Dr. Patrick Fogarty is the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Innovation at Hewlett Woodmere Public Schools and the founder of the New York State Artificial Intelligence Consortium (NYSAIC). Patrick’s work sits at the intersection of teaching and learning, district systems, and emerging technology, and their career reflects that blend. They began as an educator, later moved into technology leadership roles, and have been directly involved in major classroom technology transitions since the early days of one-to-one initiatives.
In the episode, Patrick describes an early iPad rollout experience and the “learn-by-doing” approach many districts took during that era, moving fast, often before there was a full playbook. That history informs how Patrick now thinks about AI: move thoughtfully, involve stakeholders, and design for the realities of schools. Patrick emphasizes that communities are diverse and that districts need to understand what families and educators actually want from AI, rather than relying solely on generic guidance. They discuss building core beliefs and aligning practice and policy to local values, using AI as a lens without rewriting the entire rulebook from scratch.
Patrick founded NYSAIC to create a space where practitioners can come together to share what they’re building, test ideas, and help each other solve district-specific problems. The consortium’s work highlights a hands-on approach: practicums, shared prototypes, and collaborative troubleshooting that turns one person’s challenge into a community project. In the episode, Patrick shares examples of grassroots builds, such as using published Regents materials to generate question clusters for student practice, and creating parent-facing resources like hubs and chatbots, along with the caution that comes with them (including the risks of outdated information and the need for accountability).
Patrick’s leadership is defined by a focus on equity and access: ensuring that the ability to explore and benefit from AI isn’t limited to the districts with the most resources or the most technical staff. Across the conversation, Patrick pushes for responsible adoption that balances innovation with governance, clear communication, and strong relationships with educators and the broader school community.
