The calculator did not stop math teachers from making students show their work — and AI should not stop classrooms either. That, in short, was the message Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) Director Dr. Kollin Napier, Ph.D., brought to the AI Summer Summit. The free event was hosted by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) and the Center for Cyber Education (CCE). It ran June 8-9, 2026, at the Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson. On June 9, Napier also joined an expert panel. Specifically, he appeared alongside Randy Lynn of Maris, West & Baker, Brad Carpenter of C Spire, and Dr. Julie Jordan of Mississippi State University. As a result, he brought the workforce and postsecondary perspective to a room full of K-12 educators.
About the AI Summer Summit
First, some context. The summit is a free, two-day event for Mississippi educators. Notably, it focuses on practical ways to integrate generative AI into the classroom. This year, the program featured two keynote speakers. Clay Smith, a Google for Education solutions engineer, opened the event. Amy Mayer, founder of friEdTechnology, also presented. In addition, participants chose from expert panels and hands-on breakout sessions built for K-12 educators. Finally, those who attended every session could earn 1.2 CEUs, 10 SEMIs, or 1 OSL.
AI Summer Summit: key details
- What: An expert panel on AI in K-12 education at the summit.
- When: June 8-9, 2026; Dr. Napier’s panel was June 9.
- Where: Jackson Convention Complex, Jackson, Mississippi.
- Who: Dr. Kollin Napier (MAIN), Randy Lynn (Maris, West & Baker), Brad Carpenter (C Spire), and Dr. Julie Jordan (Mississippi State University).
- Why it matters: The summit gave teachers practical, responsible ways to bring generative AI into class.
The arithmetic was never the point
Dr. Napier’s message was simple. The arithmetic was never the point of a math problem. Instead, the reasoning was, which is why teachers still make students show their work. In the same way, AI changes the tool but not the goal. Therefore, students can use it and still demonstrate the thinking that produced the result.
“The calculator did not stop math teachers from making students show their work, and AI should not stop classrooms either,” Napier said.
Skills that outlast every product cycle
Next, Napier turned to the skills that hold up underneath any tool. Above all, he named computational thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, and the judgment to know when an answer is wrong. As a result, those skills outlast every product cycle. In other words, they matter no matter which tool sits in front of a student.
To prepare students, first educate the educator
Preparing students starts with preparing teachers. For that reason, MAIN offers no-cost AI courses to every K-12 teacher in Mississippi. Better still, those courses include free CEUs. So far, thousands of educators have already taken part.
The hard skill is evaluating the answer
Finally, Napier brought the workforce lens to the conversation. He drew a clear line between using AI and using it well.
“Almost anyone can prompt a chatbot,” Napier said. “The harder skill, and the one that matters in the workforce, is evaluating the answer, checking the evidence, and turning raw output into something professional.”
In closing, MAIN thanks the Mississippi Department of Education and the Center for Cyber Education. Together, they convened this summit and an important conversation about AI and the future of work in Mississippi.
About MAIN
MAIN is Mississippi’s coordinated statewide AI initiative. For example, it works with partners across education, workforce development, government, and industry. As a result, MAIN expands AI literacy, strengthens workforce readiness, and supports responsible AI adoption statewide.
AI Summer Summit: frequently asked questions
What is the AI Summer Summit?
It is a free, two-day event hosted by the Mississippi Department of Education and the Center for Cyber Education. In particular, it helps K-12 educators integrate generative AI into the classroom.
When and where was the AI Summer Summit held?
It took place June 8-9, 2026, at the Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson, Mississippi.
Who represented MAIN on the panel?
MAIN Director Dr. Kollin Napier joined the panel on June 9, 2026. Alongside him were leaders from industry and higher education.
Does MAIN offer free AI training for Mississippi teachers?
Yes. In fact, MAIN provides no-cost AI courses with free CEUs to every K-12 teacher in Mississippi.
Related resources
- Explore MAIN’s free AI courses for educators.
- Learn how K-12 teachers can earn free CEUs.
- Browse AI degrees and pathways in Mississippi.
- Meet the AI Workforce Readiness Council.
- Read about MAIN’s keynote at the Creating Futures Through Technology Conference.
- Read more MAIN news, or learn about MAIN and explore resources for educators.