The AI-Empowered School Leader
An online course for administrators
Online Professional Learning for Educators at the Friday Institute
| Course Available | Open Now |
| Registration Closes | March 31, 2027 |
| Certificate Requirements Due | 365 days after you register |
| Course Access Ends | Within 365 after you register |
| Duration | 9 sections |
| Cost | Free |
| Primary Audience | K-12 school administrators |
| Certificate of Completion | Yes |
| Professional Development Hours | 15 |
Developed as a companion to our The AI-Empowered Teacher course, The AI-Empowered School Leader brings a leadership lens to the same critical questions about how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) can intentionally enhance K-12 education–without losing what matters most: the human connection, educational best practices, and student impact. While you can complete this course individually, we suggest engaging as a cohort of other school leaders to spark collaborative conversations and deepen your understanding. Suitable for all levels of AI experience, whether you’re curious, cautious, or already experimenting with AI tools, this course will help you reflect on your leadership beliefs about technology, build practical knowledge for leading ethical and effective AI use, and connect with colleagues to share ideas and navigate challenges.
The course centers on AI literacy to help administrators understand, evaluate, and use AI in their professional practice. AI-literate educators are prepared to evaluate emerging tools, protect student data, uphold ethical standards, and make informed decisions that keep humans at the center of teaching, learning, and school operations. They create the conditions for responsible innovation so that AI strengthens professional practice across their school community, expands opportunities for students, and advances meaningful learning for all.
Through a series of reflective, practice-based modules, you will…
- Clarify your values and vision for human-centered AI use
- Further foundational knowledge for how GenAI systems work, where they add value, and where they fall short
- Practice ethical decision-making and evaluate AI tools for bias, transparency, and fairness
- Identify leadership strategies that support meaningful innovation in teaching, learning, and school operations
- Prepare for ongoing change by cultivating adaptability, thoughtful planning, and informed decision-making
This course is for school leaders who are ready to…
- Explore the promises and perils of GenAI in education
- Apply critical and creative thinking to GenAI integration
- Prioritize human relationships, values, and professional judgment in GenAI use
- Collaborate with peers to deepen understanding, share insights, and apply ideas in real-world educational settings
Learn More
Certificate/CEU Information
To earn a certificate for 15 professional development hours, which can be submitted to your local agency with a request for CEUs, you must:
- Engage in the Inquiry, Input, Interpretation, and Insight activities in each unit
- Submit responses to all self-assessments, quizzes, and questionnaires
- Create a new discussion post in the 6.2a Reflect on the Shifts discussion forum
- Create a new discussion post and reply to two other people’s posts in the Wrap Up Discussion forum in Module 9
Granting of CEUs will be subject to the policies and procedures of your state and local agency.
Course Outline
This is a self-paced asynchronous course consisting of nine interconnected modules designed to move participants from foundational concepts to future-oriented practice.
- Module 1: Setting the Stage | Course overview, AI literacy, goals, cohort formation
- Module 2: Step In, Stay Human | Explore your beliefs, values, and human-centered vision for GenAI
- Module 3: Decode the Invisible | Learn how GenAI works, its limits, and unknowns
- Module 4: Interrogate the System | Examine bias, transparency, and trust in GenAI tools
- Module 5: Practice Algorithmic Integrity | Apply ethical decision-making in GenAI use
- Module 6: Design AI-Entangled Opportunities | Create meaningful learning experiences with GenAI
- Module 7: Reimagine Personalization & Assessment | Explore new assessment and differentiation strategies
- Module 8: Find Access Points for the Previously Inconceivable | Envision GenAI’s role in engagement and creativity
- Module 9: Future the Practice | Prepare for disruption, adaptation, and continued growth
How to Register
Before you can register, you’ll need an NC State Brickyard account. If you don’t already have one, you can create one in a few steps:
- Go to the REPORTER registration system landing page at go.ncsu.edu/reporter.
- Click the Create New Account button.
- Enter your email and click Send Email Confirmation.
- Note the code that has been emailed to you and enter it in the Confirmation Code field.
- Enter your First Name, Last Name, and Password.
- Click Create Brickyard Account at the bottom. Your account will be created and you should be redirected to REPORTER to log in.
Ready to register?
Need help?
For screen shots, troubleshooting tips, and step-by-step instructions for creating your Brickyard account or updating your name or email address, see the Brickyard Account Management Guide.
For help with changing your password, visit go.ncsu.edu/brickyard-reset-pw.
Have questions or need additional assistance? Contact Friday Institute Online Professional Learning Support and let us know how we can help.
Course Development Team
Through funding from the Ballmer Foundation and The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), this course was developed by The Friday Institute in collaboration with four State Education Agencies dedicated to the responsible and effective integration of Artificial Intelligence in K-12 education.
The Friday Institute Team
Kentucky Department of Education
- Sean Jackson
- Marty Park
- Laura Raganas
New Mexico Public Education Department
- John Chadwick
- Jed Duggan
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
- Vera Cubero
- Barry Pace
Wyoming Department of Education
- Steven Priest
- Nathan Tedjeske