Ambassadors of Teaching in the Age of AI (ATAA) is a year-long professional learning community offering Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credit, focused on building foundational AI literacy for educators and practitioners navigating an AI-transformed world. Grounded in the U.S. Department of Labor’s AI Literacy Framework — ATAA moves beyond tool-specific training to build durable AI competency that travels with participants across roles, platforms, and whatever comes next.
Eligibility
ATAA welcomes educators whose work is being affected by AI and who wants to understand it more deeply:
- K–16 teachers and faculty
- School administrators and instructional coaches
- Curriculum specialists and instructional designers
- Higher education educators and academic staff
- Practitioners from any sector interested in building foundational AI fluency
No technical background required. Curiosity is the only prerequisite.
What You Will Gain
ATAA’s curriculum is grounded in the U.S. Department of Labor’s AI Literacy Framework (2026), building five core competencies that travel with you across roles, tools, and whatever AI brings next: understanding AI principles, exploring AI uses, directing AI effectively, evaluating AI outputs, and using AI responsibly:
- Understand AI Principles — Learn how AI systems work well enough to explain them to students, colleagues, and communities in plain language, without a technical background
- Explore AI Uses — Discover how AI is being applied across sectors and identify opportunities relevant to your own professional context
- Direct AI Effectively — Build practical AI habits and workflows that save real time on tasks you do every week
- Evaluate AI Outputs — Recognize when AI outputs are unreliable, biased, or inappropriate — and know why, not just that, something has gone wrong
- Use AI Responsibly — Design learning experiences and workflows that use AI as a thinking tool, not a shortcut, grounded in ethics and professional judgment
Upon completing 15 learning hours, participants earn a CEU-certified credential and a shareable digital badge. Join a growing community of AI-literate practitioners and present your work at an annual showcase.
Important Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 22–23, 2026 | In-Person Launch Event, as part of the 2026 VA Data Science Teacher Professional Learning Institute |
| Sept 2026 – May 2027 | Online Community Training Sessions (2 hours) Every Other Month |
| June 2027 | Final Showcase & Cohort Completion |
Frequent Asked Questions
1. Is this program free?
Yes.
2. Is it open to teachers of all levels?
Although use cases presented in training may apply more toward Grade 7 and above, all levels are welcome.
3. What is the format of engagement? How much time will the ATAA program require?
ATAA is open to new participants year-round — join anytime and engage at your own pace. The program offers a mix of in-person and online sessions during the school year, independent implementation opportunities, and an annual showcase each June.
Participants earn CEU credit for each qualifying session attended. Complete 15 learning hours at any point and earn your digital badge.
4. What is the ATAA launch event?
The ATAA launch event features an opening speech introducing the program and two workshops on AI Fundamentals for Teachers and Best Practices of AI in Teaching. The launch event will be held as part of the VA Data Science Teacher Professional Learning Institute on June 22 – 23, 2026 at the George Mason University Manassas Science and Tech Campus, Katherine G. Johnson Hall, 10890 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110. All workshops offered at the June 22-23 Learning Institute, including ATAA and non-ATAA sessions, will offer Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits to participants who complete them.
5. If I didn’t join the launch event on June 22-23, can I still participate in the ATAA program?
Yes. The ATAA program operates as a yearly cohort. Participants of the 2026-2027 cohort can register for the program below. After registering, you will receive information about upcoming ATAA events and webinars on a timely basis.
Sign up for ATAA Training and Engagement Information
Program Contacts: Peng Warweg [email protected]
Training/Workshop Contacts: Padhu Seshaiyer [email protected] Manpriya Dua [email protected]