AI Foundations for Educators
Professional Learning Community
February – April 2026
New to AI? Start here with educators who get it.
Join our collaborative 8-week program for educators ready to build AI confidence. No experience required. Learn practical skills alongside peers from different schools, led by practicing teachers and school leaders who understand your reality.
What Participants Value Most:
Built for Beginners: No jargon, no judgment—just a safe space to ask questions and experiment with real classroom applications.
Designed by Educators: Led by practicing teachers and school leaders. Every session is grounded in what actually works.
Learn Together: Join educators across different schools facing the same challenges. Share what's working, troubleshoot together, and build a lasting network.
Hear from our previous cohort members!
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“Seeing what other schools/teachers/coordinators are doing in this area is invaluable. We are all facing these new opportunities and challenges in real-time. It's not a one-size-fits-all, but it's important to keep engaging and adjusting.”
Lucas Tompkins
Teacher & Coordinator of Learning Technology, Greenwood College -
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“Collaboration allows us to bring our unique strengths and capacities to the the table, providing a richer, more diverse pool of knowledge for everyone to glean from. Collectively, we have a greater chance of staying up to date with the break neck pace of how things are changing!”
Stephanie Stephens
Director of Learning Innovation and Technology, HTS -
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"As a part of this cohort, I have benefitted by hearing how others are grappling with the whole AI thing has opened my eyes to other aspects of this issue. Some things I didn't really consider as I tend to get lost in the big picture and lose sight of how you can pick off smaller aspects of that issue as well, thus making it more manageable for everyone."
Ian Johnston
Senior School Tech Teacher, Pickering College -
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“Collaborating while on my AI journey is important to me because I am evolving in my career along side the evolution of AI resources and tools. Learning from my peers with similar interests is key for mutual growth as it provides greater perspective and insight into what it means to be an educator in the digital era.”
Anna Spotta
French Teacher, Greenwood -
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“Nobody learns deeply on their own!”
Andrew Moore
English Teacher, Bayview Glen -
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“Collaboration is important to me because AI can do a lot, but it can’t replace the ideas, creativity, and encouragement that come from working with other people.”
Barry Panas
Science Teacher
St. John’s Ravenscourt -
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“Working together with other educators puts an emphasis on critical thinking skills so that we can all start to understand the issues and opportunities in the quickly changing world of AI.”
Grace Sheppard
Teacher-Librarian
St. John’s Ravenscourt
Program Structure
A learning cycle designed for busy educators:
3 Live "Deep Dive" Sessions: Scheduled as a cohort to practice prompting, share wins, and troubleshoot challenges. All sessions are recorded and shared. (60 minutes each)
Self-Directed Modules: Flexible independent exploration and reflection, plus networking and resource sharing on the CoLab platform — the collaboration app built for K12 educator collaboration.
1:1 Coaching Session: Personalized support to set goals and create an implementation plan for your specific context.
Three Focus Areas
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Module 1: Understanding AI
Build foundational AI literacy. Learn what AI is, how it works, and how to use it responsibly within your district's policies. -
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Module 2: Solving Your Workload Problem
Use AI to reduce teacher workload. Master the basics of Claude/ChatGPT and apply AI to lesson planning, parent communication, and administrative tasks. -
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Module 3: Solving Your Differentiation Problem
Use AI to reach all learners. Explore AI as a tutor, coach, and learning partner for students while maintaining academic integrity.
Expert Facilitation Team
Peter Siner – AI Professional Learning Support
Active school administrator, Google Certified Innovator, and host of the Teach Smarter Podcast. Peter is a recognized AI for Education Specialist with a decade of experience in instructional leadership and technology integration. He regularly presents at global conferences including MATSOL, ISTE, and FETC, focusing on sustainable AI integration and systems-level planning.
Ariella Racco – Program Design & Community Leadership
CEO of CoLab, the collaboration platform for K12 education. She is a Google Certified Innovator, and former middle school teacher in public, independent and international schools. Ariella brings deep understanding of school culture and designs professional learning experiences that foster authentic collaboration and practical implementation.
This PLC is for all educators. Whether you are a classroom teacher, a librarian, or an educational assistant, this program is about building personal confidence.
No prior AI experience required. After a needs assessment, we will set you up for success to kick off your personalized AI learning journey.
Ideal for school teams (3+ members) to establish a shared language and internal support system
Who Can Participate?
The Opportunity
✺ 8-Week AI Leadership Progression: Personal practice → classroom integration → peer collaboration
✺ Year-Round CoLab Platform Access: Ongoing resource sharing and professional networking with the cohort across North America
✺ Expert Support: Curated AI content, research, facilitation guides, and coaching with AI specialists
✺ Ready-to-Use Resources: Practical, educator-ready materials for immediate school application
Investment: $450 per participant
Group rates and early bird discounts available for those who register before January 31, 2026. Custom PLCs also available for schools.
