a professional development experience...
For educators
Most AI professional development treats teachers like we need to catch up to
the technology.
The Modern plAI-wright Project flips that.
Few writers speak about the human experience with more passion, depth, and
artistry than William Shakespeare. Who better to help us understand how to keep
human judgment, critical thinking, and intentionality at the center of our work
with AI?
Through four of Shakespeare's plays—Measure for Measure, As You Like It, Much
Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet—you'll develop the skills AI integration actually
requires: knowing when to trust the tool and when to trust yourself,
understanding your audience and context, and having the courage to experiment
and fail.
You're not learning to follow AI. You're learning to direct it.
Welcome to the Modern plAI-wright Project. Every classroom is a stage, and
every teacher a plAI-wright.
What You'll Create
You'll work in a troupe of four educators to create meaningful artifacts that
demonstrate your transformation. These aren't worksheets—they're portfolio-ready projects you'll actually use and share.
The Measure of a Classroom
Digital lookbook examining your instructional practices through character perspectives from Measure for Measure.
It's Not Nothing
Public website showcasing lesson plans that integrate AI tools AND teach
critical AI literacy.
Seeding a Forest
Collaborative knowledge base of AI tools, traditional resources, and
instructional strategies. Like the Forest of Arden, this living database grows
as you discover what's available in your pedagogical ecosystem.
The Plays the Thing
Collaborative script reflecting your 16-week transformation
journey.
King Lear's Audience
Present your troupe's script in intimate read-through rooms. Like King Lear
emerging from the storm with hard-won wisdom, you'll share your journey with
administrators, colleagues, and community members. Rotating audiences
experience multiple troupes' work followed by Q&A discussions.
Dates
January 21 – May 23, 2026
17 weeks+ of transformative professional development
Time Commitment
Approximately 8-9 hours per week (142 total hours):
• 10 virtual Wednesday webinars (5:00-6:30 PM)
• 4 Saturday community connections
• Collaborative troupe projects (on YOUR schedule)
• Weekly reflections and portfolio development
Earn
47 NV-SIDE-certified CCSD contact units
That's just 3 hours of meaningful work per contact unit
Investment
$300 per participant
($6.38 per contact unit or $2.11 per hour of professional development)
Format
Collaborative troupes of 4 educators
Intentionally mixed by grade level, content area, and AI experience
Your troupe = your support system for 17 weeks
Platforms
Butter (virtual webinars), Spaces EDU (portfolio & collaboration),
Google Workspace (project creation)
All free tools—no paid subscriptions required
Who is this for?
✓ ALL CONTENT AREAS
Math, Science, ELA, Social Studies, Arts, PE, CTE, Special Education,
Elementary, Secondary—Shakespeare provides frameworks that work across ALL
disciplines. Your applications will be specific to YOUR teaching context.
✓ ALL GRADE LEVELS
K-12 educators welcome. Troupes are intentionally mixed by grade level so you
learn from diverse perspectives.
✓ ALL ROLES
Classroom teachers, instructional coaches, specialists, library media
specialists, administrators—if you support student learning, you belong here.
✓ NO SHAKESPEARE EXPERTISE REQUIRED
We provide all necessary context. You're using plays as pedagogical lenses,
not doing literary analysis. If you've never read Shakespeare since high
school (or ever), you're in good company.
✓ NO AI EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Designed for all experience levels from AI-curious beginners to experienced
users. Troupes mix experience levels intentionally. If you can use Google, you
have the technical skills needed.
✓ NO PERFORMANCE SKILLS REQUIRED
"Behavioral cosplay" means approaching troupe work through character
perspectives, not memorizing lines or performing on stage (unless you want to).
✓ FLEXIBILITY BUILT IN
Can't attend live? All webinars recorded within 24 hours.
✓ COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT
You're not doing this alone. Your troupe of 4 becomes your support system for
managing workload, generating ideas, and celebrating wins.
✓ CAREER-BUILDING
Whether you're exploring AI for the first time or seeking leadership roles,
this program positions you as a thought leader in your building and beyond.
If you're an educator who wants to LEAD with AI rather than follow it, this program is for you.
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FAQS
IS THIS ONLY FOR ENGLISH/ELA TEACHERS?
No! The program is designed for educators across ALL content areas and
grade levels. Shakespeare provides conceptual frameworks, but your applications
will be specific to your own teaching context—whether you teach math, science,
social studies, elementary, special education, or any other subject.
