EP 41 | Your Team Is Already Using AI... Now What?

EP 41 | Your Team Is Already Using AI... Now What?

From Early Education in the Age of AI by Jodie Clarke - The Empowered Educator

March 20, 2026 · 47 min

About this episode

This episode explores the journey of an early childhood educator named Sarah as she transitions from resistance to embracing AI in her team.

🟢 Most early childhood teams are already using AI - without guidelines, training, support or policy. And the most experienced person on the team is often the one with the most to say about it. She had eighteen years of experience, three commendations from assessment and rating, and a reputation as the best documenter in the service. When her director mentioned AI, she said: "That's cheating."  Sound familiar? In this episode, I'm telling you a story - the story of Sarah, a composite of real educators I've spoken with across dozens of training sessions. Sarah's journey from arms-crossed resistance to becoming her team's most trusted AI voice isn't magic. It's the result of a leader who listened before she prescribed, and a process that honoured professional expertise instead of threatening it. 🟢 In this episode, you'll find out: Why resistance to AI is a symptom, not the problem - and how to identify the three root causes driving it in your team The most common mistake leaders make when introducing AI (and the one conversation that actually shifts sceptics) Why your most experienced educator - not your most tech-savvy one, should trial AI first What unsupported AI use…

People in this episode

Host: Jodie Clarke

Topics covered

  • AI in education
  • early childhood education
  • team dynamics
  • leadership
  • resistance to change

Keywords

  • AI
  • early childhood education
  • team support
  • leadership
  • professional expertise

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