Harnessing AI for Effective Learning

MSAA Professional Development Workshop for Building Administrators, Department Heads, and Teachers 

Harnessing AI for Effective Learning

This session will explore strategies to leverage AI as a productive tool for staff and students, enhancing teaching and learning outcomes while prioritizing safety and ethical use. Participants will learn how to implement AI-powered tools to personalize instruction, streamline tasks, and foster critical thinking in students. The discussion will address data privacy, equitable access, and responsible integration practices to ensure AI use aligns with district values. Participants will leave with actionable insights to guide their teams in adopting AI solutions that support innovation and improve educational experiences for all stakeholders.

Workshop Goals/Objectives:

·         Promote Ethical AI Integration: By the end of the session, participants will identify at least two actionable policies to ensure the ethical use of AI tools in their districts, implementing these policies within six months to enhance data privacy, and equitable access for staff and students

·         Enhance Instructional Outcomes: Participants will create a plan to pilot at least one AI-powered tool for personalized instruction or administrative efficiency, aiming to improve learning outcomes or reduce staff workload by 15% within the next academic year

·         Foster AI Literacy Among Stakeholders: Participants will design a professional development framework to educate 90% of staff on safe and effective AI use, rolling it out within three months to empower educators with the knowledge to integrate AI responsibly in classrooms

·         AI Prompting for Educators: Participants will develop a training initiative to enhance educators’ AI prompting skills, ensuring at least 80% of teachers can effectively craft precise and purposeful prompts to optimize AI-driven instructional tools, with implementation completed within the next six months

When: Thursday, December 4, 2025, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am

Delivery Method: In-Person Workshop

Location: The MSAA Office, 33 Forge Parkway, Franklin, MA

Presenters: Dr. Elvio Ferreira, Brockton Public Schools

                                Dr. Katie Warren, Diman Regional Vocational Technical HS

PD Hours: 3 in Content Area Science & Technology/Engineering

Fees: Member $ 150 / Non-Member $205

MSAA Contact: Ethel Kawesa, ekawesa@msaa.net

Dr. Elvio Ferreira | Brockton Public Schools

Dr. Elvio Ferreira is an accomplished educational leader with over twenty-three years of experience in teaching, administration, and district-level leadership. His extensive career has provided him with the expertise to guide schools toward sustained success through instructional leadership, curriculum development, data-driven decision-making, and school improvement planning. His commitment to professional growth and educational excellence has positioned him as a highly respected leader in the field of career and technical education (CTE).

Throughout his career, Dr. Ferreira has played a pivotal role in shaping academic and vocational curricula, aligning them with evolving educational standards such as the Common Core State Standards. His experience in data analysis—including MCAS, Accuplacer, SAT, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement testing—has allowed him to support teachers in identifying student strengths and addressing learning gaps effectively. 

Dr. Ferreira has also been instrumental in professional development, having led training on the Educator Evaluation System, SMART Goal writing, and the Five-Step Cycle of Evaluation. As a principal and superintendent in Fall River, he collaborated with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) to plan a new regional technical high school, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex educational initiatives and facilities planning.

Dr. Ferreira holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Portuguese, with a minor in Spanish from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He earned a Master of Arts in Teaching and completed his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.