Ep231. ft. Jose Torres - AI Won’t Replace Great Teachers But Teachers Who Master It Will Lead the Future (Part 1)

AI is not coming for great teachers but refusing to understand it could put educators at risk. The real divide in education will not be between teachers and machines. It will be between professionals who know how to use AI strategically and those who continue working as though the technology does not exist. In Part 1 of this provocative conversation, Mike sits down with returning guest Jose Torres to examine how artificial intelligence is already transforming lesson planning, differentiation, assessment, data analysis and teacher productivity. Jose explains how he created a customized AI assistant trained around his curriculum, rubrics and classroom expectations—allowing him to plan an entire week of lessons in a fraction of the time. He also shares the mistake that taught him an essential lesson: AI output must always be reviewed by a qualified educator. This episode explores: • Why resistance to AI creates more work for teachers • How AI could reduce administrative overload and teacher burnout • Which educational roles may face disruption first • How prompting is becoming a core professional skill • Why AI should support teacher judgment—not replace it • What human educators p...