Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
There are 194 school districts in the state of Georgia, and only 10 have an AI CTAE career pathway. Rockdale County Public Schools plans to offer an AI pathway in the Fall of 2026. The inaction of state and local educator leaders in promoting the development of AI career pathways puts Georgia students far behind in preparing for potential careers in the AI industry.
While much scholarly research emphasizes AI literacy, there are research gaps in AI CTAE career pathways in the state of Georgia. Without the implementation of new CTAE pathways, students will not be prepared to enter post-secondary education programs for careers in the AI industry. Also, students will not be exposed to how AI works. Lack of exposure to computer concepts leads to workforce deficiencies.
The purpose of CTAE pathways in secondary education is to expose students to possible career options. With the surge of AI and companies emphasizing AI, there is a growing need for a workforce educated in the AI space. Currently, there are only 8 post-secondary education schools that have programs with a focus on AI. Education always follows industry. Unfortunately, AI is moving so fast that secondary and post-secondary education institutions are behind, and the gap is widening every day.
What can be done to improve the status of AI education in Georgia? First, teachers and students must improve their AI literacy and comprehension. Teachers need to be trained through professional learning (PL) or professional development (PD) on how to effectively use AI and implement it appropriately in the classroom. Students need to be trained on how to safely and effectively use AI to research content and achieve high-quality academic results. Next, there needs to be a statewide pathway with curriculum and educational and industry standards. There also needs to be a clear pathway for teachers to be certified to teach an AI pathway. Lastly, there needs to be a pipeline from secondary education to post-secondary education to careers in AI. This pipeline could even extend to elementary schools, but most CTAE courses are not offered in elementary or middle schools.
The AI industry is in its infancy, and no one really knows what this industry's impact or limitations are, or if it even has limitations. What educators do know is that it is here to stay, and for students to be successful in any future career of their choosing, they must be proficient in AI. Just like with other technologies, such as cell phones, computers, and the internet, there is no going backwards, only forwards. Will the students of Georgia be prepared for the future or be unqualified for what could be the most influential industry in human history?
Michael Houk
Michael is a 15-year veteran educator, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, and esports advisor at Rockdale Virtual Campus in Georgia. He began teaching virtually during the COVID-19 lockdown and has taught at every level from preschool through high school. He holds an A.S. in Education, a B.S. in Bible and Preaching, an M.S. in Education, and an Ed.S. in Workforce Education from the University of Georgia. His research interests focus on organizational induction, gamification, and AI-supported onboarding systems. He is also a 2023 Fulbright team member to Tanzania.
For more great game dev videos like this, please support our Patreon at patreon.com/GeorgiaGameDevs
There are 194 school districts in the state of Georgia, and only 10 have an AI CTAE career pathway. Rockdale County Public Schools plans to offer an AI pathway in the Fall of 2026. The inaction of state and local educator leaders in promoting the development of AI career pathways puts Georgia students far behind in preparing for potential careers in the AI industry.
While much scholarly research emphasizes AI literacy, there are research gaps in AI CTAE career pathways in the state of Georgia. Without the implementation of new CTAE pathways, students will not be prepared to enter post-secondary education programs for careers in the AI industry. Also, students will not be exposed to how AI works. Lack of exposure to computer concepts leads to workforce deficiencies.
The purpose of CTAE pathways in secondary education is to expose students to possible career options. With the surge of AI and companies emphasizing AI, there is a growing need for a workforce educated in the AI space. Currently, there are only 8 post-secondary education schools that have programs with a focus on AI. Education always follows industry. Unfortunately, AI is moving so fast that secondary and post-secondary education institutions are behind, and the gap is widening every day.
What can be done to improve the status of AI education in Georgia? First, teachers and students must improve their AI literacy and comprehension. Teachers need to be trained through professional learning (PL) or professional development (PD) on how to effectively use AI and implement it appropriately in the classroom. Students need to be trained on how to safely and effectively use AI to research content and achieve high-quality academic results. Next, there needs to be a statewide pathway with curriculum and educational and industry standards. There also needs to be a clear pathway for teachers to be certified to teach an AI pathway. Lastly, there needs to be a pipeline from secondary education to post-secondary education to careers in AI. This pipeline could even extend to elementary schools, but most CTAE courses are not offered in elementary or middle schools.
The AI industry is in its infancy, and no one really knows what this industry's impact or limitations are, or if it even has limitations. What educators do know is that it is here to stay, and for students to be successful in any future career of their choosing, they must be proficient in AI. Just like with other technologies, such as cell phones, computers, and the internet, there is no going backwards, only forwards. Will the students of Georgia be prepared for the future or be unqualified for what could be the most influential industry in human history?
Michael Houk
Michael is a 15-year veteran educator, Family and Consumer Sciences teacher, and esports advisor at Rockdale Virtual Campus in Georgia. He began teaching virtually during the COVID-19 lockdown and has taught at every level from preschool through high school. He holds an A.S. in Education, a B.S. in Bible and Preaching, an M.S. in Education, and an Ed.S. in Workforce Education from the University of Georgia. His research interests focus on organizational induction, gamification, and AI-supported onboarding systems. He is also a 2023 Fulbright team member to Tanzania.
For more great game dev videos like this, please support our Patreon at patreon.com/GeorgiaGameDevs
