AI in Action: Insights from Pioneering AI in School Systems (PASS) Practitioners
April is AI Month at Penn! Check out the calendar for a full list of events across campus.
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to join Penn GSE for an engaging discussion with education leaders in the PASS program. These practitioners are pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in their school districts and will share practical strategies, lessons learned, and visions for the future. Discover how AI is transforming teaching, learning, and district operations-and what it means for educators and students alike.
Sponsored by:
Speakers
Melanie S. Harris
Melanie S. Harris is the Chief Information Officer for the School District of Philadelphia. As the CIO, she oversees the team responsible for all aspects of technology delivery and support for schools and administrative offices. Ms. Harris believes that that her primary role and the role of her office is to improve the lives and futures of students in Philadelphia, and seeks to create a technology infrastructure that fosters technology-rich learning environments in classrooms, and improves administrative systems for the optimal management of the School District.
Fran Newberg
Fran Newberg, Ed.D., Deputy Chief in the Office of Educational Technology, has led and managed many of the most complex District-wide initiatives to enhance instruction and streamline District processes. To support a District-wide focus on Computer Science and commitment to ensure students gain the technical, online safety, and digital citizenship skills to compete and innovate in our constantly changing global world, Dr.
Michael Golden
L. Michael Golden is a proven education leader committed to education reform. He brings expertise in envisioning and implementing the convergence of business, technology, and education in established, emergent, and public sector environments. Dr. Golden launched and leads Catalyst @ Penn GSE. Catalyst is an endeavor to design innovative practices and to create and scale actionable solutions to advance opportunity for all learners.
Michelle Harris
Michelle Harris brings 24 years of expertise to her role as the Executive Director of Educational Technology for the School District of Philadelphia. Her career is rooted in her experience as a special education and elementary teacher, as well as an instructional coach. These foundational roles deeply inform her current approach to improving instructional practice and student outcomes at scale. A steadfast advocate for high-quality professional learning, Michelle specializes in bridging the gap between digital tools and classroom instruction.
Lara Paparo
Dr. Lara Paparo is the Executive Director of the Penn Learning Network at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. She leads the design and delivery of research-based professional learning programs for educators and school leaders, including PreK–12 literacy initiatives, graduate certificates, instructional coaching, and educator workforce pathways. Dr. Paparo’s work focuses on teacher learning, content-area literacy, instructional coaching, hybrid instruction, and the responsible integration of emerging technologies such as AI in schools.