Leading from the classroom in the age of AI

Artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching and learning at a pace that outstrips traditional, top-down school decision-making. As students adopt new tools rapidly, teachers are forced to rethink instruction, assessment, and academic integrity in real time. This article argues that the leadership schools need most is already present in classrooms and needs to be encouraged. Through examples of teacher-led AI innovation and district efforts to structure practice-based professional learning, Elizabeth Radday highlights how teacher leadership can emerge through modeling, experimentation, and peer-to-peer sharing. It concludes with shifts leaders can make to build distributed capacity.