Troupes are intentionally formed with educators from different content areas to
maximize learning and perspective-sharing. The skills you'll develop (critical
thinking, tool evaluation, intentional design) transfer across all disciplines.
DO I NEED PRIOR EXPERIENCE WITH SHAKESPEARE OR AI?
No prior experience needed with either!
Shakespeare: The program provides all necessary context about the plays—
you're using them as pedagogical lenses, not doing literary analysis. We focus
on themes and characters that illuminate AI integration challenges, not
memorizing soliloquies.
AI: We design for all experience levels, from curious beginners who've
never used ChatGPT to experienced users already integrating AI tools. Troupes
are intentionally mixed so everyone learns from each other. If you can use
Google, you have the technical skills needed.
WHAT'S THE TIME COMMITMENT?
This is substantial, transformative professional development.
Approximately 8-9 hours per week over 17 weeks (142 total hours):
• 10 virtual webinars (Wednesday evenings, 5:00-6:30 PM) = 12 hours
• 4 Saturday community connections (5 hours each including experience,
travel, reflection) = 20 hours
• 4 collaborative troupe projects (lookbook, knowledge base, website,
script) = 100 hours
• Weekly reflections and final portfolio = 10 hours
Total: 142 hours = 47 NV-SIDE-certified CCSD contact units
Here's what makes this manageable:
- Most project work happens on YOUR schedule with your troupe
- You're creating portfolio-worthy artifacts, not completing busywork
- Troupe collaboration distributes the creative load
- All webinars are recorded; community connections have virtual alternatives
- You control the pace of most of the 100 project hours
Value perspective: That's 3 hours of meaningful work per contact unit
earned.
This isn't easy. But it's worth it.
WHAT WILL I ACTUALLY GET OUT OF THIS?
For 142 hours of meaningful work, you'll earn:
✓ 47 NV-SIDE-certified CCSD contact units
$6.38 per contact unit. That's just 3 hours of work per unit earned.
✓ 4 portfolio-ready artifacts you'll actually use
Not worksheets. Real artifacts demonstrating AI integration mastery:
• Digital lookbook examining your teaching practice
• Living knowledge base of tools and strategies
• Public website with lesson plans teaching critical AI literacy
• Collaborative script showcasing your transformation
These open doors: promotions, leadership roles, conference presentations
✓ LIFT Framework that works with any AI tool
Lead with Human Intention, Integrate Available Instruments, Focus with AI,
Transform through Experimentation—applicable now and 5 years from now when
today's AI tools are obsolete
✓ Professional community that lasts
Your troupe becomes your ongoing support system. Many participants continue
collaborating long after May, co-presenting at conferences and co-designing
curriculum.
✓ Transferable leadership skills
Critical AI literacy, collaborative creation, adaptive design, reflective
practice—these position you as a thought leader in your building
✓ 4 community connections
Examining how our communities navigate change, creativity, illusion, and power—
insights you'll carry into your classroom and your life
The question isn't "Is 142 hours a lot?"
The question is "Where else can I invest 142 hours that will transform my
practice this profoundly?"
WHAT IF I CAN'T DEDICATE 8-9 HOURS EVERY WEEK?
We build flexibility into the program because we know educator workload is
unpredictable.
The 142 hours aren't evenly distributed—some weeks are lighter, some are
heavier depending on project phases. Here's how flexibility works:
Webinars (12 hours):
Attend live for collaborative energy, or watch recordings within 24 hours on
your schedule. We require 80% attendance (8 out of 10) for certification.
Community Connections (20 hours):
Four Saturday experiences spread across 17 weeks. Can't make all four in
person? Virtual alternatives available including recorded tours, exhibits, and
reflection activities.
Projects (100 hours):
THIS IS WHERE FLEXIBILITY LIVES. Your troupe decides when to meet and work.
Some weeks you'll invest 15 hours, other weeks just 2-3. You control the pace
of collaborative creation. Work evenings, weekends, planning periods—whatever
fits your life.
Reflections (10 hours):
Weekly journals (300-500 words) take 30-45 minutes. Complete them when it works
for you.
Bottom line: This is serious work, but you're not alone and you're not on a
rigid schedule. Your troupe becomes your support system for managing the load.
Need to chat? Have Questions?
help@theintelligenthoodlums.com
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