NFA P-TECH Faculty Engages with AI's Future at IBM Headquarters
Ten dedicated P-TECH faculty members joined teachers from around New York state at IBM Headquarters in Manhattan, where they gained insights into the rapidly evolving impact of Artificial Intelligence on the modern workforce. This immersive experience, led by IBM employees and EdTechTeacher CEO Tom Driscoll, provided our educators with valuable insights into how to best prepare students for tomorrow’s careers.
Through an interactive presentation and a dynamic Q&A session, our NECSD teachers explored how AI will inevitably impact the required skillsets across most professions. This opportunity provided direct engagement with industry leaders and prompted vital discussions about how to adapt curriculum to ensure students are not just AI-aware, but AI-ready, meaning they are trained to leverage these powerful tools as strategic partners in their future careers.
P-TECH educator Christine Baumann noted the key takeaway was the emphasis IBM employees placed on "durable skills"—such as analytical thinking and collaboration—urging teachers to frame AI as a tool to augment performance, not as a tool for cognitive offloading. "It was both refreshing and necessary to consider the direct implications this has on our curriculum, especially in P-TECH. One message was clear: if we aren't showing students how to smartly use AI, they will lose jobs to people who know how to use it effectively." The team of seven teachers and principal, Anthony Williams, was also joined by SUNY Orange college and career advisor Dr. Debra Lamb and guidance counselor Jen Neal -each of whom play a vital role in preparing students for college and careers beyond Academy field.
This professional development opportunity underscores the importance both the Newburgh Enlarged City School district and the P-TECH program put on continuous learning and curriculum alignment between school and work. “By understanding the future skills demanded by industry, our teachers can proactively craft lessons that truly prepare students for success in an AI-integrated world, reinforcing our promise of career readiness,” noted P-TECH principal Anthony Williams.
Story and photo provided by Mr. Anthony Williams.
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