Marlee Strawn | Source | Co-Founder and Head of Education at Scholar Education
Marlee Strawn
With nearly two decades of experience in education, Marlee Strawn's career started as a high school teacher and reached a significant milestone when she became the founding principal of the top-performing charter high school in the seventh largest district in the nation. Following her successful tenure as principal, Marlee transitioned to a new role in the education technology sector. As the Co-Founder and Head of Education at Scholar Education, Marlee leads the development of an AI-powered classroom enhancement platform designed to eliminate administrative burdens for teachers. It offers a comprehensive suite of AI tools designed to streamline lesson planning and deliver a personalized learning environment, with a special focus on Special Education and English Language Learners. In addition, Marlee's engagement in advancing AI in education is further acknowledged by her recent selection as a 2024 EDSAFE AI Alliance Women in AI Fellow. This prestigious year-long fellowship recognizes her as an exceptional and impact-minded individual in the field of AI and education. Through the program, Marlee engages with leading experts in AI safety, ethics, and policy, and benefits from professional development focused on the latest AI research and its societal impacts.
Challenges She's Solving:
Personalizing Education: Creating AI solutions for individualized learning paths.
Empowering Educators: Reducing administrative burdens to focus on impactful teaching.
Strategic Leadership: Leveraging her founding principal experience to guide educational innovations.
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Scholar Education (https://www.joinscholar.com/)
Co-Founder and Head of Education
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AI Classroom 2.0: Scholar Education at AI Revolution in Education AIR Show
Marlee Strawn shares how Scholar Education's platform discerns each student's unique learning patterns to tailor content specifically for them. Coupled with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR) and immersive 3D videos, this approach transforms information into engaging, interactive experiences. By merging AI and immersive tech, Scholar Education ensures students connect deeply with their curriculum, making comprehension more intuitive and enjoyable. #scholareducation #ai #Education
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Former Educator Advocates for Responsible Tech Integration in Schools
Marlee, now co-founder of Scholar Education, emphasizes that while cellphones and AI can distract, they also enhance connectivity. She believes tech should be a "scaffold, not a substitute," urging educators to integrate it intentionally. Her experience led her to create tools that support teachers and students, viewing AI as an opportunity rather than a threat. -
AI in K-12: Transforming Education with Trump's Executive Order
Marlee highlights AI's potential to personalize learning and automate tasks, freeing teachers to focus on teaching. She advocates for private-public partnerships to co-create ethical, accessible curricula. "AI tools like tutoring bots and predictive analytics can revolutionize teaching." Policies should ensure ethical AI use, protect privacy, and provide equitable access, empowering educators and students in this AI-driven era. -
AI in Education: Enhancing Critical Thinking, Not Replacing It
Marlee emphasizes that AI should "enhance—not replace—critical thinking." Scholar Education's BaxterBot supports learning by encouraging curiosity. Transparency and ethical guardrails prevent AI misuse. Best practices include personalizing learning and reinforcing concepts, while avoiding overreliance. AI should empower teachers by automating tasks and providing tailored support, ensuring every student has access to personalized instruction.
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“The reality is, we’ve been talking about personalized learning for the last 10 years. The technology just wasn’t there,” she said. “We’re really at the very beginning of the possibilities for AI in the classroom.”
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"Imagine a world where every teacher has a highly qualified teaching assistant in their classroom, where every student has the smartest tutor they could dream of at their fingertips. This is now possible with AI, and the next generation will know no different."
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"The reality is artificial intelligence is already part of daily life. My son talks with Alexa and asks it to play music. When he’s watching YouTube, the algorithm suggests other videos he might like. That’s AI in action. We also know many students feel more comfortable engaging with tech tools — gaming, texting, chatting with bots — than they do talking face-to-face."
