Building the Foundation: The Appalachian STEM Collaborative
The GRIT Project is committed to driving workforce readiness and economic resilience across Appalachia. Our mission is to empower individuals and communities through education, training, and strategic partnerships. This article highlights an important initiative—the Appalachian STEM Collaborative AI Summit—which aligns with GRIT’s vision to prepare learners for the future of work and foster innovation that attracts investment and opportunity to the region.
Future Plans’ Appalachian STEM Collaborative is a transformative initiative designed to cultivate a thriving STEM and STEAM culture in schools across Ohio’s Appalachian region. By fostering partnerships among educators, businesses, and community leaders, the Collaborative equips students with the skills needed for in-demand jobs of the 21st century and beyond. The program emphasizes real-world, problem-based learning, critical thinking, and resilience, while investing in educator support and cross-sector collaboration. With STEM careers projected to represent 90% of future jobs in the region—offering wages up to 68% higher than non-STEM positions—the Collaborative’s mission is to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive in a dynamic future.
AI Summit at Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center
On December 17, 2025, the Appalachian STEM Collaborative, in partnership with Future Plans and The GRIT Project, hosted an AI Summit at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center in Cambridge, Ohio. The event brought together educators, students, and community leaders for hands-on sessions, practical strategies, and a keynote address focused on the future of AI in education.
Featured Presenters
The summit featured a distinguished lineup of presenters, including Keynote speaker, Dr. Wendy Hanasky.
Summit Presenter Lineup
- Karen Mamone, Director of Professional Development, AI Learning Solutions
- Michael Mamone, Training Specialist, AI Learning Solutions
- Teresa Schuerman, Technology Coach, Ohio Valley Educational Service Center
- Dr. Rachelle Dene Poth, JD, Consultant and National Speaker
These presenters delivered hands-on workshops and practical guidance on integrating AI into educational settings, digital creativity strategies, and essential cybersecurity and legal considerations for educators. Participants explored workflow hacks, engagement strategies, and ways AI can save time while unlocking new possibilities. Every attendee received an official AI Credential through the state TechCred program, along with access to over 100 hours of resources, activities, curriculum, and tools.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Wendy Hanasky
Dr. Wendy Hanasky, CEO of AI Learning Solutions, is a nationally recognized expert in Artificial Intelligence in Education, with over 28 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and consultant. Dr. Hanasky’s keynote, “Generative AI Tools – Power Hour,” provided a comprehensive overview of how generative AI tools are transforming classrooms, careers, and communities. She engaged the audience with a pop quiz featuring true/false questions about AI, revealing surprising aspects of interacting with AI systems.
Sarah Redoutey, Senior Project Manager at Future Plans, who attended the conference, said, “All eyes and ears were in attention while Dr. Hanasky shared valuable insights into the world of AI. She especially had the room’s attention when she gave a pop quiz. I scored well on the quiz, but even as an avid AI user, I learned new things.”
“One quiz question asked whether an LLM (Large Language Model) produces better results when you are polite. I personally didn’t think so, but she explained it does. She also asked whether, if you tell an LLM to take its time and dig deeper, it will give you better results. I thought an LLM would pretty much give you the same results whether you asked it to take its time or not. But it turns out patience pays off. LLMs will give you better answers and can dig deeper if you prompt them to do so.” — Sarah Redoutey, Future Plans
Continuing the Mission
The AI Summit is part of Future Plans’ ongoing commitment to expanding high-quality STEM education and workforce readiness in Appalachia. Through quarterly events and robust summer workforce training programs, Future Plans and the Appalachian STEM Collaborative support educators, empower learners, and build pathways to achievement and community prosperity.
For more information about upcoming events and resources, visit the Appalachian STEM Collaborative Events page or explore the latest news at Future Plans.