OM DENNE EPISODE
Courtney and Matt reflect on the energy from the recent AI Summit, where nearly 250 St. Vrain educators gathered to explore practical, human-centered AI integration. A highlight was Dr. Catlin Tucker’s keynote, emphasizing that AI should empower, not replace, educators, with a strong focus on metacognition and purposeful implementation.
The team shares key trends from summit feedback, including a shift from curiosity to capability, renewed momentum, and important conversations around K–3 foundations, differentiation, accessibility, and the Ethos Framework.
🎉 Student-Powered AI Challenge Winner: Mary Ann Dempsey (Mead Elementary)
Her students used AI as a thinking partner — not a shortcut — to strengthen their Young AmeriTowne campaign speeches through guided questioning and structured feedback.
Special guest Hannah McDonald, SVVSD Teacher of the Year and AI graduate student at Purdue, shares how she uses AI to solve real classroom challenges. Her entrepreneurship students used AI as a brainstorming partner, generating 200+ ideas while still evaluating and refining the work themselves.
The big takeaway: Keep humans at the center. Use AI to deepen thinking, spark collaboration, and create more space for meaningful learning.
Join us next month for another conversation beyond the algorithm.
