From Panic to Partnership: How Independent Schools Are Building Strategic AI Leadership

Key insights from our recent Connected Schools webinar on AI implementation

If your school is just beginning to tackle AI, you've likely experienced the rush to respond. The frantic policy meetings, the emergency discussions about academic integrity, the sense that this technology appeared overnight and demands an immediate response.

But what we're seeing now among forward-thinking independent schools is a shift from reactive panic to strategic partnership—both with the technology itself and, more importantly, with their school communities.

In our recent Connected Schools webinar, “AI in the Classroom: Strategic Leadership for the Future-Ready Independent School” we heard from two school leaders at very different points in this journey: Evan Kanouse III, Director of Academic Operations at Greenwich Country Day School, and Bobby Bardenhagen, Director of Educational Technology at The Athenian School. Their honest reflections about where they are—and aren't—in their AI implementation offer a roadmap for moving beyond the "should we or shouldn't we" debate.

From Popcorn to Process: Two Schools, Two Stages

The conversation revealed something valuable: schools don't need to have it all figured out to start moving strategically.

Evan described Greenwich Country Day's evolution from "popcorn style" AI adoption—where different divisions were using it in isolated ways—to "having a little bit more strategy around how we're going to approach this as an institution."

His school has moved to systematic approaches with working groups, newsletters, carefully chosen tools, and regular professional development.

Bobby's experience at The Athenian School tells a different story—one that many schools will recognize. They're still actively surveying students, gathering faculty input, and working to formalize their approach to AI.

"We're still on a journey of discovery for sure," Bobby shared honestly.

Rather than rushing to implement policies, they're taking time to understand their community's needs first.

This contrast actually strengthens both schools' approaches. Evan's shift came from recognizing that individual innovation, while valuable, wasn't sustainable: "I was beginning to feel like, oh my goodness, there are all these other things that we're also responsible for... How are we going to manage all of this?"

Meanwhile, Bobby's deliberate pace demonstrates that taking time to gather diverse perspectives before cementing institutional approaches can lead to stronger, more sustainable policies.

Bringing Skeptics and Champions to the Same Table

A central theme from both leaders was their commitment to including diverse voices in AI conversations—even when (especially when) those voices express concern or resistance.

As Evan put it, "We need the faculty who are excited, and we need the faculty who are very concerned and we want all of them to have a seat at the table."

This inclusive approach shaped how both schools addressed faculty concerns. Rather than dismissing resistance, they chose empathy as their primary strategy. "I think the way that we addressed those concerns was acknowledging and empathizing with them," Evan explained. "Those are real concerns. And I have a liberal arts background, and I share those same concerns."

Bobby's approach at The Athenian School was equally thoughtful. Rather than starting professional development sessions with AI tools, they began with curiosity-driven learning:

"We didn't even start talking about AI until the very end [of our professional development sessions]. And so it was great to hear all these wonderful ideas from our faculty."

Bobby also described evolving from being "the AI guru" to empowering faculty as "specialists in their own domains"—distributing both expertise and ownership across the school community.

It's Not About the Technology—It's About the People

A key insight from both panelists was that AI adoption is fundamentally about relationships, not technology.

"Relationships are absolutely essential to just feeling like within the organization, you have a strategic approach to responding to AI," Evan noted.

This relationship-centered approach helps schools move from fighting fires to building sustainable systems, transforming AI from a source of anxiety into a tool for enhancing educational mission. When trust exists between administrators and faculty, difficult conversations about change become collaborative problem-solving sessions.

Embracing the Evolving Reality

One of the most honest moments came when discussing AI policies.

As Evan put it, "It's unfinished, ever evolving."

Rather than seeing this as failure, both schools have embraced the evolving nature of AI policy as a feature. It allows them to learn and adapt based on real experience rather than theoretical concerns.

This mindset shift—from seeking perfect policies to building adaptive processes—represents a mature approach to managing technological change in educational settings.

Your Roadmap: Four Principles for AI Leadership

Several key principles emerge from these experiences:

1. Start with relationships, not technology. Build trust and understanding before diving into tools or policies. Both schools emphasized that successful implementation depends on faculty buy-in, which only comes through genuine listening and collaboration.
2. Embrace the iterative process. Your first AI policy won't be perfect, and that's okay. Both Evan and Bobby stressed the importance of viewing policies as living documents that evolve with experience and community needs.
3. Include diverse voices from the beginning. The most thoughtful implementations come from inclusive decision-making. Bring skeptics and enthusiasts to the same table—their different perspectives will strengthen your approach.
4. Focus on your school's values. AI should enhance what makes your school special, not replace it. Both schools filtered every decision through their educational mission and community values.

What struck us most about this conversation was how both schools approached AI integration as an extension of their educational mission. They're modeling thoughtful decision-making, inclusive leadership, and adaptive problem-solving for their entire communities.

This offers hope for independent schools everywhere: they can embrace innovation while staying true to their values, lead with both courage and caution, and use the same principles that guide good education—empathy, inclusion, and relationship-building—to guide technology integration.

Resources From the Webinar

Our panelists mentioned several valuable resources during the conversation. Here are a few key materials they referenced:

• Flint AI Policy Library
• “AI with Intention” by Tony Frontier
• Learning on Purpose, Substack by Eric Huson

Watch the full "AI in the Classroom: Strategic Leadership for the Future-Ready Independent School" webinar recording here to hear more from Evan and Bobby about their schools' AI journeys, including specific policy examples and faculty development strategies.