The #1 AI Governance Mistake Schools Are Making ft. Betsy Cooper | My EdTech Life 360

Episode 360: The #1 AI Governance Mistake Schools Are Making ft. Betsy CooperWhat's the biggest mistake schools are making with AI right now? According to Betsy Cooper, it's not taking it seriously from day one. In this episode, Dr.Alfonso sits down with Betsy Cooper, Founder and Executive Director of the Aspen Policy Academy, for a powerful conversation on the AI governance decisions quietly reshaping schools — and what educators, leaders, and parents can do about it.Betsy brings a one-of-a-kind perspective shaped by her work as a former DHS attorney, her time leading the UC Berkeley Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity, and her doctorate from Oxford. Through Aspen Policy Academy, she's on a mission to democratize policymaking, helping teachers, parents, technologists, and community advocates learn how to identify problems, build solutions, and actually drive change.Together, Dr. Alfonso and Betsy unpack why "ooh, that looks pretty, let's try it" is the wrong way to evaluate new tools, how smooth vendors and shrinking budgets are pushing districts into risky decisions, and why K-12 students need adult stewards more than ever in this moment. Betsy also shares the castle and moat metaphor every school leader needs to hear, a three-step crisis plan for overwhelmed CTOs and superintendents, and her four-step policy impact framework for educators ready to advocate for change.Whether you're a teacher, CTO, superintendent, or parent, this episode will leave you with practical tools and a renewed sense of agency to push back, ask better questions, and advocate for the students who can't speak up for themselves.Chapters00:00 — Welcome & Sponsor Shoutouts01:30 — Meet Dr. Betsy Cooper & The Origin of Aspen Policy Academy07:00 — What Policy Literacy Means for Educators (and Why It's Free)14:00 — The 4-Step Policy Impact Framework19:30 — The #1 AI Governance Mistake Schools Are Making24:30 — How CTOs Should Evaluate AI Tools & Vendors31:00 — Who Should Be Writing AI Policy for Schools35:00 — Cybersecurity in K-12: The Castle, The Moat & The Breach Plan39:30 — Cyber Civic Engagement & Becoming a Local Advocate43:30 — Speed Round & Closing ThoughtsDon't forget to:✅ Subscribe to My EdTech Life on your favorite podcast platform✅ Leave a review and share this episode with a fellow educator✅ Visit www.myedtech.life for more amazing conversations💜 Thank you to our sponsors:Eduaide.AI | Book Creator | Peel Back Education | Comeback CoffeePeel Back Education exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator.Support the show