How to Pilot AI Without Breaking Your School

Lessons from Project Vend on learning fast, failing safely, and choosing use cases that matter

Right now, many school leaders are living in an uncomfortable middle space. There is growing pressure—from boards, parents, faculty, and the broader culture—to “do something” with AI. At the same time, there is very real uncertainty about how to move forward responsibly, especially when the systems in question touch admissions, communications, operations, or student support. The risk of getting it wrong feels high. So we talk. We plan. We form committees. And often, we stall.

That’s why one of the most instructive AI experiments I’ve seen recently didn’t happen in a school or a classroom. It happened in a breakroom.