Why Every Educator Needs to Understand AI Ethics

In just a few short years, artificial intelligence (AI) has gone from a niche technology to an everyday presence in classrooms, offices, and even our pockets. For educators, this rapid transformation brings incredible opportunities — and serious ethical challenges.

As a former attorney and current educator working at the intersection of law, technology, and learning, I’ve seen firsthand how unexamined AI use can create unintended consequences. That’s why AI ethics isn’t just a “tech issue” — it’s a core competency every educator must develop.

AI in the Classroom: Promise and Peril

AI tools can personalize learning in ways that were unthinkable a decade ago. An algorithm can adjust math problems to a student’s exact skill level or translate a science lesson into another language in seconds.

But the same tools that can accelerate learning can also reinforce biases, misuse data, or erode trust between students and educators if not implemented thoughtfully. AI doesn’t inherently “know” right from wrong — it mirrors the patterns and biases present in the data it’s trained on. Without human oversight, those biases can quietly become part of classroom instruction.

The Legal Lens

When I practiced law, I learned that rules exist to protect rights — and that violations, even unintentional ones, can have lasting consequences. In education, we have similar obligations when it comes to protecting student data and ensuring fairness in instruction.

AI ethics for educators must include:

Compliance with Laws: FERPA, COPPA, and GDPR set specific guidelines for student privacy. AI tools must meet these standards.

Transparency: Students and parents have the right to know how data is collected, stored, and used.

Equity: Technology should close learning gaps, not widen them.

Practical Steps for Ethical AI Use

Vet Your Tools Carefully — Don’t just adopt an app because it’s popular. Review its privacy policy, terms of service, and bias mitigation practices.

Educate Your Students — Teach them how AI works, its benefits, and its limits.

Collaborate with Colleagues — Share experiences and concerns to create school-wide best practices.

Document Decisions — Keep a record of why you chose a tool, how it’s monitored, and what changes you make based on its performance.

The Call to Action

Ethics isn’t an afterthought — it’s the foundation for responsible technology use. As educators, we’re not just teaching content; we’re modeling how to navigate a world where AI will play an ever-expanding role.

By understanding AI ethics, we protect our students today and prepare them to lead with integrity tomorrow.

About Leighton Reid Berry Jr

After more than two decades in the trenches of criminal defense, I’ve moved from arguing cases before judges and juries to teaching minds, building strategies, and protecting digital spaces. My career began in the courtroom, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with people society often overlooked, fighting not only for their legal rights but for their dignity, redemption, and second chances. That same passion for truth, justice, and human potential now fuels my work in education and technology.

Today, I bring my unique blend of legal expertise, classroom experience, and tech fluency to a world where the line between physical and digital rights grows thinner by the day. As a K–12 educator in math, science, and reading, I learned to distill complex ideas into concepts anyone can grasp. As a legal educator and AI consultant, I translate the often-intimidating worlds of cybersecurity, governance, and digital privacy into actionable strategies for individuals, schools, and organizations.

Whether I’m guiding a student through a challenging algebra problem, helping a business safeguard its data, or speaking on the ethics of artificial intelligence, my mission is the same: to empower people to navigate a tech-driven world with clarity, wisdom, and resilience. I believe every system—whether a legal code, a school curriculum, or a digital network—can be hacked, reformed, and ultimately redeemed.

My journey from courtroom to classroom to cloud has given me a rare vantage point: I understand the stakes when freedom, knowledge, and security are on the line. And in an age where our lives are increasingly lived online, I see my role as both teacher and defender—helping others build the skills, strategies, and safeguards they need to thrive in the digital era.

Because whether in law, education, or technology, one truth remains: justice is not just a principle—it’s a practice. And I’m here to make sure it lives on, both in the real world and the digital one.