Driving Student Achievement with AI: Proven Playbooks

When/Where:
,
Palm Springs Convention Center, Mesquite F

Strand
Educational Approaches & Equity

Too often, AI in K–12 is framed as a tool for teacher efficiency. But its greatest power lies in driving measurable student growth. In this fast-paced, practical session, two charter school leaders will share how they moved AI from novelty to necessity in their systems—and what that has meant for math outcomes on the California School Dashboard.

Sebastian Cognetta, CEO of Allegiance STEAM Academy, and Sarah Todd, Director of Instruction at REAL Journey Academies, will unpack the leadership decisions, board-level conversations, and implementation strategies that helped their schools translate AI into student math gains.

Attendees will hear:
• Why charter leaders decided to bet on AI as a lever for student achievement.
• Playbooks for aligning AI adoption with board goals, Dashboard accountability, and LCAP priorities.
• How to scale AI across multiple schools, manage fidelity, and respond to teacher and student feedback.
• Case studies of measurable growth, from subgroup gains to overall proficiency improvements.

Designed for executive directors, CEOs, instructional leaders, and charter system leaders, this session will move beyond theory to leadership-level lessons you can apply in your own network. Walk away with actionable strategies and proven playbooks to position AI as a catalyst for student success—not just efficiency.

Presented by

Sarah Todd

Director of Instruction
REAL Journey Academies

Sarah Todd is the Director of Instruction at REAL Journey Academies, where she leads with a deep passion for student achievement and community impact. With over a decade of experience in education, she has served as a classroom teacher, literacy specialist, and instructional leader. Sarah holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Education from Biola University, an M.S. in Education from California Baptist University, and a literacy authorization from the University of Southern California. A dedicated advocate for equity and opportunity, Sarah works closely with teachers, administrators, and staff to ensure every student is supported on their path to success. Her work is grounded in the belief that empowering educators and expanding student choice are key to transforming lives and communities.

Sebastian Cognetta

CEO
Allegiance STEAM Academy - Thrive

Sebastian Cognetta is the CEO of Allegiance STEAM Academy, a charter organization serving students in the Inland Empire. With over 15 years of leadership experience in public education, Sebastian is committed to creating systems that elevate stakeholder voice, expand school choice, and promote academic excellence through innovation and community engagement.

Vincent Zhang

Co-founder and CEO
Thinkverse

Vincent Zhang is a 3-time mission-driven EdTech founder, with a Harvard MBA. He is currently the Co-founder and CEO of Thinkverse, building an AI math tutor for every K12 student. With 14 years of experience in education, he has co-founded Canada's largest college tutoring service for international students and scaled a virtual language learning startup across 10 countries. His work is characterized by a deep commitment to personalized learning and democratizing education through technology.