AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighten Your Workload and Focus on What Matters

If you are a school leader, I know exactly what your day looks like. It’s a blur of operational logistics, emotional support for your staff, and endless compliance paperwork. By the time you get a moment to breathe, the day is over, and the "instructional leadership" you promised yourself you’d focus on has been pushed to tomorrow. Again. I wrote the book, AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighten Your Workload , because I saw too many brilliant leaders running on empty. I wanted to shift the narrative from "AI is scary" to "AI is the digital assistant you’ve always needed but couldn't afford." I recently had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth, on BAM Radio Network at Learning Unleashed:  ISTE Radio to dive deep into this topic. We moved past the hype and got straight to the practicals: how can this technology actually give you your life back? You can listen to our full conversation here: AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighte...

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Vicki Davis (Cool Cat Teacher) for a thoughtful conversation about the real questions school leaders are asking about AI. We explored several frameworks from my book, AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighten Your Load and Focus on What Matters , with a focus on how leaders can use AI ethically to reduce overload while staying grounded in human-centered leadership. What I appreciated most about the episode is that it doesn’t frame AI as a silver bullet. Instead, the conversation centers on clarity, discernment, and purpose—how leaders can decide when AI is helpful, where it can save time, and why ethical guardrails matter in schools. The episode also features an excellent interview with Dr. Nancy Frey, whose insights add depth around instructional practice and learning. Together, the conversations offer practical ways to think about AI not as a replacement for professional judgment, but as a support for better decision-making, strong...

Let’s be honest: leading in education today can feel like a never-ending game of Whac-A-Mole. Just as one issue is addressed, three more pop up. Between emails, meetings, data reports, and community demands, it's easy to lose sight of what matters most—connecting with people and nurturing the joy of learning. That’s exactly why I’ve been leaning into the unexpected: artificial intelligence. Not in a flashy, futuristic way—but in quiet, powerful ways that actually reduce stress and help me (and other school leaders) show up more fully. In July, I’ll be sharing this work at the 2025 ASCD + ISTE conference in San Antonio. I’m offering two sessions designed not around tech for tech’s sake—but around how we use it to feel more human in our work. 🕓  Session 1: Reclaim Your Time — How AI Empowers Leaders to Focus on What Matters 📍  Tuesday, July 1 | 4:00–5:00 PM This session grew out of a very real question I hear from school leaders all the time: "How do I find time to do the thin...

 🌀 What if educator wellness wasn’t an afterthought—but a foundation for thriving schools? In our latest piece for Next Gen Learning, my colleagues Stephanie, Tara, and I reflect on the power of Leadership Wellness Circles —intentional spaces where school and district leaders come together to center healing, reflection, and sustainable support. From mindfulness moments like “Doodle Your Sparkle” to shifting from judgment to curiosity, our session reinforced one truth: when leaders prioritize their own well-being, they model what it truly means to lead with humanity. 💬 Educators deserve the same care they give so freely to others. 🌱 And when we practice collective wellness, we create ripple effects that strengthen entire school communities. 🔗 Read more: https://www.nextgenlearning.org/articles/creating-a-culture-of-wellness-using-school-and-district-leader-circles #SchoolLeadership #EducatorWellbeing #WellnessInEducation #LeadershipCircles #NextGenLearning #CollectiveCare ...

When was the last time you paused—not to lead, not to solve—but simply to breathe and reconnect with why you started this journey? 🌱  READ MORE  

 ​ I had the pleasure of joining Kathryn Kennedy in the EDU Café podcast to discuss how AI can support school leaders in reclaiming time for instructional leadership. We explored practical strategies for integrating AI to streamline administrative tasks and enhance decision-making processes.​ 🎧 Listen to the episode here: 🔗 AI for School Leaders with Vickie Echols How do you see AI impacting your role as a leader in a school or some other organization. 

  As a school leader, do you find administrative tasks consuming the time you'd prefer to spend on instructional leadership? In my recent article for ASCD's Educational Leadership, I discuss how AI can help streamline these tasks, allowing you to focus more on supporting teachers and enhancing student learning. Read the full article here: 🔗 Reclaiming Time for Instructional Leadership How are you currently integrating AI into your leadership practices? I'd love to hear your experiences and thoughts.

I enjoyed a great conversation with Justin Baeder on Principal Center Radio to talk about my book, AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighten Your Workload and Focus on What Matters.  We discussed how AI can support school leaders by reducing busywork, clarifying priorities, and creating space for what matters most—people and purpose. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: 🔗 Principal Center Radio – AI for School Leaders with Vickie Echols How are you using AI to create more time for meaningful leadership? I’d love to hear your story!

Excited to share my latest article, Read the full piece here: 🔗 Leadership Powered by AI: Navigating Toward Collaborative Decision-Making I explore how AI can support decision-making for leaders, fostering greater collaboration and innovation in schools and institutions. A huge thank you to FE News for the opportunity to contribute. It's an honor to join the conversation alongside so many thought leaders and influencers dedicated to strengthening education and the ecosystem of skills. Check out more ways that AI can support your work in the book, “AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighten Your Workload and Focus on What Matters". Find it at vickieechols.com or https://amzn.to/4fOqW0F Amazon.com . Let me know what resonates with you—I’d love to hear how you're using AI to strengthen your leadership.

  Excited to share my recent conversation with Dr. Monica Burns on the Easy EdTech Podcast! We explored practical strategies from my book, AI for School Leaders, including ways AI can lighten the workload, improve communication, and support instructional leadership. 🎧 Listen to the episode here: 🔗 AI for School Leaders – Easy EdTech Podcast Episode 283 What’s one area of your leadership work you wish AI could help with? I’d love to hear your thoughts or questions after listening!

  Feeling overwhelmed by the daily demands of teaching? In my latest piece for Next Generation Learning Challenges, I discuss how AI can help ease administrative burdens, giving you more time to focus on what truly matters—your students and your well-being. Read the full article here: 🔗 Are You an Educator on Fire? AI Can Help You Chill Out I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with AI in the classroom—let's start a conversation!