BrightMinds-AI Launches to Guide K-12 Schools in Ethical and Strategic AI Integration
BrightMinds-AI, an education consultancy focused on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) in K-12 schools, has officially launched, with a mission to help educational institutions implement AI technologies in a safe, ethical, and sustainable manner.
The company was founded by former educators Claire Smizer-Muldoon and Jessica Maddry, who bring a deep understanding of classroom realities and district-level challenges to the project.
Claire Smizer-Muldoon, co-founder and COO, said, “There is an overwhelming sense of urgency right now in schools around AI and tech integration, but much of it is artificial.”
She added, “Districts are being pressured to act quickly, often without a clear strategy or understanding of what tools are even being used effectively.”
A New Approach to Educational AI
BrightMinds-AI’s launch aims to address these challenges by offering comprehensive, hands-on services designed to safeguard schools from ineffective or rushed AI implementations. The consultancy focuses on protecting districts from unnecessary spending, manipulative sales tactics, and hasty decisions that lack long-term support or community context.
BrightMinds-AI supports schools with EdTech audits to streamline tools and reduce costs, develops tailored AI policies, and engages communities through surveys and events to ensure tech decisions reflect local values and needs.
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Born from Personal Experience and a Shared Vision
The concept for BrightMinds-AI was born out of a conversation between Smizer-Muldoon and Maddry, which was sparked by a real incident involving data privacy in Maddry’s daughter’s school.
This experience highlighted their complementary perspectives—Maddry’s focus on privacy and student safety, and Smizer-Muldoon’s awareness of operational inefficiencies and waste in the education sector.
As school districts across the US grapple with both budget cuts and the need to adopt AI, BrightMinds-AI arrives at a critical juncture. The company’s approach, grounded in service, transparency, and support, aims to equip schools with not just tools, but clarity on how to use them effectively.
With its mission of fostering responsible AI adoption in K-12 schools, BrightMinds-AI seeks to provide a strategic and ethical pathway for educational institutions navigating the complexities of digital transformation.
