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, 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 and Small Business AI Jam, 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, 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.

During the Jam, participants will work alongside OpenAI mentors to learn how to incorporate AI into everyday work like lesson planning, parent and staff communications, administrative tasks, and more. The sessions will be hands-on and focused on real classroom and school system needs, providing time and space to try tools, ask questions, share concerns, and build confidence. Participants will also be connected to OpenAI Academy, a free online platform which provides resources and best practice guidance about leveraging AI, so they can continue building on what they started at the Jam. OpenAI’s goal isn’t to just host a one-day workshop; it’s to expand our relationships with educators, school system leaders, and ecosystem partners over time.

“Educators are at the center of helping communities understand and adapt to new technology,” said Leah Belsky, Vice President of Education at OpenAI. “Through the AI Skills Jam for K–12 Educators, we want to give teachers and school leaders practical support, trusted learning environments, and direct opportunities to shape how AI can be used responsibly in education. Access to AI is just the starting point, the real opportunity is building the agency to use these tools thoughtfully and solve meaningful problems.”

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

• Jonesboro, GA, with Clayton County Public Schools — Wednesday, July 8
• Fairfax, VA, with Fairfax County Public Schools — Thursday, July 9
• Orlando, FL, at the PTA Conference with the Parent Teacher Association — Saturday, July 11
• Chicago, IL, with District 211 — Wednesday, July 15
• San Bernardino, CA, with San Bernardino City Unified School District — Wednesday, July 22
• Phoenix, AZ, with Vertex Education & Legacy Traditional Schools — Friday, July 31
• Salt Lake City, UT, with Davis School District — Friday, August 7
• Las Vegas, NV, with Vertex Education & Legacy Traditional Schools — Friday, September 4

We are grateful to the districts, school systems, educators, partners and the Walton Family Foundation for helping shape this effort. Their leadership and expertise are essential to making AI useful, responsible, and accessible in education.