#68 AI Can Fix What’s Broken in Schools—If We Do It Right (with Aaron Baughman from Michigan Virtual)

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes back Aaron Baughman—AI Strategist at Michigan Virtual—to explore what’s changed in K–12 AI and what’s working in real classrooms. With clear, passionate urgency, Aaron makes the equity-centered case that AI can fix what’s broken in K-12 schools—if we do it right: use tools and policies that protect students, empower teachers, and unlock truly personalized, student-paced learning.

Key Topics Discussed

• Equity First: Why AI can level the playing field for under-resourced schools if implemented thoughtfully.
• Personalized, Student-Paced Learning: Moving beyond static lesson plans to interest-aligned tasks and dynamic scaffolds.
• Cognitive Bypass, Prevented: Designing AI-supported tasks that keep students thinking, drafting, revising, and reflecting.
• Data Into Action: Turning chat logs and interactions into real-time grouping, targeted re-teaching, and MTSS support.
• New Classroom Capabilities: Safe simulations (e.g., CTE scenarios) that create high-feedback, low-risk practice.
• Policies That Enable Innovation: Keep board policy nimble; set local procedures; vet vendors; minimize data.
• PD That Sticks: Building teacher capacity from AI-curious to AI-confident with practical, classroom-first coaching.
• Digital Citizenship 2.0: Teaching skepticism and verification in the era of deepfakes and multimodal AI.

Guest Bio

Aaron Baughman is AI Strategist at Michigan Virtual. On loan from his position as Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services at Northville Public Schools, he now supports districts statewide in implementing safe, effective AI practices that center equity, privacy, and pedagogy.

Host Bio

Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for global, digital, and cultural competencies in education. Through live virtual programs and thought leadership, he helps students and educators explore the interconnectedness of people, cultures, and systems.

Episode Links

• Michigan Virtual AI Lab (educator, student/parent, and admin guides)
• Tools Mentioned: SchoolAI, Brisk Teaching, Curipod, Snorkl
• Previous Conversation with Aaron (earlier Make It Mindful episode)
• Conversation with Aaron's colleague on Seth's other podcast, Why Distance Learning?: #63 The Human Side of Systems Change with Dr. Tovah Sheldon 

Host Links

• Banyan Global Learning — meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.