Looking for an AI in Education Expert?

I'm a former English teacher who has given more than 100 presentations on AI for audiences from kindergarteners to college professors. I'm available for interviews, podcasts, panels, and expert commentary on how AI is changing schools, classrooms, and the kids in them. I explain it in plain English, and I'm comfortable on air, on a webinar, or on a panel.

Ask Me About

AI and cheating. Why AI detectors don't work the way people think, why chasing cheaters is a losing game, and why academic honesty is better treated as a design problem than a discipline problem.Teens and AI companions. According to a 2025 Common Sense Media report, 72% of teens have used AI companions. Why they do it, what the risks are, the red flags adults should watch for, and how to respond.Deepfakes and student safety. What deepfakes mean for students, schools, and families, and what to do when one shows up in your community.AI in the classroom. What AI means for teachers, assignments, and assessment, and what's actually changing about how students learn.
Getting started with AI. A plain-English explanation of what AI is, how it works, and why it's sometimes confidently wrong, for readers and listeners who just want to understand it.Preparing students for an AI-driven world. What students need to know about AI, and what career readiness looks like when the tools keep changing.

Sample interview questions

A few questions I'm well suited to answer. Hosts and reporters are welcome to use them or send their own.AI and cheating
- Can teachers actually tell when a student used AI?
- Do AI detectors work, and what happens when they get it wrong?
- If cheating with AI is this easy, how should assignments change?Teens and AI companions
- Why are so many teens turning to AI chatbots for company and advice?
- What warning signs should parents and educators watch for?
- What should we do if a student is relying on an AI companion?Deepfakes and student safety
- What should a school do when a deepfake of a student or staff member appears?
- How do you talk to kids about deepfakes without scaring them?AI in the classroom
- Is AI good or bad for learning?
- What do teachers most need to know right now?
- What does a well-designed AI-era assignment look like?Getting started and the road ahead
- Where does AI get its information, and why does it sometimes get things wrong?
- What skills do students need to succeed in a world full of AI tools?

Bio

Short Version
Mark Henderson is a national speaker and consultant on AI in education. A former high school English teacher, he has given more than 100 presentations on AI in 12 states, for audiences from kindergarteners to college professors. He is based in Columbia, Missouri.

Long Version
Mark Henderson is a national speaker and consultant on AI in education. He serves as the Director of AI Strategy & Services at the Missouri School Boards' Association, where he built the AI department from the ground up.Mark began his career as a high school English teacher, then moved into instructional design and corporate training. He holds a Master of Applied Arts in Technical Writing and a Graduate Certificate in Writing Instruction from Missouri Western State University.He has given more than 100 presentations on AI in 12 states, for audiences from kindergarteners to college professors. His keynotes, workshops, and breakout sessions have appeared at events including the Kansas City PBS K-12 Technology Conference, the Illinois Education Joint Annual Conference, the Quality Matters Member Conference, the Hancock Place Educator AI Summit, and national school board conferences.Mark's work focuses on practical, honest answers about AI for schools and colleges, including academic honesty, student safety, AI companions, and teaching and assessment. He is the creator of the Assignment Makeover framework. He is based in Columbia, Missouri.

Previous Media Appearances

Media Inquiries

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