Without a Clear Vision, AI Puts Instructional Coherence at Risk
by Versha Munshi-South
CITE Consultant, Former NYC Elementary School Principal
AI is already in our schools. The real question is whether it’s being used intentionally, or incidentally.
States have invested heavily in high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) because research shows instructional coherence matters. Yet teachers continue to raise concerns about pacing, differentiation, and assessment quality.
After COVID, many schools adopted disconnected ed-tech tools, forcing teachers and students to constantly shift gears. Now AI is accelerating this challenge.
Used well, AI can strengthen coherence—supporting personalization within HQIM-aligned instruction.
Used without guidance, we risk going back to fragmented, random materials.
61% of teachers now use AI in their work (EdWeek Research Center), but many are using AI without leaders setting a clear vision, expectations, or guardrails. With that lack of vision and systems, students experience different tools, tasks, and levels of rigor from class to class—undermining coherence and confusing learning pathways.
CITE supports districts and schools to:
- set a clear, HQIM-aligned AI vision
- make sense of current AI tool use
- establish guardrails for quality, coherence, and safety
- build leader and teacher capacity for intentional implementation
CITE’s Professional Development team is composed of experienced New York City building and district leaders — former principals, assistant principals, and central office leaders — who understand the realities of NYCPS leadership.
If you are a principal or assistant principal balancing AI use, HQIM implementation, and district priorities, you don’t have to do that work alone.
Learn more about CITE Executive Leadership Coaching and implementation support:
👉 https://forms.gle/kmjY54P5fuh7TgxYA
Book time with our executive leadership coaches to learn more about how we can customize AI support for your school community
