71 | AI in the Classroom: What Teachers Need to Know (and Why It Matters Now) Interview with Kristina Peterson

This week, I’m sitting down with my very first guest—Kristina Peterson, high school English teacher and co-author of the book AI in the Writing Workshop: Finding the Write Balance. We’re diving into one of the biggest topics in education today: artificial intelligence. From ethical concerns to creative opportunities, I'm asking the real questions about how AI is changing our classrooms—and how we can respond with clarity, confidence, and care. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or feeling totally overwhelmed by the tech wave, this conversation will leave you feeling more grounded in your role as a teacher and more equipped to help your students navigate AI with intention.   Big ideas we cover: What AI is really doing in our classrooms How to use it ethically and creatively The teacher’s role in guiding students through this shift Practical ways to engage with AI at any grade level   ~Elizabeth   Mentioned in This Episode: If this episode gets your wheels turning (and I think it will!), go check out Kristina's book! AI in the Writing Workshop: Finding the Write Balance   🌟 Join me and a community of caring, creative teachers to reflect, realign, and reignite your joy in teaching inside The Classroom Reset Group Coaching Program. It’s like a spa day for your teacher soul—but with a strategy that transforms your classroom. 📍 theinspiredclassroom.com/reset   ✨ Connect with me! Find me on LinkedIn: elizapeterson Follow & DM me on Facebook @theinspiredclassroom Follow & DM me on Instagram @theinspiredclassroom Watch & Subscribe on YouTube @theinspiredclassroom   More about Kristina! Kristina Peterson has been teaching high school English in Exeter, NH since 2008. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching and has served the educational community as Secretary for the New Hampshire Council of Teachers of English (NHCTE) since 2017. Kristina also teaches in the University of New Hampshire’s Learning Through Teaching program, as well as in their Literacy Institute and Writers Academy. Her first book, AI in the Writing Workshop: Finding the Write Balance (Heinemann, 2025), was co-authored with her teaching partner, Dennis Magliozzi. The book explores AI as a thought partner, research companion, and writing tool, while addressing the ethical complexities and instructional opportunities AI presents in today’s classrooms. In addition to her classroom work, Kristina regularly contributes to publications such as Education Week, California English, and English Journal. She is the co-developer of Arts in Action, winner of the 2023 New Hampshire Governor's Arts Education Award, and co-founder of Bookshelf Diversity, a statewide grant initiative that provides teachers with diverse books for their classrooms. Kristina also designs and delivers AI literacy training for law enforcement professionals. Whether supporting K–12 educators, higher education faculty, or law enforcement, she combines research-based practice with real-world insight and an engaging approach to help others navigate—and harness—the power of AI responsibly.   Find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-peterson-617525262/