The transition from traditional instruction to AI-enhanced learning is often met with a mix of excitement and trepidation. However, for Dr. Gyimah Whitaker, Superintendent of the City Schools of Decatur (CSD), the path forward isn’t about racing to adopt the newest tool. It’s about moving “slowly to go fast”—building a foundation based on intentionality, policy, and, most importantly, the amplification of student voice.
Located just outside Atlanta, CSD serves a population of 5,400 students. The district faces a unique challenge: it was identified by Stanford University as having one of the greatest wealth achievement gaps in the nation. For Whitaker, integrating AI is an equity imperative.
To ensure all students graduate ready for a world that includes AI, leadership must be thoughtful, secure, and collaborative.
Moving Slowly to Go Fast: A Policy-First Approach
While many districts might jump straight into purchasing AI-driven curriculum tools, Whitaker and her team took a step back to focus on the framework. In collaboration with the national ILO Group, CSD chose to prioritize AI from a policy standpoint rather than just a curricular or workforce one.
“We have come along slowly because we have the safeguards in place around privacy for students and student data and what we call the 'Swiss cheese' for cybersecurity,” says Whitaker. “But at the same time, we understand our students need to graduate ready to engage in the world, and the world does include AI."
By focusing on policy first, the district ensures that safety and privacy concerns—raised by teachers, parents, and students alike—are addressed before tools are deployed at scale. This intentional movement allows the district to vet filters and privacy protocols, creating a secure environment in which innovation can eventually thrive without compromising data integrity.
Fostering a Symbiotic Workforce
Integrating AI also requires a shift in how the district views professional development. Whitaker envisions a symbiotic relationship between the digital natives who are more comfortable with AI entering the profession and the veteran educators who hold deep pedagogical expertise.
“My greatest hope is that we will begin to recognize that our newest teachers are able to help us and our veteran teachers are able to grow," says Whitaker. This reverse mentorship model acknowledges that while AI can assist with lesson differentiation or administrative tasks, it cannot replace the human element. Even as the district explores AI agents for cybersecurity and administrative support, Whitaker remains a staunch advocate for human connection, noting that while an AI might manage a calendar, it lacks the emotional intelligence to know when a colleague needs a break or a little encouragement.
3 Tips for District Leaders Implementing AI
For administrators looking to begin their own AI journey, Whitaker offers three pillars of advice:
- Don’t Be Afraid of the Unknown: “Understand that you don’t know what you don’t know,” she says. “This is a work of unknown. But that’s okay. Be comfortable in that.”
- Lean into the Tension: Every district feels the pull between the benefits of AI and the doom scroll of digital distraction. Use that tension to spark honest conversations with stakeholders.
- Identify Your Entry Point: Whether you start with a curricular focus, a workforce support strategy, or a policy framework, ensure it aligns with your district’s specific needs.
A National Stage for Student Voice
One of the most innovative aspects of CSD’s strategy is the elevation of students into high-stakes leadership roles. By appointing both a Student Representative and a Student Apprentice to the School Board—a rarity in Southern school systems—CSD has sent a clear message: students don’t just observe; they lead.
This commitment to student agency served as the perfect prerequisite for an invitation from the National Superintendent Association (AASA) to join the National Leadership & Innovation Fellowship Focused on AI and the Future of Learning. Hosted in partnership with Day of AI and MIT RAISE, this fellowship invites designated superintendents from every state to receive cutting-edge AI training at MIT, and allows them to bring two students to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute in July for an immersive experience focused on ethical AI use, systems-level leadership, and policy.
The Edward M. Kennedy Institute features a full-scale replica of the U.S. Senate chamber. Participating students will act as “senators” for their respective states. Their objective? To develop a National AI Policy.
To prepare, students are completing 8 to 10 hours of pre-work, analyzing artifacts that the Institute will synthesize into a working template. This sets the stage for an authentic legislative process, mirroring the deliberation of the Senate.
The resulting student-developed policy will be distributed nationally to all superintendents by AASA. This model holds the potential to be replicated in local districts, providing a framework for involving parents and stakeholders in governing this powerful technology.
“I think the most amazing part about this event is I honestly have no idea what the kids are going to come up with,” says Jeff Riley, Executive Director of Day of AI and former Massachusetts Commissioner of Education. “Kids are digital natives. This is an opportunity where their voices can really be heard as leaders in the field.”
Whitaker was thrilled to receive the invitation, viewing it as a natural extension of CSD’s core mission. “The stars really aligned,” she says. “This experience will take the work we do at CSD to elevate student voice to the next level."
By giving students a seat at the table both locally and nationally, CSD ensures that AI policy isn't just something done to students, but with them. This leadership experience ensures that the district’s Portrait of a Graduate includes the ability to navigate and actively govern the technologies of the future.
As Whitaker says, the ultimate goal is both simple and profound: “To ensure you’re graduating students who are ready to engage in the world knowing that AI is there.”
