive leader to unpack what it really means to build an AI-ready school —beyond the buzzwords and into the real work of culture change, systems thi...

Episode Description In this episode of Future-Proof Education: AI and Beyond , Kevin Keating, Director of Pupil Services at ACES, shares how AI is beginning to reshape special education. Drawing from years of experience as a special ed teacher and assistive tech consultant, Kevin offers practical insights on using AI to support teachers, personalize instruction, and ease administrative load—withou...

​ In this episode of "Future-Proof Education: AI and Beyond," we continue our conversation with Dr. Jessica White, Assistant Director for AI Services and Product Development at ACES in New Haven, Connecticut. This time, we delve into the transformative role of AI in K-12 education, exploring its potential to enhance teaching practices and student engagement. ​ Key Topics Discussed: AI's Role in De...

In this episode of Future-Proof Education: AI and Beyond , we continue our conversation with Tim Howes , Deputy Executive President of ACES in New Haven, Connecticut. This time, we push past efficiency and personalization to tackle the deeper implications of AI in school leadership. Key Topics Discussed: How AI is reshaping the role of school leaders —shifting from logistics to meaningful engageme...

In this inaugural episode of Future-Proof Education: AI and Beyond , we dive into the transformative role of AI in school administration with guest Tim Howes , an experienced educator, former superintendent, and technology leader. Key Topics Discussed: How AI is enhancing decision-making , not just saving time The shift from reactive to proactive school leadership through AI-driven insights Predic...