The Collaborative is designed to support executive education leaders with the mindsets, strategies, and community
needed to navigate the impact of artificial intelligence in education with clarity and purpose.
Mabel Peters Caruth Center at Communities Foundation of Texas
5500 Caruth Haven Lane, Dallas, Texas 75225
This day is designed to celebrate progress, share what we’ve learned, and chart a path forward. Over the past year, participants have built new knowledge, tested ideas, and tackled real-world challenges through their Problems of Practice.
In this final session, they’ll hear from each other, engage with leading AI experts, and leave with renewed energy and concrete next steps for sustaining this work beyond the Collaborative.
AGENDA
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. – Check-in & Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Welcome & Opening Keynote
What’s Next: Leading Through the AI Inflection Point (Q&A
Speaker: Pat Yongpradit, General Manager for Education & Workforce Policy, Microsoft
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Break
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 noon – Problem of Practice District Showcase and Mixer
12:00 noon – 12:30 p.m. – Transition to Lunch
12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. – Lunch & Afternoon Panels
Lightning Round: Problems of Practice in Action
Fireside Chat: Reflection + Q&A
1:15 – 1:30 p.m. – Closing Remarks
Session 5: April 7, 2026
This session brought together philosophers, researchers, and practitioners to examine the ethical, social, and institutional dimensions of AI adoption, equipping education leaders with frameworks and tools to lead with both wisdom and confidence to face urgent questions about what it means to preserve human dignity, maintain academic integrity, and build cultures of trust.
Session 4: February 19, 2026
Focused on operational efficiency and strategic talent management, this session challenged leaders to rethink how AI is applied within HR and central office systems. Participants examined how to move from compliance-driven, manual processes toward AI-ready talent operations. Explore the materials to revisit the diagnostic tools and practical frameworks that help leaders identify high-impact use cases, assess risk, and define measurable success.
Session 3: January 13, 2026
This session moved from readiness to coherence and transformation. Leaders examined lessons from district and state early adopters and explored the shift from tool adoption to instructional redesign, leadership capacity, and AI dexterity. Explore the curated materials to revisit the research and frameworks that challenged systems to align AI with student-centered outcomes and long-term change.
Session 2: December 2, 2025
This session deepened the focus from foundational understanding to readiness and change management. Leaders examined emerging Texas AI policy updates, explored practical roadmaps for launching AI readiness across districts, and considered how organizational learning, workforce trends, and essential skills must evolve in an AI-enabled economy. Explore the curated materials to revisit the policy guidance, readiness tools, and workforce insights shared during this session.
Session 1: September 29-30, 2025
This opening session grounded leaders in the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and what responsible leadership requires in a rapidly evolving landscape. Participants explored AI literacy, Texas policy developments, governance considerations, and practical applications for instruction and operations. Explore the curated materials to revisit the key frameworks, policy insights, and examples that shaped this foundation for the work ahead.
This Collaborative brings together a powerful cross-section of public school districts, charter networks, and mission-driven nonprofits — all united by a drive to lead with vision and collaborate for impact.
To support this initiative, Educate Texas has assembled an exceptional group of leaders to serve as our advisors, including providing strategic guidance and subject matter expertise aligned with industry needs, educational best practices, and emerging technological developments.
Dave Copps – CEO, Worlds
Duane Dankesreiter – Senior Vice President of Research and Innovation, Dallas Regional Chamber
Dr. Jace Hargis – Chief AI Strategist, Texas Women’s University
Mayor Mattie Parker – Fort Worth
Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer – CEO, ILO Group
Amir Tabei – Chief Technology Officer, Communities Foundation of Texas
Dr. Candace Walkington – Annette and Harold Simmons Centennial Chair, Professor, in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Southern Methodist University
For any questions, please reach out to ai@cftexas.org.