EAGER: Empowering Educators: AI & Cybersecurity Pathways for Kentucky High Schools

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how people learn, work, and participate in civic life, yet most secondary educators have limited preparation to help students understand and use these technologies responsibly. This Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) award will convene five regional, one-day professional development events that serve approximately 120-160 middle and high school teachers and counselors across a 13-county service area. These events will introduce foundational AI concepts, ethical considerations, and practical classroom strategies, and will increase awareness of postsecondary pathways, certificates, and degree options connected to AI-enabled careers. By equipping educators and counselors who directly influence course-taking and career advising, the project advances the national interest by promoting the progress of science and enhancing the nation's prosperity and welfare through a better-prepared future workforce. Accordingly, this project contributes to the goals stated in the Dear Colleague Letter NSF 25-035 regarding advancing AI education for the American youth. The project will deliver five structured convenings that include an opening overview of AI's cross-sector impact, a keynote on education and workforce relevance, interactive workshops on integrating AI into K-12 pedagogy, facilitated networking with postsecondary and industry partners, focused sessions on student opportunities and pathways, a panel on transitions from high school to community college and beyond, and an action-planning close. Resource packets, demonstration software licenses, AI technology exemplars, and tablets will support hands-on exploration during the sessions. Short pre- and post-event instruments will assess knowledge gains, perceived value, and near-term plans for classroom or advising integration, producing an initial evidence base on needs, barriers, and supports that can inform scalable teacher professional development models. The work complements an existing undergraduate-focused award by extending AI literacy efforts into the K-12 pipeline through educators and counselors who guide students' academic and career choices. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.