Jordan Smith Jr. Ed.D.

So How Do You Build Connection With 200 Students? From Chronic Absenteeism to AI-Powered Relational Infrastructure in Secondary Education In an era of chronic absenteeism, declining mathematics achievement, teacher burnout, and increasing student disengagement, schools face a critical question: How do you build meaningful connection with 200 students? In this powerful and visionary keynote, retired Marine officer, mathematics and computer science educator, and Amazon Future Engineer Teacher Ambassador Jordan B. Smith Jr. explores the future of education through the lens of human connection, systems thinking, artificial intelligence, and workforce readiness. Blending emotional storytelling, educational research, cinematic multimedia, live music, and real-world AI demonstrations, Dr. Smith takes audiences on a journey from the era of invisible mainframe computers and command-line programming to today’s emerging world of AI agents, automation systems, and personalized communication infrastructure. Participants will discover: Why traditional attendance interventions are no longer enough How secondary schools face a “connection scalability problem” Why mathematics achievement is deeply tied to student identity and belonging How AI can strengthen human connection rather than replace it What an “AI-Connected School” could look like How districts can empower teachers to build their own AI assistants and communication systems Why the future workforce requires systems thinkers, not just technology users How schools can redesign communication, engagement, and MTSS systems for the AI era This keynote challenges educational leaders to move beyond compliance systems and begin building innovation systems capable of scaling personalization, communication, and student support without losing humanity. Perfect for: Superintendents Principals District Leadership Teams Educational Services Directors MTSS Coordinators Mathematics Educators AI & Innovation Conferences Educational Leadership Conferences Workforce Readiness Initiatives This is more than a keynote about AI. It is a leadership conversation about the future of human connection in school “The future of education will belong to schools that learn how to scale human connection without losing humanity.”

Signature Professional Learning & AI Innovation Program for Educators, Schools, and Families The Innovation Sandbox™ is a hands-on professional learning experience where educators, school leaders, parents, and students move beyond simply learning about AI and begin building real-world solutions that improve teaching, learning, communication, attendance, and student success. Inspired by the concept of educational maker spaces and AI innovation studios, the Innovation Sandbox provides a safe environment to experiment, create, test, and implement AI-powered systems that solve authentic educational challenges. Unlike traditional professional development, participants do not leave with a binder of notes. They leave with working systems, AI assistants, automation workflows, and implementation plans that can be deployed immediately. ## Program Promise Build something that matters. Participants learn how to: Design AI Teacher Assistants Create AI Student Success Coaches Develop AI Parent Communication Systems * Automate routine administrative tasks Preserve and scale educator expertise Improve attendance and engagement Create personalized learning experiences Build sustainable innovation systems for schools and families The Core Philosophy Most professional development teaches educators how to use a tool. The Innovation Sandbox teaches educators how to become innovators. Participants work through a structured design process: Discover Identify high-impact challenges. Design Create AI-powered solutions. Build Develop prototypes using no-code and low-code tools. Test Gather feedback and refine. Implement Deploy solutions in classrooms, schools, or districts. Scale Create systems that can be shared across departments, schools, and generations. ## What Participants Build Educator Track AI Teacher Assistant AI Lesson Planning Assistant AI Parent Communication Agent AI Attendance Support System AI Tutoring Assistant AI Intervention Documentation System AI Professional Portfolio Builder School Leadership Track Attendance Recovery Systems Family Engagement Workflows School Information Assistants AI Communication Centers New Teacher Onboarding Systems Knowledge Preservation Systems Parent & Family Legacy Track Family Learning Assistants Family Legacy Knowledge Bases Student Motivation Systems Academic Success Dashboards Family Incentive Programs Grandparent Legacy Academies Learning Outcomes Participants will: ✓ Understand practical applications of AI in education ✓ Create customized AI assistants aligned to their needs ✓ Develop automation systems that reduce workload ✓ Improve communication with students and families ✓ Preserve institutional and personal knowledge ✓ Design systems that support equity and personalization ✓ Build an innovation portfolio demonstrating measurable impact The Innovation Sandbox Framework™ Sandbox Level 1 – Explorer Learn AI fundamentals and identify opportunities. Sandbox Level 2 – Builder Create your first AI assistant and automation workflows. Sandbox Level 3 – Innovator Deploy solutions in authentic educational environments. Sandbox Level 4 – Leader Scale successful innovations across teams and organizations. Sandbox Level 5 – Legacy Builder Create systems that preserve expertise and continue creating value for future educators, students, and families. --- Ideal Participants Teachers Instructional Coaches School Leaders District Administrators Technology Coordinators College Faculty Parents Homeschool Families Educational Consultants Community Organizations Signature Results By the end of the program, participants will have: A functioning AI Assistant A customized knowledge base Automated communication workflows * An implementation roadmap A digital innovation portfolio A scalable system ready for immediate use --- ## Keynote Version Description ### The Innovation Sandbox™: Building the Future of Learning with AI What if every educator had an AI assistant? What if every school could capture and preserve its best ideas? What if every family could build a personalized learning system that benefits future generations? In this engaging and inspiring keynote, Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year Jordan B. Smith Jr. shares how educators, schools, and families can move from fear of AI to purposeful innovation. Participants discover practical strategies for building AI-powered systems that increase engagement, improve communication, preserve expertise, and create lasting educational impact. The future is not waiting. The future is calling. The Innovation Sandbox helps you answer.