Just Thinking...

• Just Thinking... About How NeuraPoints Is Building the Bridge Between Minds and Machines

  Artificial intelligence has reached a crucial inflection point. Once imagined as a fast track to artificial general intelligence, the field has instead hit a plateau—prompting leaders, educators, and innovators to rethink AI’s true purpose. As companies and schools race to adopt automation, questions about cost, ethics, and human purpose are rising to the forefront. According to a 2024 Deloitte report, over 40% of organizations admit they’re still struggling to define and measure the real impact of their generative AI initiatives.So, how can organizations and individuals make AI work with human intelligence, rather than in place of it? What would it look like to approach AI as a cognitive partner instead of a replacement?In this episode of Just Thinking, host Kevin Dougherty speaks with Jared McClure, CEO and Founder of NeuraPoints, about reimagining AI as a tool for human augmentation, not substitution. Together, they explore how AI can enhance thinking, creativity, and organizational effectiveness when grounded in cognitive frameworks rather than machine mimicry.Top insights from the talk…Human Intelligence as the Driver of AI: McClure argues that AI’s evolution depends on human cognition, noting that “AI is a master pattern finder, but it can’t generate new meaning without us.”Cognitive Frameworks Bridge the Gap: Through NeuraPoints’ system—built on Dr. David Hyerle’s research—users can visualize and code their thinking in digital space, offering a new nonlinear approach to thought representation.From Fear to Partnership: Instead of fearing obsolescence, McClure says leaders should see AI as “a suit of armor” that amplifies human potential, ushering in a symbiotic future where technology augments our ability to think and create.Jared McClure is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience leading technology and AI-driven companies. As CEO and Founder of NeuraPoints and Pria.ai, he specializes in applying cognitive science and machine learning to drive innovation, efficiency, and business growth. Known for building high-performing teams and delivering strategic, data-informed solutions, McClure’s career centers on bridging human intelligence with technology to revolutionize education and enterprise productivity.

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• Just Thinking… About How NeuraPoints Equips Students and Teachers to Think Critically and Stay Engaged

  Teachers today are facing a new reality: students have instant access to AI tools that can generate answers in seconds. The share of American teens using ChatGPT for assignments has climbed to 26%—twice as many as just two years ago. That shift raises urgent questions about how education should adapt for a generation that has never known a world without on-demand digital answers. Meanwhile, the latest national assessment reveals another challenge—student reading comprehension remains below expectations, despite years of focus on content coverage.So, how do educators balance the need to “cover content” with the deeper imperative to equip students with transferable thinking skills—and ensure they remain engaged in a world of information overload?Welcome to Just Thinking. In the latest episode, host Kevin Dougherty, Chief Marketing Officer at NeuraPoints, sits down with Dawn M. Bailey, M.Ed., an experienced educator, trainer, and advocate for learner-centered practices. Together, they explore how NeuraPoints—an instructional framework rooted in five core cognitive processes—helps teachers and students alike make content meaningful, build metacognition, and thrive in an AI-shaped future.What you’ll learn…Beyond content coverage: Why today’s learners, especially Gen Alpha, need inquiry-based prompts, visual tools, and connections to personal relevance in order to sustain engagement.AI as a magnifier, not a disruptor: How AI highlights long-standing gaps in critical and creative thinking, and why empowering students to question, compare viewpoints, and identify bias matters now more than ever.The lead learner model: Why teachers who position themselves as “lead learners” alongside students can build trust, agency, and curiosity in ways that transform classrooms.Dawn M. Bailey, M.Ed., is an experienced educational leader, consultant, and literacy specialist with expertise in curriculum design, differentiated instruction, and gifted education. She has held leadership roles as a principal, district coordinator, and gifted/talented coordinator in North Texas, and currently serves as an adjunct professor at Dallas College. A doctoral candidate researching school leadership and student achievement, Bailey brings both practical classroom experience and research-based strategies to help educators elevate rigor, engagement, and student success.

