My Story

How I Became "The AI Guy"

I'm not a computer scientist. I started out as a high school English teacher, which means I've graded my share of essays, chased down my share of late work, and sat through my share of faculty meetings (a few of them were even useful).After the classroom, I moved into instructional design and corporate training. Different rooms, same lesson: if people aren't engaged, nothing sticks.Then AI showed up. At the Missouri School Boards' Association, I built the AI department from the ground up, and I've spent my time since helping schools and colleges figure out what it means for them. I've now given more than 100 presentations in 12 states, for audiences from kindergarteners to college professors.Here's what I've learned. Most people don't need more hype or more fear. They need someone who understands what it's like to stand in front of a classroom, who explains things plainly, and who leaves them feeling a little more capable and a little less overwhelmed. That's the job I try to do.

How I think about AI

Three beliefs shape every session I give.Keep it grounded. Education is going through a big transition, and nobody needs another lecture from an ivory tower or a high-energy sales pitch. I don't pretend to have a magic wand. I do bring field-tested ideas and a deep respect for educators.Keep it practical. If you can't use it on Monday, it isn't much help. Whether we're talking about prompting, policies, or redesigning assignments, I want everyone to walk out with something they can try right away.Keep it human. AI is a tool, and the people using it are what matter. I believe sessions about big, fast-moving topics should leave people feeling a little lighter about the work ahead. (A well-timed joke about faculty meetings doesn't hurt, either.)

Background at a glance

Today
National speaker and consultant on AI in education; Director of AI Strategy & Services at the Missouri School Boards' AssociationPreviously
Instructional design at Columbia College; corporate training at Commerce Bank; High school English teacherEducation
Master of Applied Arts in Technical Writing and Graduate Certificate in Writing Instruction, Missouri Western State UniversityExperience
100+ AI presentations in 12 states, for kindergarteners through college professorsBased in
Columbia, Missouri

Where I've spoken

Keynotes, workshops, and breakout sessions for K-12 districts and higher education institutions, including:

Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA) National Conferences (Dallas, Atlanta, Louisville)
Kansas City PBS K-12 Technology Conference (keynote)
Illinois Education Joint Annual Conference (Chicago)
Hancock Place Educator AI Summit (keynote, St. Louis)
Quality Matters Member Conference (virtual)

Let's work together

If you're planning a conference, a district kickoff, a campus summit, or a staff training and think my approach would fit your community, I'd love to hear about it. I'm also happy to meet virtually before you book, just to talk through your needs.