The Broken Mirror: Rethinking Education, AI, and Equity in America's Classrooms
What the Heck Do We Do Next? Part 3: Guest Post by JC Price
I recently published a post on LinkedIn asking for school leaders to help me think through the current state of AI access, privacy, and equity. Long-time readers of Educating AI know that these concerns are close to my heart as a teacher, facilitator, and trainer. An AI x Education future that only benefits a small subset of schools, teachers, and students is not one worth pursuing in my humble opinion. We are better just putting these tools back on the shelf if that is the only option.
Many folks reached out to my posts including JC Price, a school leader and tech innovator. He generously shared his time by composing this prompt, suggesting the notion of adaptive, rather than generative, AI as the ideal tool for today’s students. According to Price, current models and uses of AI tend to reinforce existing dividing lines in schools, whereas adaptive models that emphasize collaborative learning, amplify student agency, and inspire individual creativity can address broken elements of our failing educational systems and help students make strides to bridge the gaps existing methodologies stabilize if not widen.
It is bold answer to our big question: “What the Heck Do We Do Next?” But it is one I am excited to share with you during a time when educators are increasingly becoming more and more suspicious these tools in our midst. The stakes are huge, folks? The luxury of delay is just that. Let’s get into our classrooms and experiment and figure out what is going to work. Our students are waiting for us to do so.
If you are looking for an interesting article on the vector between student choice, AI possibility generation, and creativity, check this one out.
If you haven’t had a chance to check out my post on NotebookLM on Michael Spencer’s AI Supremacy, please check it out. It is my most popular piece of writing on Substack to date.
Nick Potkalitsky, Ph.D.
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“The Broken Mirror: Rethinking Education, AI, and Equity in America's Classrooms”
Education in America is like a fractured mirror, reflecting back only a fragmented view of what could be. These cracks—racial inequities in access, disjointed communication between educators and policymakers, teacher shortages, and the failures of standardized testing—are not new, but they have deepened over time. What’s more, the rush to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into education has often made these fractures more visible, without offering a clear remedy. But change is not impossible. In fact, it's within reach.
By understanding these cracks for what they are, we can begin to reimagine the possibilities. AI, when used thoughtfully, can help rebuild this mirror, reflecting back a more complete image of every student's potential. This vision isn’t about replacing the heart of education, but about empowering it—and ensuring that no student is left behind, no teacher overwhelmed, and no community overlooked.
A Widening Divide: The Resource Gap Across Racial Lines
The inequities in our educational system are stark. In low-income neighborhoods, predominantly Black and Brown communities, schools struggle with the basics. Technology is outdated, textbooks are worn, and students sit in classrooms that don’t have the tools to nurture their growth. Meanwhile, schools in wealthier districts are embracing the latest innovations—AI tools that help students excel, modern labs that foster curiosity, and teachers who have the support they need to truly teach.
It’s not that AI is inherently biased, but in its current state, it favors those who can afford it. The wealthy districts continue to pull ahead, leaving schools without resources further behind. Students in these underserved areas aren’t just being deprived of technology—they’re being deprived of the future.
But imagine a different world—one where AI doesn’t deepen the divide, but helps to bridge it. Technology doesn’t have to be the luxury of the wealthy. It can be a tool for every student, designed to meet them where they are. Adaptive AI systems, integrated into schools regardless of their budget, can provide personalized learning experiences that help students catch up and push forward, all while respecting the limits of their current infrastructure. This is where AI’s true potential lies—not in widening the gap, but in leveling the field.
Fragmented Voices: The Chasm Between Classrooms and the Decision-Makers
In the classrooms, teachers know what their students need. They see the struggle, they feel the gaps in support, and yet, their voices too often go unheard. Administrators, trying to implement broad, top-down policies, are disconnected from the realities of the classroom. This disconnect results in decisions that don’t align with what’s happening on the ground.
Even AI systems, meant to streamline administrative tasks, often exacerbate this divide. They might automate processes, but they don’t necessarily facilitate the most important task: listening to teachers, understanding their needs, and using that feedback to make meaningful change. It’s a one-way system when it should be a dialogue.
Imagine an educational environment where teachers aren’t just recipients of policy—they are collaborators in creating it. With AI that listens, adapts, and responds, teachers could continuously provide feedback on the effectiveness of various strategies, and administrators could adjust in real-time. It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about engagement. In this system, AI helps to unify the fragmented voices, ensuring that policies reflect the true needs of students and teachers alike.
The Empty Desks of America: Why Our Classrooms Are Losing Educators
Teacher shortages are not an abstract problem. They are a daily reality for thousands of schools across the country. Teachers are overworked, underpaid, and overwhelmed. In districts with fewer resources, this problem is even more acute. When teachers leave, they aren’t just leaving a job—they are leaving behind students who need them, schools that rely on them, and communities that are built around them.
