Differentiation at Scale: How AI Can Strengthen MTSS and Student Engagement

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we welcome back Nebraska native Trevor Goertzen, Regional Vice President at SchoolAI and former teacher and principal, for an honest and practical conversation about artificial intelligence in schools. Two years after our first discussion, Andrew and Trevor reconnect to explore how the national conversation around screen time, technology rollback, and AI integration has evolved and what that means for educators today. Rather than chasing headlines or hype, this conversation focuses on: What intentional technology use actually looks like in classrooms Why AI should be viewed as a tool to get to the thing, not the thing itself How AI can support differentiation, MTSS, and Tier 2 interventions The importance of teacher-designed, teacher-controlled AI learning environments Why good pedagogy still matters more than any platform How leaders can thoughtfully introduce AI into their districts The power of AI as a thought partner for administrators and educators Trevor shares practical classroom examples — from structured learning “agenda steps” to multilingual support and small-group differentiation — demonstrating how AI can expand what’s possible without replacing the human relationships at the heart of teaching.