Administrators, Stop Wasting Money on AI Training That Doesn't Work
Go from AI-Curious to AI-Confident
97% of superintendents believe schools must teach responsible AI use. Only 37% have implementation plans.
If you’re a district leader, these numbers probably don’t surprise you. You know AI matters for your students’ futures, but between teacher shortages, student mental health crises, and budget constraints, AI implementation feels like one more item on an already impossible to-do list.
Here’s what’s worse: 48% of districts now provide AI training for teachers, but many leaders report that these sessions leave staff more confused than confident. Sound familiar? You invest time and resources in professional development only to hear teachers say it was “overwhelming” or “not practical for my classroom.”
The Real Problem: We’re Training the Tool, Not the Teacher
Most AI professional development starts with the technology. “Here’s ChatGPT, here’s Google Gemini, now go use them.” But research in cognitive load theory shows this approach overwhelms educators by forcing them to juggle pedagogical decisions, technical learning, and classroom management simultaneously.
The result? Teachers walk away with fragmented knowledge they can’t apply effectively. Your investment in professional development doesn’t translate to classroom impact.
Why Most AI Consultants Get It Wrong (And How We’re Different)
Here’s the problem with most education AI consulting: the consultants have never actually built AI systems. They’re education experts trying to learn technology, not technology experts who understand education.
We’re different. Webs spent years as an software developer at ThoughtWorks - one of the world’s premier software consulting firms - doing, among other things, building facial emotion recognition engines and researching AI bias in criminal justice systems. She’s not guessing about how AI works; she’s built the systems districts are trying to buy.
Combined with 25+ years of classroom experience between us, this means we can evaluate vendor claims, identify implementation risks, and design training that actually transfers to practice. We understand both the technology and the classroom realities.
LIFT: A Research-Based Framework for Strategic AI Implementation
We developed the LIFT framework after studying why some district AI initiatives succeed while others fail. Drawing from collaborative problem-solving theory, cognitive load management, and instructional design principles, LIFT provides the systematic approach that transforms scattered AI experimentation into strategic implementation.
Lead with Human Intention
Start with pedagogy, not technology. Before introducing any AI tool, educators identify their specific instructional challenge and desired learning outcomes. This preparation phase activates prior knowledge and reduces cognitive load during AI interaction.
District Impact: Teachers approach AI with clear purpose instead of random experimentation. Professional development becomes immediately actionable because it builds on existing expertise.
Integrate Available Instruments
Map existing resources - human expertise, curriculum materials, digital tools - before adding AI. This prevents “solution-first thinking” where districts force AI into problems it shouldn’t solve.
District Impact: Works with your existing investments. Whether you’re using Savvas, Pearson, or any other curriculum platform, LIFT helps you enhance what you already have rather than requiring new purchases. Better resource allocation and strategic tool selection that protects your current investments.
Focus with AI
Engage AI as a thinking partner while maintaining pedagogical control. Educators learn to critically evaluate AI suggestions rather than accepting outputs blindly.
District Impact: Teachers develop actual AI literacy through firsthand experience with the same critical thinking strategies they’ll teach students. When teachers practice evaluating AI outputs and maintaining pedagogical control, they’re modeling exactly what students need to learn.
Transform through Experimentation
Systematically evaluate outcomes and refine approaches. Use structured reflection to build organizational knowledge about effective AI integration.
District Impact: Continuous improvement that builds district-wide AI expertise rather than isolated individual experiments.
Why LIFT Works When Other Approaches Fail
Traditional AI training focuses on tool features. LIFT focuses on decision-making frameworks. When teachers understand why they’re using AI for specific pedagogical purposes, they can adapt to new tools and changing technology.
The framework is designed for busy districts. Only 36% of superintendents feel well-prepared for leading AI strategy, but LIFT provides concrete steps that don’t require deep technical expertise. You’re building teacher capacity, not becoming an AI specialist yourself.
From Curiosity to Confidence: Making the Transition
AI-curious districts pilot random tools and hope something sticks.
AI-confident districts implement systematically with clear success metrics.
The difference isn’t more technology - it’s better process. LIFT gives you that process, complete with templates and resources that scaffold the implementation journey.
Ready to Move Beyond Random Experimentation?
Your teachers need AI literacy that goes beyond “here’s how to write a prompt.” They need frameworks for making pedagogical decisions about when, why, and how to integrate AI into learning experiences.
LIFT provides those frameworks. We’ve created step-by-step templates that guide educators through each phase, from initial problem identification through systematic reflection on outcomes.
The result? Professional development that teachers actually want to attend because it makes their work more effective, not more complicated.
Get the The LIFT framework e-book for free. Templates are available in our store. Stop wasting time on AI training that doesn’t transfer to classroom practice. Give your teachers the systematic approach they need to move from AI-curious to AI-confident.