Helping K–12 educators build practical AI skills

Every day, K–12 teachers, administrators, district leaders, and school communities help students learn, grow, and prepare for the future. They are also being asked to navigate rapid technological change while managing limited time, growing responsibilities, and uneven access to practical support.

That’s why OpenAI Academy, in partnership with the Walton Family Foundation⁠(opens in a new window), will host a flagship AI Skills Jam for K–12 Educators this summer to offer a hands-on, high-trust environment where teachers and administrators can move from curiosity to practical use. Building on the success of the Nonprofit AI Jam⁠(opens in a new window) and Small Business AI Jam⁠(opens in a new window), the Jam will bring together more than 1,600 K–12 teachers, administrators, and district leaders for in-person, hands-on workshops across U.S. cities. Through the AI Skills Jam for K–12 Educators, OpenAI Academy aims to help educators explore how AI can support teaching, planning, communication, and other day-to-day work more effectively, while helping advance AI literacy, opportunity, and responsible adoption in education.

Research from The Walton Family Foundation and Gallup, Teaching for Tomorrow: Closing the Expectations Gap Report⁠(opens in a new window), shows that teachers who use AI tools at least weekly estimate saving 5.9 hours per week, on average. Multiplied across a typical school year, that amounts to approximately six weeks of time. Teachers say they reinvest this time into things like more nuanced student feedback, individualized lesson planning, parent communication, or even getting home at a more reasonable hour. At the AI Skills Jam, teachers and administrators will get the support they need to confidently start using and benefiting from incorporating AI into their work.

Confirmed locations and partners for the AI Skills Jam for K–12 Educators, include: