Notes on this Toolkit & About the AI Center.

The content in this document is grounded in an extensive body of research and professional practice. The guidelines, frameworks, expectations, and action steps presented here were developed by Tony Frontier, drawing on peer-reviewed research, his published books and articles, and direct application of principles and action steps implemented in schools and districts. Every recommendation reflects a deliberate effort to remain faithful to what research says about effective leadership, teaching, and learning.

The text in this document was written by Tony Frontier. Edits for clarity and brevity were completed by Claude Opus 4.8 High (Anthropic) and reviewed, accepted, rejected, or modified by the author. Final edits for punctuation and grammar were completed by Grammarly and accepted, rejected, or modified by the author. Layout and design were completed in HTML by Claude Opus 4.8 High. All edits and revisions to layout and design for continuity and readability were reviewed and approved by the author.

Readers who want to understand the research, rationale, and premises that underlie this document are encouraged to consult the guidance and introductory sections included here, as well as works by the author — including Teaching with Clarity (Frontier, 2021, ASCD), AI with Intention: Principles and Action Steps for Teachers and School Leaders (Frontier, 2025, ASCD), and various other articles and reports by the author. The author takes full responsibility for the positions, recommendations, and language in the framework and the examples in this document. When using this document to guide your work, examples must be tailored to fit your specific, local needs and you must engage in independent review of federal, state, & local statutes to ensure compliance as you build your boundaries & guidelines for staff, teacher, and students use.

Our mission is to empower educators and learners to leverage artificial intelligence tools in ways that support, rather than undermine, effective teaching and learning. We help educators and students bridge the gap between what AI tools can do and how those tools should be used. AI is a disruptive, transformational technology that creates new challenges and opportunities for schools, teachers, and learners — and in times of transformational change, how we respond to an innovation is more important than the innovation itself.

We envision a future where Artificial Intelligence tools are everywhere, and educators use them in ways that support Aligned & Intentional teaching, and students use them with the Integrity & Agency necessary to support deep learning.

The AI Center bridges the gap between what AI tools can do and how they should be used. Grounded in recent research and practical strategies proven in schools and classrooms, we help leadership teams, teachers, and students establish the boundaries, guidelines, and effective use cases that protect safety and integrity while strengthening — rather than replacing — professional expertise and student learning.

Tony Frontier, PhD, is the Director of the AI Center for Effective Teaching and Learning. An award-winning educator with 30 years of experience as a teacher, principal, curriculum director, university professor, and consultant, he facilitates practical, research-based work on curriculum design, assessment, student engagement, and academic integrity. His most recent book — AI with Intention: Principles and Action Steps for Teachers and School Leaders (2025) — includes a foreword by Jay McTighe and has been praised by John Hattie as one of the best introductions to optimizing the power of AI in schools.