Lindbergh educators Noelle Nations, Megan Vallis and Robert Zielinski received certificates after piloting a new “Fundamentals of AI for Educators” microcredential course developed through a collaboration between Scale AI, Lindbergh Schools and UMSL. They were flanked by (from left) Congressman Wesley Bell, Lindbergh Director of AI and Blended Learning Colin Davitt, Scale AI Head of Workforces and Workspaces AJ Segal, Lindbergh Schools Superintendent Tony Lake and UMSL Interim Chancellor Chris Spilling at an event to announce the new free online course, now being offered through UMSL’s Advance Workforce Center. The event took place Friday morning at UMSL’s Richter Family Welcome and Alumni Center. (Photos by Derik Holtmann)
Global business leader Scale AI, Lindbergh Schools and the University of Missouri–St. Louis have partnered on a new initiative that will equip K-12 educators to teach effectively in the age of artificial intelligence, so they can better prepare students for success in a rapidly changing world of careers and opportunities.
The organizations have collaborated to develop a course titled “Fundamentals of AI for Educators,” designed to help build common understanding, vocabulary and expertise in AI. The 12-hour course is being offered nationwide at no cost through UMSL’s Advanced Workforce Center.
U.S. Representative Wesley Bell speaks at an event to announce the new “Fundamentals of AI for Educators” course developed through a collaboration between Scale AI, Lindbergh Schools and the University of Missouri–St. Louis.
“Teachers are central to preparing the next generation to understand and use AI, and making sure they have access to the right training is an important part of that work,” said AJ Segal, Head of Workforce and Workspaces, Public Sector at Scale AI. “By combining the expertise of educators with our technical knowledge and UMSL’s ability to reach teachers nationwide, we’re building a program that can make a meaningful difference in classrooms here in St. Louis and across the country.”
Teachers can complete the course at their own pace. During the course, they will:
- learn to use AI ethically and effectively in the classroom;
- prioritize teacher-student interactions and personalized instruction through appropriate use of AI;
- develop strategies to teach students core “AI-ready” skills such as critical thinking, creativity and responsible technology use;
- and design a classroom-ready instructional artifact that meaningfully integrates artificial intelligence tools to support learning goals.
At left, Lindbergh Director of AI and Blended Learning Colin Davitt walks Congressman Wesley Bell through the Fundamentals of AI for Educators course developed through a collaboration with Scale AI, Lindbergh Schools and the University of Missouri–St. Louis. At right, UMSL Interim Chancellor Chris Spilling also gets a demonstration from Lindbergh educator Robert Zielinski, a science teacher at Sperreng Middle School.
Teachers who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion from UMSL’s Advanced Workforce Center and a microcredential with a digital badge they can display on their resume, portfolio or LinkedIn page.
Lindbergh’s Director of Artificial Intelligence and Blended Learning Colin Davitt worked with Scale AI engineers and education experts to develop the curriculum last year. A group of 20 teachers in Lindbergh Schools piloted the program this past summer.
“We are grateful for this opportunity to partner with a global leader in artificial intelligence, and for this generous partnership that will share their expertise to train up Lindbergh teachers and ultimately impact student success,” Lindbergh Schools Superintendent Dr. Tony Lake said.
Partnering with UMSL’s Advanced Workforce Center allows them to make the program available to educators throughout the state of Missouri and across the country.
“The Advanced Workforce Center was created to help bridge the gap between workforce demand and workforce readiness,” said Reggie Hill, UMSL’s vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and career advancement. “This partnership aligns perfectly with that mission by fostering collaboration, expanding access to training for teachers and creating new opportunities for them to not only learn but pass that knowledge on to their students.”
The course was developed as part of Scale AI’s AI Literacy Initiative, a nationwide program designed to upskill 1,000 teachers and empower 500,000 students between 2025-2029. The initiative is fulfilling the company’s June 2025 commitment to the White House’s Pledge to America’s Youth.
