53: Building an AI-Powered School

In this episode of the CheckBox Pro Series, Missy sits down with China Cardriche, founder of Power Public Schools, for a forward-thinking conversation about reimagining education for the future. China shares her journey from investment banking to the classroom and ultimately to school founding, driven by a belief that zip code should not determine access to quality education. After returning home, she spent a year listening to her community, conducting more than 200 one-on-one conversations to understand what students and families truly need. That work led to Power Public Schools, an AI-empowered model designed to accelerate learning while building real-world, future-ready skills. China explains how she uses AI to reduce operational burdens on educators so they can focus on students, while also preparing young people to think critically, collaborate, and create in a rapidly changing world. She also shares a behind-the-scenes look at founding, including navigating a compressed six-week charter timeline and using AI tools to build systems, recruit board members, and raise funding. Throughout the conversation, China highlights the importance of community, faith, and perseverance when building something new. Key Takeaways: Why listening to the community is essential when designing a school model. How AI can support teachers by reducing operational workload. The growing importance of durable skills like critical thinking and collaboration. What it takes to navigate the pressures and unpredictability of founding a school. How leaders can begin experimenting with AI to increase efficiency and innovation. Connect with China: Connect with China Cardriche on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinacardriche/ Learn more about Power Public Schools https://powerps.org/ About CheckBox Pro: CheckBox Pro helps school leaders create sustainability through added capacity, taking repetitive tasks off their plates so they can focus on what matters most. https://www.checkboxpro.com/ Licensed music ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ Music: Energizer by Chris Phaze licensed through Premium Beat by Shutterstock ID: ILRNI9DIEHE4JTVQ