Doors Open: 11:15 a.m. (includes lunch)
Program: 12 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (includes dinner)
Point Isabel ISD · 101 Port Road, Port Isabel, TX 78578
Thanks for your interest. Registration is now closed.
Contact us at ai@cftexas.org
One of the most urgent challenges facing leaders isn’t only the technology—it’s knowing how to lead with vision and confidence with the pace of incredible change in this AI era.
Introducing the RGV AI + Education Leadership Collaborative, brought to you by Educate Texas.
Educate Texas is committed to ongoing support for districts and organizations in the Rio Grande Valley, including ways to partner to advance their AI journeys.
Designed for senior school district, higher education, and nonprofit leaders across the Rio Grande Valley, this in-person full-day learning and hands-on experience will provide participants:
We’re convening approximately 50 senior leaders from across the RGV, including school districts, higher education institutions, and partner nonprofit organizations.
The session is designed for districts/organizations who are seeking to grow and support their AI journeys.
Each district can bring up to two executive leaders, with preference to districts whose superintendent attends.
By the end of the day, participants will:
Understand the current state of AI in education, including what Educate Texas has learned from the DFW Collaborative and what state and national leaders are saying about leading in this moment.
Share the specific needs, challenges, and opportunities with AI in education in the RGV.
Inform Educate Texas about the technical and capacity-building supports your organization needs, designed with the needs of the RGV in mind.
Learn from peers in the RGV and across Texas on what AI looks like in their organizations—including practical lessons on guidance, guardrails, and community engagement.
Educate Texas is committed to ongoing support for districts and organizations in the Rio Grande Valley, including ways to partner to advance their AI journeys.
How do we lead with confidence when AI is evolving faster than our ability to fully understand it?
What does responsible AI governance look like in K-12, and how do we balance innovation with student safety?
What are the most pressing AI opportunities and concerns unique to the Rio Grande Valley context?
How do we manage the human dynamics of change when our teams — and our communities — are at very different stages of readiness?
Where am I, and my district or organization, right now on the AI journey — and what do I need to do next?
11:15a – 12:00p
Doors Open, Check-in & Lunch
Informal networking; assigned tables mix districts, higher ed, and nonprofit partners.
12:00p – 12:15p
Welcome & Framing for the Day
Kerri Briggs, Executive Director, Educate Texas
12:15p – 1:00p
Keynote #1: The AI Landscape — What Every Education Leader Needs to Know Now
Jason Green, Senior Director, AI Strategy & System Alignment, Educate Texas
1:00p – 1:15p
Leaders will reflect on how AI is showing up across six domains in their school districts.Â
1:15p – 1:30p
Break
1:30p – 2:05p
Panel: Needs, Realities, & Opportunities — AI in Education in the Rio Grande Valley
Moderated by Kerri Briggs, with panelists from UT RGV, Teach For America, and local district leadership.
2:05p – 2:35p
Table Discussion #2
Surfacing your organization’s most pressing question, next most important step, and biggest hurdles.
2:35p – 2:50p
Break
2:50p – 3:25p
Hands-on Session
Have the opportunity to use Playlab AI and see real-life examples.
3:25p – 3:35p
AI Policy Update (10 minutes)
Joanna Warren, Director of Policy & Advocacy, Educate Texas
Hear the latest updates on AI state and federal policy impacting K-12 education.
3:35p – 4:10p
Texas Peer Spotlight: Guidance, Guardrails & Going Regional — What We’re Learning Across the Texas Panhandle
District AI Requirements Overview
What we’re learning across the Texas Panhandle — a peer voice from ESC Region 16, leading AI strategy across 60+ districts.
4:10p – 5:00p
Going Deeper: Working Session
Structured time to assess where you are and gain support on next steps.
5:00p – 5:10p
Closing Remarks & Preview
Kerri Briggs, Educate Texas
5:30p – 6:15p
Welcome Reception
Light appetizers, drinks, and informal networking.
6:15p – 7:30p
Jeffersonian Dinner
A signature feature of the Educate Texas AI Collaborative experience — one structured conversation in small tables over a meal, designed for honest, peer-to-peer dialogue.