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• Just Thinking… About How to Bring Out the Best in Educators and Learners with Dr. Amy Alzina

  Across classrooms today, student engagement is proving to be one of the strongest predictors of success. Learners who feel connected and motivated in school are not only more likely to excel academically but also more likely to approach the future with confidence and optimism. As artificial intelligence and other emerging tools reshape what’s possible in education, the challenge is clear: how can schools use innovation to deepen engagement and critical thinking rather than diminish it? So, how can schools harness new tools like AI to elevate—not replace—the essential human work of teaching and learning? On this episode of Just Thinking, host Kevin Dougherty welcomes Dr. Amy Alzina, Superintendent/Principal of the Cold Spring School District in Santa Barbara. Together, they discuss what it takes to nurture balance, innovation, and community in education, from cultivating a garden classroom to leading AI task forces. The main topics of discussion… How educators can balance proven practices with emerging technologies to prepare students for rapid change. Why vulnerability and transparency in leadership foster trust, growth, and authentic collaboration. How project-based learning and community engagement—from AI workshops to hands-on gardens—empower both students and parents as lifelong learners. Dr. Amy Alzina is an accomplished educational leader with more than two decades of experience driving student achievement and innovation in California public schools. As Superintendent/Principal of the Cold Spring School District since 2017, she has led the district to top statewide performance on CAASPP assessments and earned both the California Distinguished School and Exemplary Arts in Education Awards. Previously, as Principal of Adams Elementary in Santa Barbara, she transformed the school’s performance and reputation by implementing data-driven instruction, technology integration, and community partnerships, garnering national recognition including the ESEA Distinguished School Award.

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• Just Thinking… About How Professional Learning Among Teachers Can Boost Student Outcomes

  With roughly half of the new teachers in Texas stepping into classrooms without full certification, the need for strong and practical professional learning has never been more urgent. According to research, effective professional development among teachers can boost student achievement by up to 21 percentile points—yet many educators frequently report lacking both the time and support to implement what they learn. With rapid advances in technology, shifting student needs, and the rise of AI in education, ensuring educators are equipped to think critically and adapt has become an urgent priority.So, how can professional learning be transformed to truly support teachers—both new and veteran—as they prepare students for an unpredictable future?Welcome to Just Thinking. In the latest episode, host Kevin Dougherty sits down with Terri Iles, Educational Consultant, and Debi Tanton, Director of Business Operations, both with Learning Forward Texas. Together, they explore the evolving role of professional learning in sustaining teacher growth, fostering critical thinking among learners, and strengthening school communities in a post-pandemic and AI-driven world.The main topics of conversation…The growing challenge of preparing and supporting new teachers entering classrooms without certification, and why differentiated professional learning is key to retention.How Learning Forward Texas leverages research-based strategies, free resources, and an annual statewide conference to model best practices for adult learning.Why reflection, relationships, and structured collaboration are essential for turning professional development into classroom transformation.Terri Iles has served in education for over four decades as a teacher, principal, Executive Director for Teaching and Learning, and as the former Executive Director of Learning Forward Texas. She is now a senior consultant with both Learning Forward Texas and Jim Shipley & Associates. Her lifelong commitment centers on elevating teacher practice and ensuring every child has an excellent educator.Debi Tanton recently retired from a 30-year career in Mesquite ISD, where she served as a teacher, instructional coach, principal, and in the Professional Learning Department. Now the Director of Business Operations at Learning Forward Texas, she brings her deep passion for teacher advocacy and designing impactful professional learning to statewide initiatives.

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• Just Thinking... About How Good Schools Foster Kindness, Curiosity, and Lifelong Learning

  Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping how schools, educators, and policymakers think about the future of learning. With OECD shifting its emphasis from test-based rankings toward human flourishing, and governments debating how to integrate digital tools without overwhelming already strained systems, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A McKinsey study found that 20 to 40% of teacher time could be automated with AI—yet the challenge remains: how to balance technology with human connection.So, how should schools redefine “a good education” in an AI-driven world, and what role does technology really play in shaping students for lifelong learning?In this episode of Just Thinking, host Kevin Dougherty sits down with Al Kingsley, Group CEO of NetSupport Limited and an international leader in EdTech. Their conversation explores what makes a “good school” in the 21st century, how AI can support rather than replace teachers, and why critical thinking and kindness remain at the heart of education reform.Key takeaways from the episode…Redefining success in schools: Kingsley argues that education should shift from narrow test performance to fostering resilience, creativity, and curiosity that empower lifelong learning.AI as a teaching partner, not a replacement: He stresses the importance of using AI to reduce teacher workload, support one-to-one learning, and build staff confidence—while ensuring transparency and student well-being.The role of community and kindness: Beyond policy and technology, Kingsley reminds us that education thrives on collaboration, sharing best practices, and simple human kindness.Al Kingsley serves as the Group CEO of NetSupport Limited, where he has led the development of award-winning EdTech solutions used globally for over 30 years. Alongside his corporate role, he is a prominent education leader—chairing Multi-Academy Trusts, serving on the UK Department for Education advisory board, and guiding digital strategy across the sector. He is also the author of several books on education and technology, including The Awkward Questions in Education: Unpicking the Elephants in the Room from AI to Teacher Retention.

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