Small Steps Jewish Day School Leaders Can Take on AI This Fall

If it feels like AI is moving too fast to keep up, you’re not alone. 

New policies, tools, and research are emerging every week, and most school leaders don’t have time to follow every headline. 

But here’s the good news: you don’t need to overhaul your school to start moving forward. 

Small, thoughtful steps this fall can build the foundation you’ll need for the months (and years) ahead.

Here are five ways Jewish day school leaders can take action right now:

1. Audit Current Practices

Before making new decisions, take stock of what’s already happening. Which teachers are experimenting with AI lesson-planning tools? Are students using ChatGPT at home? Is your admin team using AI for communications or data analysis? A simple survey or roundtable will give you a snapshot of the landscape.

2. Draft an AI Policy

You don’t need a perfect policy—just a starting point. Create a short set of guidelines that align with your school’s values and priorities (academic integrity, menschlichkeit, Shabbat/holiday boundaries, data privacy). Even a “version 1.0” policy communicates to faculty, students, and parents that you’re paying attention and gives them permission to start engaging.

3. Pilot One Tool with Oversight

Choose a single AI tool to explore in a supervised way. That might be a teacher assistant tool for lesson prep, a translation feature to help Hebrew learners, or an admin workflow tool to free up staff time. Assign clear oversight and evaluation so the pilot doesn’t drift into “anything goes.”

4. Run a Professional Development Session

Even a 60-minute workshop can raise awareness, build confidence, and surface questions. Focus on AI literacy: how the tools work, what their limitations are, and how to critically evaluate outputs. When teachers see both the promise and the pitfalls, they can model thoughtful use for students.

5. Open the Parent Conversation

Parents are hearing about AI everywhere—often in alarmist terms. Host a short session (in-person or virtual) to share your approach, highlight safeguards, and invite questions. Transparency builds trust and reassures families that your school is both proactive and responsible.

AI doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. With just these five steps, you can establish a clear, values-driven foundation that positions your school to make smart choices about AI integration. 

The key is to start small, stay consistent, and keep your community involved along the way.

Want to go deeper? Check out our new AI Update for Jewish Day School Leaders (May–September 2025) guide for a comprehensive overview of what’s changed, what it means, and how to prepare.