Harnessing AI to Build Growth Plans for Teachers and Administrators

When I was in one of my first school leadership roles as a new assistant principal in an independent school, I was responsible for conducting the formal reviews of three grade levels. At this school, teachers were formally observed once every three years. The process was rigid: a classroom observation scheduled weeks in advance, followed by a written review, and finally a meeting to discuss and sign the documentation. It often felt like a performance. Some teachers choreographed elaborate 45-minute lessons—project work in small groups, polished student presentations, or perfectly timed discussions that looked student-led but were tightly orchestrated. Every detail of the classroom was curated to shout, “See? I’m doing this right!”

One middle school English teacher went in the opposite direction. Determined to showcase his control and discipline, he presented me with a silent classroom. Students sat in rows, quietly reading as he observed from his desk. After twenty minutes, he handed out a double-sided quiz, giving them exactly twenty minutes to complete it before dismissing them row by row. His ear-to-ear smile said it all—he believed this was a flawless demonstration of teaching and learning.

My formal review noted the lack of engagement, the absence of observable teaching, and the outdated model of rows of desks facing the front. The teacher was furious. At his request, we met with the principal. In that meeting, I said:

“An active learning environment should be messy. It should be loud. It should show evidence of risks—by both teacher and students. Desks should be clustered into tables, or the class might be up and moving, or even outside. The teacher’s discipline should live behind the scenes—in the planning, the essential questions, the competencies addressed, and the strategies to check for understanding. The one thing a classroom should not be, especially during a scheduled observation of teaching and learning, is silent.”

Retaining great teachers and administrators starts with growth. Plain and simple. Without it, schools risk turnover, burnout, and missed opportunities for innovation. Our school needed to grow and evolve, and that started with separating growth from evaluation. As a young administrator I also took away two key messages for myself: improve professional development opportunities for your teachers and learn to have a better bedside manner.

One of the most important shifts is separating growth from evaluation. When growth is tied too tightly to formal evaluation, the focus often shifts to compliance and performance ratings instead of authentic professional learning. Schools that prioritize coaching and retention understand that true growth requires trust, curiosity, and room to experiment without fear of judgment.

Why Separation Matters

When growth and evaluation blur together, teachers and administrators may hesitate to take risks or try new practices. By establishing separate systems, schools send a clear message: growth is about becoming better, not about being judged. This shift not only supports innovation in the classroom but also strengthens retention by creating an environment where educators feel invested in and valued.

Where Artificial Intelligence Fits In

Artificial Intelligence, when used ethically and mission-aligned, can amplify this work. Rather than replacing human connection, AI can serve as a strategic tool that helps school leaders and educators:

• Generate Personalized Growth Plans: AI can synthesize data from classroom observations, student feedback, or self-reflection surveys to recommend individualized areas of focus.

  
  

• Streamline Administrative Work: Drafting coaching notes, creating goal-tracking dashboards, and surfacing relevant professional learning resources can be automated—freeing leaders to spend more time in authentic conversations.

  
  

• Encourage Reflective Practice: With AI prompts, teachers can analyze their lesson design or classroom interactions, sparking deeper self-reflection before coaching sessions.

  
  

• Identify Trends Across Faculty: At a school-wide level, anonymized data can reveal patterns—such as a need for support in literacy instruction or digital pedagogy—that inform collective professional development.

Building Trust Through Responsible Use

The success of AI integration depends on trust. Faculty must know that AI-generated insights will be used for coaching and growth only, not for evaluation. Clear policy frameworks and transparent communication ensure that teachers understand how the technology is being used and that their data is safe.

Evaluation methods should be reimagined—or even replaced—with systems built on authentic, timely, and relevant observations, reflections, and conversations. Reviews should consider the full scope of an educator’s work, not just a single moment in time, and they should emphasize alignment with the school’s mission. Employment at a school holds relationship-building at its core.

A Practical Framework for Schools

Schools exploring AI-enabled growth planning can start small:

• Define Boundaries - Make explicit that AI is used to support professional growth, not formal evaluation.

  
  

• Pilot with Volunteers - Begin with educators who are eager to try new approaches, building early champions.

  
  

• Use Human Oversight - Ensure administrators act as coaches, not as passive recipients of AI outputs.

  
  

• Iterate and Improve - Gather feedback, refine policies, and adapt as both the technology and your faculty’s comfort evolve.

The Long-Term Payoff

When schools pair the separation of growth and evaluation with AI-driven tools, they create professional cultures where educators thrive. The result: higher retention, stronger instructional practices, and a community where students benefit from teachers and administrators who feel supported in their ongoing development.

At Arcadia Education Partners, we help schools design mission-aligned AI policies and systems of professional growth that honor trust and innovation. The future of K-12 education will not be defined by technology alone but by how thoughtfully schools use it to strengthen human relationships and unlock potential.

Jimi Purse

| Founder & Principal Consultant |

| Arcadia Education Partners |