Dear Future AI Summit 2026 Participant,

When thinking back on my own elementary school experience, many things from those formative years stand out that pointed me toward becoming an educator. One of those elementary memories was that of recess (obviously, every kid’s favorite time of the day!). We would race out of the school to be the first to the playground and get in line for the best equipment. The tire swing, monkey bars, and slide were no match for the Real MVP – the swings. Specifically, the swings that you sat on with a long plastic seat and a metal horse head.

If you could almost smell the sunshine and woodchips as you thought about those swings or your favorite piece of playground equipment, you know that anticipation and excitement of engaging with it. Possibly by yourself or with friends, either way, it was an experience that you looked forward to and even possibly learned new tricks to do on it while the recess-duty teachers weren’t looking.

The magic of those playground moments wasn’t just the nostalgia we feel now. It was the freedom to explore, take risks, interact with others (face-to-face!), and learn new things without even realizing it. That same dynamic is showing up in our current educational AI landscape. Research shows that 85% of teachers and 86% of students reported using AI for school work in the 2024-2025 academic year (“Rising Use of AI in Schools Comes With Big Downsides for Students”). With many educators and students already using AI tools, the teaching and learning environment is shifting. Just as new playground equipment is designed to interrupt our typical play, AI is the current technological disruption that is interrupting how we approach teaching and learning. In each scenario, we learn, we adapt, and we embrace the possibilities.

The tools (equipment) we are interacting with now are fast, intuitive, and exciting. While AI can make many of the tasks on our overflowing plates easier, human connection and curiosity will drive our use (play).

That playground was so much more than just equipment. It was choice, opportunity, community, and momentum. And in many ways, that’s exactly what the Kent ISD AI Summit is designed to be. 

1. The Playground:
   The playground is a community space where people of all ages gather together for a shared experience. You smell the woodchips, hear the chatter of people talking and playing, and can see endless possibilities for play. Playgrounds provide multiple entry points and ways to participate and engage in the space. Just like playgrounds, Kent ISD is providing a communal space for educators to come together beyond hallway conversations and PLCs for a shared learning experience, including food! This won’t be your playground snacks of goldfish and Capri Suns, though, but we will have a breakfast burrito bar with options for all dietary needs!
2. Everyone Has Their Swing:
   Once you arrive at the playground, you might race to the horse swings, or you might beeline to the tire swing. Everyone has their own preference for equipment and often bounce between ones. When you arrive at the AI Summit, you will see and hear the hum of conversation before you even check in. Someone laughing about a prompt gone wrong. Another educator at a table said, “Wait, show me how you did that!” At the AI Summit, we have many options for breakout sessions after we gather together for conversation, a meal, and a keynote speaker.
3. Risks & Joys:
   Horse swings? You’d better watch your shins and chin and hope you don’t burn yourself on the metal head that has been simmering in the sun all morning. That rush of wind, legs pumping, flying higher than you probably should have been? No comparison. Each action provokes both excitement and uncertainty. As the evening of the AI Summit progresses, you will take away some content that gets you excited. Not every new idea lands perfectly. It is important to take a moment to consider any potential risks or barriers that might be in the way of you implementing your learning. Not everything is an exact fit for each individual, and sometimes you need to make adjustments so it works for you and your students.
4. Momentum:
   A swing only works when you create momentum. A small push can turn into something much bigger. You might walk into a session unsure what to expect. Ten minutes later, you’re thinking, ‘Wait… I could actually use this tomorrow!” We want the AI Summit to feel like that first push. When like-minded educators come together around a common topic, they build momentum. Each conversation, session, and shared personal experience helps us move forward in exploring how teachers and learners are living and learning amid the current technological disruption with both optimism and caution.

The tension between the unknown and a break from traditional teaching methods isn’t isolated to Kent County; educators across the nation are feeling this same tension. Maine educator Julie York shared her underlying reason for why we as educators need to embrace this AI era: “You want your students to be successful … and be prepared to go on their own in the real world. … Eventually, this is something they will have to face.” (Álvarez). To prepare our students for the world they live in, we, as educators, must embrace the unfamiliar and learn through play.

At its core, the Kent ISD AI Summit is a playground for educators, where the swings are the ideas and the momentum is built together. Turns out recess was professional development all along; now we just have better snacks.

Everyone is welcome on the learning playground. Register for the AI Summit 2026 today to reserve your spot. Kent ISD area educators, you even get a discount on your ticket through April 3. Just like recess, the best spots go fast. Don’t let someone else take your swing! 

See you on the learning playground,

The kid who always picked the horse swings

Written by Sarah Wood, Educational Technology Consultant, Kent ISD. Edited by Amanda Walma, Marketing and Communications Specialist, Teaching and Learning Department, Kent ISD.

Sources:

“Rising Use of AI in Schools Comes With Big Downsides for Students.” EdWeek.org, 8 October 2025, https://www.edweek.org/technology/rising-use-of-ai-in-schools-comes-with-big-downsides-for-students/2025/10. Accessed 27 February 2026.

Álvarez, Brenda. “How AI is Changing the Way You Teach.” NEA, 9 January 2026, https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/how-ai-changing-way-you-teach. Accessed 27 February 2026.