Uploaded October 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Clever sat down with Leah Sparks, Executive Directory of Technology, from Kanawha County School District in West Virginia to understand challenges she faces as an IT leader in schools today.
Clever sat down with Leah Sparks, Executive Directory of Technology, from Kanawha County School District in West Virginia to understand challenges she faces as an IT leader in schools today.
![Why Your School Cant Ignore AI Anymore [Expert Analysis]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qeZlS-L62yE/mqdefault.jpg "Why Your School Cant Ignore AI Anymore [Expert Analysis]
Is your school burying its head in the sand? Abid Patel (#ITJUSTWORKS) explains why 2026 is the year for a strategic, teacher-led shift in AI adoption.
In 2026, AI has moved from a classroom novelty to a core component of instructional infrastructure. Abid Patel, Founder of #ITJUSTWORKS, argues that schools must stop treating AI as an external disruption and start building dedicated AI working groups.
Key Takeaways for School Leaders:
Dont Bury Your Head: Why acknowledging AIs permanent role in education is the first step toward digital equity.
Safety & Data Sovereignty: The critical importance of reading T&Cs and using Corporate Secure AI tools that keep data within your organizations boundaries.
Teacher-First Adoption: Why sustainable scale only happens when AI is used as a tool for teacher augmentation, not replacement.
The Digital Equity Vision: Preparing students for a 21st-century world where doing digital is as fundamental as reading or walking.
⏱️ Key Moments (Chapters)
0:00 - The current state of AI in UK schools (2026)
0:45 - Why schools must address AI proactively
1:30 - Setting up an AI working group for your Trust
2:15 - Protecting student data: Secure AI vs. Generic tools
3:00 - Digital Equity: Preparing students for the future
4:00 - What comes after AI? Staying ahead of the curve")
