When people think about AI in education, the first image that often comes to mind is a chatbot replacing a teacher. But the true benefits of AI in education reach far beyond that, and at NorthStar Academy we believe there are many opportunities for AI to be used thoughtfully and powerfully for positive student impact. At its best, AI is not a replacement for human teachers but a tool to help them individualize learning, save time, and create stronger opportunities for student growth.

Individualized Support for Every Learner

One of the most exciting possibilities of AI is the ease with which teachers can now tailor educational material to meet students where they are. Whether it’s scaffolding new challenges for a student who needs to grow in a specific area, or adapting reading passages to different reading levels, AI tools can help make learning more accessible. This kind of personalization allows each student to be appropriately challenged, supported, and encouraged to grow.

Sparking Teacher Creativity

Teachers want to create engaging, hands-on lessons, but time is often in short supply. AI can serve as a creative partner by generating lesson ideas, activities, or even project frameworks when given a standard or desired outcome. Rather than replacing a teacher’s imagination, AI provides a starting point that teachers can refine and make their own, helping them keep learning fresh and engaging.

Clarity in Assessment

Assessment is another area where AI can support both teachers and students. Teachers can use AI to generate clear rubrics that spell out expectations, giving students a better understanding of what success looks like while also promoting fairness and consistency in grading. AI can also serve as a second set of eyes, offering feedback on how well a student’s work aligns with the rubric. Additionally, teachers can analyze results from multiple assessments more efficiently, identifying patterns and areas where students may need additional support.

Immediate and Personalized Feedback for Students

While direct student use of AI requires careful guidance, there are already valuable tools designed specifically for learners. For example, Microsoft’s Reading Coach can generate stories tailored to a student’s reading level and interests, listen as the student reads aloud, provide instant feedback, and track progress over time. This allows multiple students in a class to be assessed regularly—something nearly impossible for one teacher to manage alone. Older students, too, can benefit from AI-powered study aids, such as generating practice questions to review before a test.

Of course, AI tools are not flawless. Their output always requires review and refinement to ensure accuracy and alignment with specific classroom goals. Teachers remain central in making sure that AI serves to enrich the learning process, not shortcut it.

That being said, AI offers real benefits: personalization, creativity, clarity, efficiency, and feedback. When used wisely, it can help both teachers and students thrive. At NorthStar, we believe the challenge is not whether to use AI, but how to use it in ways that honor the values of hard work, creativity, and perseverance.

This is the second post in our series on Navigating AI in Education with Wisdom and Faith. Next, we’ll look at how schools and districts can address valid concerns about AI by developing a thoughtful and strategic plan for AI integration.

This AI series is written by Katie Ahmadzai. Katie is a school leader with over 20 years of experience in U.S., international, and online schools, including 12 years with NorthStar Academy. She is committed to creating engaging learning communities that foster student flourishing and reflect the Kingdom, using technology and innovation as tools to advance these goals.