AI in Leadership Judgment: A Thinking Partner, not a Decision Maker
It’s shortly after lunch, and your school resource officer (SRO) comes into your office and shares that a 7th grade student came up to him after lunch and shared that another student made threatening remarks to her while leaving the cafeteria. There was no physical altercation, but several other students claim they also heard it. The girl called her parents from the bathroom after it happened and told her parents. Within seconds, the girl’s father has called you, the principal, demanding immediate action. The student accused of the threat has an IEP and a history of impulsive behavior, but no physical violence.
A High-Stakes Leadership Moment
For many school administrators out there, this scenario is all too familiar. The pressure to make “the right call” is harder than ever, as public opinion and perception is boisterous and divisive. A bad decision or an unpopular outcome can land you trending on social media or the target for community groups.
In situations like this, there is not a checkbox decision to be made. Administrators are tasked with high-stakes leadership moments involving safety, equity, legal compliance, and community trust.
Traditionally, and I speak from personal experience here, high-stakes decision making ideally involved a call to legal, a text to my supervisor, and a discussion with my assistant principal. That was when all the stars aligned. More often than not, I had to operate in a silo because of time and pressure. What I needed most in these situations was a rationale, reflective, knowledgeable copilot.
AI as a Copilot
Artificial Intelligence has the ability to be your copilot in these situations. It is not replacing your ability to decide, but rather supporting your thinking. It can help you brainstorm when you feel stuck, organize complex information (especially when it involves legal implications), and suggest possible outcomes based on data and communications. As the leader, it is still our responsibility to question the AI output, set the direction, and apply our professional judgment before acting. In any sensitive, high-stakes situation, only human leadership can be aware of the cultural impact on the school community.
AI can inform judgment. It can’t replace wisdom.
Returning to the student threat scenario, I want to share three ways that I would personally use AI as a copilot to help inform my decision.
- Summarize District Policies and Legal Landscape: Since this student has an IEP, I need to be aware of manifestation considerations and any local policies that may impact how I investigate and discipline the student.
- Stress-Test My Decision: Once I determine my investigation approach and possible disciplinary actions, I would use AI to stress-test the decision. AI will help me identify potential risks, surface equity considerations that should be weighed, and overall force me think more broadly.
- Prepare Communications: In these types of scenarios, clear and concise communication is essential. Communications will need to be sent to families involved, and potentially the larger school community depending on the impact it has caused. AI can help me draft a calm, legally sound messages to families without escalating the situation or violating confidentiality rights. If I need to address the broader school community, AI can help me draft a supportive, action-oriented message.
In the end, I must make the decision on what happens next. Perhaps a threat assessment, safety supports, an IEP meeting, or in-person meeting will be warranted. I have to use my professional judgment and knowledge of the students involved, my relationship with the students and staff, and understanding of the school culture to make the call. AI does not and cannot make this decision.
The Leadership Takeaway
Without AI, I could have still likely made a sound decision here. There is a strong chance, though, that I would have been under more stress, with less time, and fewer angles considered. With AI as my copilot, I believe I am provided clearer thinking and intentional decision-making opportunities.
AI didn’t decide what to do. It helped me decide how to think.
In high-stakes leadership moments, leadership is not about speed or certainty. It’s about judgment. AI, when used well, doesn’t replace that judgment, it sharpens it.
