OpenAI Academy AI Skills Jam for K‑12 Educators
Review the program details for potential partnership opportunities.
Review the program details for potential partnership opportunities.
Summary
OpenAI Academy partners with the Walton Family Foundation to host an AI Skills Jam for K‑12 educators this summer, bringing more than 1,600 teachers, administrators, and district leaders to in‑person workshops across U.S. cities.
The Jam will run July 8 in Jonesboro, GA; July 9 in Fairfax, VA; July 11 in Orlando, FL; July 15 in Chicago, IL; July 22 in Phoenix, AZ; July 31 in Salt Lake City, UT; August 7 in Las Vegas, NV; and September 4 in San Bernardino, CA. The goal is to help educators move from curiosity to practical use of AI for lesson planning, communication, and administrative tasks.
Research shows teachers who use AI weekly save 5.9 hours per week, equivalent to about six weeks of time over a school year. Participants will receive hands‑on support from OpenAI mentors and access to the free online OpenAI Academy platform for ongoing learning. The initiative emphasizes responsible adoption, building AI literacy, opportunity, and agency to use AI thoughtfully.
OpenAI’s VP of Education, Leah Belsky, highlighted the importance of practical support and trusted learning environments. The program aims to empower teachers to reinvest saved time into nuanced feedback, individualized lesson planning, and better communication. The event series underscores OpenAI’s broader effort to expand AI literacy and opportunity in education.
Key changes
- More than 1,600 K‑12 teachers, administrators, and district leaders will attend the AI Skills Jam.
- Workshops will be held in 8 U.S. cities from July 8 to September 4, 2026.
- The program is in partnership with the Walton Family Foundation and OpenAI Academy.
- Participants will receive hands‑on support from OpenAI mentors and access to the free online OpenAI Academy platform.
- Research shows teachers who use AI weekly save 5.9 hours per week, equivalent to about six weeks of time over a school year.
- The Jam focuses on practical use of AI for lesson planning, communication, and administrative tasks.
- The initiative aims to build AI literacy, opportunity, and responsible adoption in education.