Navigating an AI Future: video resources on artificial intelligence in Surrey Schools

September 22, 2025

Surrey Schools sat down with four experts as part of its Navigating an AI Future video seriesMuch like how every new school year brings a mix of excitement and nervousness, the advent of artificial intelligence in learning has done the very same.

To prepare students, staff and families for the possibilities of AI in the classroom and beyond, the district has been hard at work developing presentations and video resources exploring the use of AI to benefit learning and teaching, as well as how AI may impact students’ lives after graduation, in post-secondary and the workplace.

The following is a brief timeline of Surrey Schools’ steps into a future with AI:

September 2024: The district hosted The Promise and Potential of Artificial Intelligence for Our Children, our first-ever AI parent information session, featuring a conversation with Supt. Mark Pearmain, Assistant Supt. Jacob Sol and Adam Garry of StrategicEDU Consulting, a leading expert in the use of technology in education. The event introduced parents to AI, its possibilities as a learning tool and the district’s plan for managing AI in learning environments moving forward.
February 2025: Returning to the crossroads of AI and education, Pearmain and Garry hosted our second information session, Artificial Intelligence & Learning, elaborating on the use of AI to facilitate learning and ready students for future opportunities and careers. The event also addressed concerns around the privacy, security and ethics of AI in classrooms, emphasizing the importance of safety with new technologies.
May to June 2025: Expanding our horizons on AI, the district launched Navigating an AI Future, a video series of insightful conversations around AI with valuable voices from the Surrey Police Service (SPS), Simon Fraser University (SFU), KPMG and our own students:

Youth, safety and the shifting AI landscape: SPS Const. Melanie Ballard has a timely sit-down to discuss real risks and consequences of AI in her work around youth exploitation and how families can support students to use AI responsibly.
Exploring how today’s students see tomorrow’s technology: The district’s Student AI Council shares their thoughts on the pros and cons of AI, including the importance of fact-checking, the line between learning with AI and cheating, and areas where AI has proven to be beneficial in education.
Beyond Barriers: Access, innovation and what comes next: Garry returns to highlight some of the positive effects of AI on learning, from supporting neurodiverse students and breaking language barriers to empowering parents in their child’s education.
What students need to know, a professor’s perspective: SFU professor Dr. Megan MacKenzie gives her take on what secondary students can expect with AI in post-secondary environments, with advice for grads and how to use AI responsibly while maintaining important skills.
Preparing students for the AI-powered workforce: Marc Low, Director of Innovation and Emerging Tech at KPMG, pulls back the curtain on how AI is reshaping the future of the workplace and what employers are looking for from new grads as it pertains to AI.

More is in store for the 2025-26 school year, with additional resources to come on Surrey Schools ONE, the district’s library of digital resources for students, parents and teachers.

To watch these videos at any time, visit surreyschoolsone.ca/ai