International School of Lusaka’s Strategic Response to AI
By Dr. Liam Hammer, Head of School, International School of Lusaka; and Christian Talbot, President & CEO of the Middle States Association
Board Expectations Meet AI Uncertainty
When ChatGPT was released in late 2022, Dr. Liam Hammer had other priorities as the new Head of School of the International School of Lusaka.
But as AI conversations intensified globally, the ISL board began pressing for immediate action.
A board member had used ChatGPT to write an AI policy for the school and wanted to ratify that policy.
Not so fast! thought Liam.
He knew that ISL needed to develop meaningful AI guidance and meet the board’s governance needs.
Discovering a Systems-Based Approach
As a first step, ISL formed a task team to craft an AI policy, but other things soon took precedence.
“In schools,” Liam said “it’s easy to deprioritize projects when you’ve got constant deadlines and parent-teacher conferences and this other thing in the background.”
A stickier solution came from an unexpected source at the 2024 AISA conference, where Liam attended a workshop on the endorsement in “AI Literacy, Safety, and Ethics” from Middle States.
“I realized that a structured endorsement process and a cohort could help the ISL team to complete their work. It also meant I could say to the board, ‘We’ve got it in control.’”
Like all seasoned school leaders, Liam wanted to take a systems-based approach. Fortunately, the endorsement in “AI Literacy, Safety, and Ethics,” provided a comprehensive implementation framework.
“ChatGPT doesn’t know what we need at ISL,” said Liam. “The Middle States endorsement had us look at the school’s mission, the vision, the staff and student profiles, and more.”
From Policy Change to Culture Change
ISL has also used the 12-week endorsement sprint to inspire ongoing, schoolwide professional development.
“Our staff have collectively completed 150 hours of PD in various AI topics,” noted Liam.
And that professional learning has shifted their approach to AI.
For example, Liam now uses AI as a thought partner: “I can upload a document to GenAI and prompt it with, ‘Analyze this document and tell me how to make it better.’ Rather than first finding an expert, GenAI gives me that initial feedback.”
The staff are shifting too: “Teachers have evolved from asking AI to write reports or lesson plans to checking work, analyzing data, or providing improvements.”
What’s Next?
As schools enter year three of navigating AI, ISL has ensured that we are continually strengthening our ability to be literate, safe, and ethical with AI.
Next up? The inclusion of students.
“Initially we weren't asking students what they thought,” he said. “It’s important to include students’ voices in policies that will affect them”
Lessons Learned
1| Structure Drives Execution
Good intentions fail without motivating structure. ISL’s team had materials but couldn’t prioritize AI work amid daily urgencies. The RAIL cohort provided external deadlines that moved the project from background to priority. Change initiatives need forcing mechanisms.
2| Systems Beat Quick Fixes
Rather than accept a quick-fix policy, Liam sought a comprehensive approach inclusive of ISL’s vision, profiles, and context. This created an interconnected ecosystem, not a generic drop-in. Sustainable change requires cultural alignment.
3| Professional Development Drives Cultural Change
150 hours of PD transformed staff from asking AI to write reports to using it to serve as a thought-partner. Policy without capacity-building creates compliance theater. Learning investment drives genuine adoption.
Lead Through Uncertainty
Like every other school, ISL experienced deep uncertainty when confronted with AI. Rather than taking a wait-and-see approach, ISL exploited the full-school implementation framework in “AI Literacy, Safety, and Ethics.”
That’s why ISL has far more than AI policies: it also has a method for updating and evolving each dimension of the school. In an uncertain landscape, that’s the best kind of strategy.
Are you letting AI happen to your school instead of making it happen for your school?
Develop AI leadership with confidence. Join the next RAIL cohort so that your school can develop an AI strategy. You’ll walk away with implementation frameworks, a peer community, and the courage to lead boldly through uncertainty.
Note: GenAI helped edit this article.
