Dean’s Community Engagement Series
Join Dr. Jan Hare, Dean and Professor, Canada Research Chair (Tier 1), Indigenous Pedagogy, for the fourth annual speaker series putting a spotlight on important questions and significant priorities that are engaging educators today.
This virtual session will feature Dr. Chris Kennedy, Cari Wilson, and Jadyn Mithani of the West Vancouver School District.
Together, they will explore innovative approaches and practices that best support the ethical integration of Generative AI into school communities. They will share research and experience on the application of Generative AI into various aspects of K-12 education, including district, school and learner level approaches. The session will explore the ways in which districts and schools can remain adaptable to the evolving capabilities in AI across the educational landscape.
Learn more about the 2024-2025 Dean’s Community Engagement Series
Watch the Recording
About Chris Kennedy
Chris Kennedy is the Superintendent of Schools with the West Vancouver School District. He has taught secondary English and Social Studies and been both an elementary and secondary school principal. He was appointed to the superintendency in October of 2009.
Chris has been featured by Macleans Magazine and his work has been profiled in various local and national publications. He completed his Doctorate in Education at the University of Kansas in 2021 focused on superintendent leadership. In 2023, BC School Sports recognized Chris with its Citation of Excellence Award and Mindshare Learning named him as one of the Top 23 Newsmakers of the Year in Learning and Technology.
He writes on his Culture of Yes blog at www.cultureoyfes.ca and is on X – @chrkennedy
About Cari Wilson
Cari Wilson is the District Vice Principal of Innovation and Technology with West Vancouver Schools. With a Masters in Educational Technology, Cari has over 25 years of experience in K to 12 classrooms, much of that in a 1:1 or BYOD environment. In addition, Cari is a recipient of the 2024 Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, an Apple Distinguished Educator and a Google for Education Trainer. For the past few years, Cari has spent a great deal of time studying and presenting on the promises and pitfalls of Gen AI in education. Cari enjoys finding innovative and engaging ways to help teachers and students use technology to enhance learning.
Find Cari on X – @kayakcari, Instagram – @lighthouse_digital_learning, and her blog, This & That: Tech Tips on Tuesdays.
About Jadyn Mithani
Jadyn Mithani is a Grade 12 student at Sentinel Secondary School with over four years of experience in robotics and coding. In a global robotics competition, Jadyn earned 2nd place by designing and building a cutting-edge self-driving RC car, demonstrating a strong aptitude for engineering and innovation. With hundreds of hours dedicated to AI projects, Jadyn is an avid enthusiast in the field, continuously seeking to apply technology to solve complex real-world problems. Passionate about advancing in robotics and artificial intelligence, Jadyn is poised to make significant contributions to the future of tech.
