Amanda Bickerstaff

Amanda is the Founder and CEO of AI for Education. A former high school science teacher and EdTech executive with over 20 years of experience in the education sector, she has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that AI can offer. She is a frequent consultant, speaker, and writer on the topic of AI in education, leading workshops and professional learning across both K12 and Higher Ed. Amanda is committed to helping schools and teachers maximize their potential through the ethical and equitable adoption of AI.

Dr. Anastasia L. Betts

Dr. Betts is a leading expert in early childhood education, learning sciences, and AI-powered educational technologies. As the Founder and Executive Director of Learnology Labs, she leads cutting-edge research on the impact of AI on learning outcomes, equity, and ethics in education. Dr. Betts holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, & the Science of Learning from the University at Buffalo, SUNY, where her research focused on critical factors in parent-child mathematics engagement. With over two decades of experience in education, she has published extensively in the area of early childhood, developed numerous award-winning learning products, and is named on three U.S. patents for AI-embedded personalized learning technologies.

Dr. Betts is committed to leveraging technology to create more inclusive and accessible learning environments for all children. She is the editor of the "Handbook of Research for Innovative Approaches to Early Childhood Education and Kindergarten Readiness" and has been nominated for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Karen King Future Leader Award. Her current work focuses on developing evidence-based frameworks and tools to support the responsible integration of AI in educational settings, with a particular emphasis on early childhood education.

Nicole Fuller

Ms. Fuller is a Policy Manager at the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD), where she conducts research, analysis, project management, and builds coalitions to advance NCLD’s public policy and advocacy agenda. Currently, Nicole focuses on issue areas including postsecondary education and workforce development policy, federal appropriations, artificial intelligence and digital access, and teacher policy. She co-chairs two national coalitions, the IDEA Full Funding Coalition and the National Coalition for Public Education, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Committee for Education Funding.

Prior to joining NCLD, Nicole was a middle school math teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools. She also has worked as a Research Assistant with Transition Tennessee where she developed resources for Vocational Rehabilitation providers, families, and students on Pre-Employment Transition Services for students with disabilities. Additionally, Nicole supported policy research and development for the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.

Nicole holds a B.S. in Middle School Math and Science Education from the University of Maryland and an M.Ed. in International Educational Policy and Management from Vanderbilt University, Peabody College.

Karinna Gerhardt

Ms. Gerhardt is a Manager on the Emerging Technologies team at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), where she leads tech policy initiatives centered on tech equity, AI, and data privacy. In today’s increasingly complex world where new technologies can create as many problems as they solve, she is committed to advancing policy solutions that safeguard individual rights and dignity.

Karinna previously consulted with Pyrra Technologies as a disinformation and extremism researcher, where she tracked the lifecycle of false narratives through online information ecosystems. Prior to joining FAS, she worked with the Public International Law & Policy Group to implement human rights and atrocity prevention programs in Bangladesh, Yemen, and Libya. Committed to a career in public service, Karinna is a Truman Scholar, and holds degrees in Political Science and International Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Mandy DePriest

Mandy is a Curriculum & Content Developer at AI for Education. She has over 15 years of experience in public education, having served as a classroom teacher, library media specialist, and instructional coach. She has also taught education technology courses in higher education settings as well as professional development workshops for teachers on the transformative power of technology. She is committed to ensuring that students are prepared for the dynamic demands of the future by leveraging the power of technology-driven instruction.