Teaching at Rikers Island isn’t a typical origin story for a future school district leader. And yet, it demonstrates that education works best as human development, not a test-prep machine. 

Former Chicago Public Schools CEO J.C. Brizard joins aiEDU Studios to talk about modern-day school systems and what to keep, what to scrap, and how to move faster than technology that's reshaping our jobs and lives. 

We got candid about why AI has finally brought school to the dinner table. When a novice can ship working software and a manager can draft team evaluations within hours, the question shifts from “Which tools?” to “What makes us human?” The answer lies in durable skills: curiosity, agency, communication, problem-solving, and the courage to navigate ambiguity. 

Those aren’t “soft” skills — they are the skills that help students change jobs, create value, and lead with judgment as machines take on more tasks.

If you care about students thriving in an AI-shaped economy and building a more humane one, this conversation offers a roadmap you can use now. 

After listening, let us know what route you'll take in your class, school, or district! 

Learn more about J.C. Brizard:

• https://digitalpromise.org/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-claude-brizard-0080a810/

aiEDU: The AI Education Project

• aiEDU.org
• linkedin.com/company/aiedu/