How is AI being used in Education? Hype, Help, or Harm?

How is AI Being Used in Education?
AI is already making its way into classrooms—but how are educators and EdTech companies actually using it? Join us for a practical and insightful panel discussion where we’ll dive into real-world applications of AI in education, from streamlining lesson planning to personalizing student learning experiences.
Whether you're a teacher curious about new tools, a developer creating for the classroom, or an education enthusiast, this event will offer concrete examples of how AI is being implemented today—and what’s on the horizon.

📅 Event Schedule:

🕔 5:00 - 5:30 PM | Opening Connection – Meet fellow attendees, share your experiences with AI in education, and set the stage for an engaging evening.

🎙️ 5:30 - 6:15 PM | Expert Panel Discussion – Learn how educators and EdTech innovators are using AI in classrooms.

🤝 6:15 - 7:00 PM | Networking & Discussion – Continue the conversation, make new connections, and exchange ideas on integrating AI into learning environments.

✨ RSVP now to explore how AI is shaping the future of education—one classroom at a time.

Panel Speakers:

Melissa Wrenchey, Ed.D.
Intro to Engineering Design and Library Media Specialist
Collaborative learning and Learning Communities is where I find myself thriving. I enjoy challenges and learning new technologies. I especially enjoy working with student teams who want to solve problems and iterate on designs. I find that we can pitch ideas back and forth and improve on this work. I have 22 years of experience in the classroom and three teaching endorsements, but challenges like deploying AI effectively make me feel like a new teacher trying to keep up each day just ahead of my students. This is a good thing! My content stays fresh and my students force me to explore new methods and practices.

Mary DeCracker
Mary is an educational leader with over 20 years of experience, serving in roles from classroom teacher to Director of Technology. Passionate about the intersection of education and innovation, she currently supports K–8 science instruction while consulting on EdTech integration and instructional design. Mary actively uses AI tools for teacher professional development and works with school communities to create responsible, student-centered AI use guidelines across varied educational settings. She is especially committed to fostering ethical, equity-focused approaches to implementing AI in schools.

Suzannah Calvery
Dr. Calvery's work spans corporate roles and non-profit organizations, and she has been primarily focused on education innovation through practice, research, and strategy for the past 10 years at all levels of education - both private and public. She's currently a Dean and Professor at DigiPen Institute of Technology in Redmond, WA where she teaches media and ethics, computing ethics, and storytelling. Much of her work centers on how we apply ethical perspectives to our real-world experiences. DigiPen prepares students to enter careers in digital media, particularly games and film.

Ella J. Lombard
Ella is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at foundry10, where her work with the Digital Technologies and Education Lab and the Technology, Media, and Information Literacy Team investigates how to support youth and educators in navigating how technologies like AI and social media shape youth learning and development. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Washington, where she studied the effects of identity safety cues on closing gaps for underrepresented groups in educational and professional spaces. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Creative Writing from Northwestern University. Ella is passionate about leveraging data-backed insights to improve student outcomes, promote learning, and increase educational equity.