Balancing Innovation and Integrity
“Our challenge isn’t just adopting AI—it’s rethinking what we value in education.”
— Dr. Tara Nattrass, Chief Innovation Strategist, Lenovo
Why this conversation matters
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping classrooms, assessments, and how we think about teaching and learning. But how do schools balance innovation with equity, ethics, and data security? Dr. Tara Nattrass, Chief Innovation Strategist at Lenovo, shares insights from her years as a teacher, district leader, and education innovator.
From Classroom Teacher to Innovation Strategist
Dr. Nattrass began her career as an elementary school teacher, later serving as a director of elementary education and assistant superintendent. Her work has always centered on reimagining what school can look like—emphasizing flexibility, adaptability, and student-centered learning. Today, at Lenovo, she continues that mission by helping educators and districts explore what’s possible with technology while keeping the focus on students.
“If we try to layer AI on top of the same structures we’ve used for decades, we won’t see the real shifts students need.” — Dr. Tara Nattrass
AI’s Opportunities and Challenges
While many conversations about AI in education focus on efficiency or the latest tools, Dr. Nattrass urges schools to start with vision:
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Opportunities: Competency-based learning, personalized pathways, expanded access for students with unique needs, and assessment models that reflect real-world skills.
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Challenges: Bias, privacy, security, overreliance, and the risk of inserting AI without meaningful change.
Teachers at the Center of Change
One theme that emerges throughout is the importance of involving teachers directly in the design of new learning models. Rather than dictating top-down changes, districts that form innovation cohorts give educators space to experiment, share ideas, and model what’s possible.
“We have to include all voices—teachers, principals, district leaders—otherwise we lose ownership and creativity.” — Dr. Tara Nattrass
Data, Privacy, and Infrastructure
Perhaps the most complex challenge with AI is protecting student data. With so much stored in SaaS applications, districts are exploring options like:
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Closed enterprise systems
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AI tools that live directly on devices
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Hybrid approaches balancing cloud and on-prem storage
The infrastructure and expertise required will be significant, but Dr. Nattrass emphasizes that student data must remain non-negotiable.
Rethinking Assessment in the Age of AI
Looking ahead, schools will need to redefine academic integrity and rethink what they measure. Content knowledge will always matter, but so will skills like collaboration, curiosity, and reflection. AI offers new opportunities for students to demonstrate learning in ways that fit them best, if schools design with purpose.
“We shouldn’t create a world where using AI is bad and not using it is good. Instead, we need to help students know when it’s helpful to their learning and when it’s harmful.” — Dr. Tara Nattrass
Final Thoughts
The urgency—and the opportunity—for schools to rethink not only how AI is used, but what education itself should look like in the future, has never been greater. By involving teachers, prioritizing equity and data privacy, and designing for authentic learning, AI can be a catalyst for transformation rather than just another tool.
👉 Interested in hearing more from Dr. Tara Nattrass? Listen to the full conversation here.