Perceptions of how AI has changed teaching, learning, and leading in K-12 schools: insights from award-winning principals

Introduction This small-scale study examined how technology-savvy principals perceived modern changes in teaching, learning, and leading in K-12 schools resulting from the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI). Methods To explore these changes, we captured the perspectives and lived experiences of nine principals who most recently received the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) Digital Principals Award. Results Findings show that these digital principals perceive that AI can personalize the student learning experience, allows teachers to make their classrooms more responsive to students' needs, and affords leaders flexibility by delegating lower-level tasks to AI. Discussion This article fills the research gap by exploring modern AI-driven shifts in K-12 schools and offers recommendations for educators to embrace organizational change amid rapidly evolving AI technology.