In response, some suggest that AI could replace teachers, automating lessons and managing classrooms. But this approach misses the heart of the problem. Teachers are not simply content deliverers; they are mentors, guides, and role models. They build relationships, they inspire, and they connect in ways that no machine ever could.
But imagine if, instead of replacing teachers, AI helped to support them. Picture a world where teachers are freed from the administrative burdens that weigh them down. Where AI systems handle the logistics, so teachers can focus on what they do best—teaching, mentoring, and inspiring the next generation. Professional development could be personalized, helping teachers integrate AI into their classrooms in ways that enhance their teaching, without adding to their workload. This is the future we should be striving toward—one where technology serves to lift up educators, not push them out.
Climbing Trees or Swimming in the Ocean? Why We’re Testing the Wrong Skills
Standardized testing has long been the measure of success in American education, but it is deeply flawed. These tests assume that all students learn in the same way, ignoring the reality that every child is different. They assess how well a student can memorize facts, but do little to capture creativity, critical thinking, or the ability to solve real-world problems. It’s like testing a dolphin on how well it can climb a tree—an absurd and fundamentally unfair evaluation
AI, in its current use, often reinforces these outdated metrics. It processes data from the same standardized tests, perpetuating the same biases that have long disadvantaged marginalized students. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Imagine an assessment system that evolves with the student—one that adapts to their learning style, measuring not just what they know, but how they think. AI can create personalized assessments that value creativity and problem-solving just as much as factual recall. This kind of testing would reflect the diverse abilities of students, rather than forcing them into a one-size-fits-all box. With the right approach, AI could transform assessments from a tool of division to one of empowerment.
Investing in the Future: How Innovation Can Lead the Way
Philanthropy has always had a critical role in education. Ken Griffin’s support for institutions like Harvard and Yale highlights the importance of investing in excellence. These universities are incubators for future leaders, innovators, and changemakers. But while these elite institutions continue to thrive, too many public schools—especially those in underserved communities—struggle to keep up.
If we want a future where every student has the opportunity to succeed, we need to shift our focus. It’s not enough to invest in the top-tier universities—we need to bring that same level of innovation to the schools that need it most. AI, when implemented with equity in mind, has the power to do just that.
By bringing adaptive AI into underfunded schools, we can start to address the disparities in education. The technology exists to create personalized learning experiences for every student, regardless of their background or zip code. It’s not just about preparing students for the future—it’s about ensuring they have one.
A Call for Radical Reformation: Rebuilding from the Ground Up
The fractures in American education run deep, but they are not beyond repair. AI is often seen as the solution to many of these problems, but only if used with intention. It cannot replace the human heart of education, but it can empower it. It can help us rebuild the broken mirror, reflecting the true potential of every student, teacher, and school.
This reformation is not about efficiency alone—it is about equity, empowerment, and the possibility of a brighter future for all. With the right vision, AI can become the tool that finally bridges the divides, bringing together resources, voices, and opportunities in ways we haven’t yet imagined. Together, we can create a system that leaves no one behind.
The future of education is within our grasp. It’s time to seize it.
JC Price, Co-Founder of Paraillel
Check out some of my favorite Substacks:
Terry Underwood’s Learning to Read, Reading to Learn: The most penetrating investigation of the intersections between compositional theory, literacy studies, and AI on the internet!!!
Suzi’s When Life Gives You AI: An cutting-edge exploration of the intersection among computer science, neuroscience, and philosophy
Alejandro Piad Morffis’s Mostly Harmless Ideas: Unmatched investigations into coding, machine learning, computational theory, and practical AI applications
Amrita Roy’s The Pragmatic Optimist: My favorite Substack that focuses on economics and market trends.
Michael Woudenberg’s Polymathic Being: Polymathic wisdom brought to you every Sunday morning with your first cup of coffee
Rob Nelson’s AI Log: Incredibly deep and insightful essay about AI’s impact on higher ed, society, and culture.
Michael Spencer’s AI Supremacy: The most comprehensive and current analysis of AI news and trends, featuring numerous intriguing guest posts
Daniel Bashir’s The Gradient Podcast: The top interviews with leading AI experts, researchers, developers, and linguists.
Daniel Nest’s Why Try AI?: The most amazing updates on AI tools and techniques
Riccardo Vocca’s The Intelligent Friend: An intriguing examination of the diverse ways AI is transforming our lives and the world around us.
Jason Gulya’s The AI Edventure: An important exploration of cutting edge innovations in AI-responsive curriculum and pedagogy.
 | A guest post by
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 | A guest post by
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