SureStart

At SureStart, women don’t just lead — they innovate, mentor, and build the future??? ?? From our incredible CEO?Taniya Mishra, PhD steering the company forward to the mentors shaping the next generation of technologists, our team thrives because of the women who drive it. Today, on #InternationalWomensDay, we celebrate the power of #leadership, the impact of #mentorship, and the strength of a team where women don’t just have a seat at the table — they help design the neural networks that power the future??? ?? ?? Here’s to the women of SureStart and to building a workplace where the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and #changemakers thrive???

We are so beyond proud to see our Founder & CEO?Taniya Mishra, PhD ?recognized as a 2025 Innovator of Color at?ASU+GSV Summit!??? #EquityinAI doesn’t start at the hiring stage — it starts with early access to opportunity. That’s the mission driving SureStart, and no one champions it better than Taniya. This honor is a testament to the impact she’s making every day. Join us in celebrating this well-deserved recognition! ?? ?? #FutureOfAI #Innovation #EquityInTech #EducationAI

Last week at National Association of Independent Schools' #Thrive2025, one theme kept coming up in conversations with school leaders and educators: "We know we need an AI strategy, but we don’t know where to start." The uncertainty is real. Schools are balancing the promise of #AI with big questions about its impact on learning, teacher-student relationships, and long-term educational outcomes. The hesitation isn’t about if AI should be integrated, but how to do it responsibly. That’s where SureStart comes in. Our goal is to help schools navigate AI adoption with confidence — not by dictating policy, but by providing hands-on programs that make AI education accessible, engaging, and aligned with each school’s values and mission ?? ?? ?? This is just the start of an important conversation. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be breaking down key insights, practical steps, and real-world examples to help schools move from uncertainty to action ?? What’s your biggest question or concern about #AIinEducation? ?? Drop your thoughts in the comments and we'll tackle them together.

Mentor Applications for #MITFutureMakers 2025 Are Now Open!??? ?? ? Do you remember the mentor who helped you unlock your potential? This summer, that mentor could be you! SureStart is once again working with #MITRAISE for the MIT FutureMakers Create-a-thon — a 6-week, part-time, fully virtual program empowering students to explore #AI, #machinelearning, app development, & #datascience — and we need new mentors to make it happen! We’re looking for graduate students and recent grads with expertise in: ?? Machine Learning & AI ?? App Development ?? Data Science & Action Research As a mentor, you’ll: ?? Guide the next generation of AI builders and changemakers ?? Gain leadership experience while deepening your technical skills ?? Boost your resume with hands-on mentorship and real-world impact ?? Get paid for your expertise and time If you’re passionate about AI, mentorship, and making a real impact — this is your chance. Apply today! ?? https://lnkd.in/drtzn3PP

Next stop: Nashville!????Our very own Director of Marketing & Program Outreach,?Ashleen Sullivan, is heading to #NAISThrive2025 next week! The National Association of Independent Schools' Conference Thrive 2025 is all about supporting schools, leaders, and students to not just succeed but truly thrive. ?? Ashleen will be on-site, ready to connect with fellow independent school leaders and educators to explore new ways to foster meaningful growth in our communities. If you're attending, don’t hesitate to say hi and share how your school is preparing for the future. ?? ?? See you there!??? https://lnkd.in/eHxW9mHX

Can AI spark creativity? Let’s put it to the test!??? ?? ?? This week, our FusionEd students are diving deeper into the world of #AI — exploring self-management and creative expression through poetry with the help of ChatGPT!??? Like poetry, self-management requires intentionality, structure, and emotional balance. These skills are just as important in life as they are in writing. With AI, we can push the boundaries of creativity in new and exciting ways. So, we’re curious…how do you feel about AI’s role in #creativewriting? ?? AI can enhance creativity and provide inspiration?? ?? AI is useful, but true creativity comes from humans?? ?? AI-generated writing lacks authenticity??? ?? I haven’t explored AI for creativity yet!??? Vote in our poll and let us know your thoughts! And if you’re curious about what our students are discovering this week, drop a comment below.???

Our newest #CreativeExplorations program, in partnership with FusionEd, is officially underway! ?? ?? Over the next five weeks, students will explore #GenerativeAI, tapping into creativity, self-expression, and a deeper understanding of its impact. This first week, we tackled Self-Awareness through Self-Portraits, using #AI tools to bring their reflections to life through art. But it wasn’t just about creating cool images — our students explored how #artificialintelligence can enhance personal expression while also thinking about how we use it responsibly. ?? Leading the way? Our two absolute rockstars: Ericka María C. and Nathan Santiago! ?? ? As a former SureStart student, Ericka knows firsthand what it’s like to be in this program, and they’re now paying it forward. And with Nathan’s expertise, this dynamic duo is mentoring the next generation of leaders. It’s amazing to see them not just teaching AI skills but guiding students through creativity, problem-solving, and #ethicalinnovation. Check out their own #GenAI self-portraits — how cool are they?! With FusionEd’s expertise in supporting K-12 schools and our mission to prepare students for an AI-driven future, we’re making #AIEducation engaging, hands-on, and seriously fun. ?? Stay tuned as we continue to explore AI-powered creativity. Let’s go! ??

After over five months of hands-on AI learning, the 6th-grade students of #XCLWorldAcademy Powered by SureStart took the stage to showcase their #AI-powered projects — bringing their classroom knowledge to life in real-world #innovation ?? From building AI-driven #apps to mastering cutting-edge tools, these young minds have proven that the #futureoftech is bright.?? Here’s a look at what they accomplished in their first program semester: ?? Tech Concepts:?Students explored AI, Gen AI, Discriminative AI, and App Development ??? Tech in Action:?Students were introduced to 30+ AI tools, including Stable Diffusion, DreamStudio, ChatGPT, Soundraw, Suno, MIT App Inventor & more! ?? Apps Built:?13 AI-powered apps tackling real-world challenges ?? Total Learning Hours:?~80 hours of immersive tech education Seeing their creativity and problem-solving skills in action is exactly why we do what we do. This is the power of learning by doing, and we couldn’t be prouder! ?? A huge thank you to XCL World Academy for championing #AIforEducation. To our students: keep building, keep exploring, and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible!???

Big congratulations to?Ericka María C. and?Ashmita Kumar on their Westly Foundation Prize win!??? ?? Their journey started with #MITFutureMakers, where they formed Code Blue and developed FAST — a groundbreaking #AI-driven app that detects early signs of stroke onset by analyzing facial asymmetry. Today, they’re not just innovating, they’re shaping the future of #healthcare. We’re especially proud to see them continue their impact as SureStart #mentors, guiding the next generation of change-makers. And with Ericka now part of the #SureStart team, we get to see firsthand the dedication and vision that make them such a force for good ?? ? This well-deserved recognition is just the beginning. We can't wait to see where you take Code Blue AI next! ?? #EducationAI #AIforEducation

From #NewDelhi to #Singapore — what an incredible journey it has been!??? ? Our CEO,?Taniya Mishra, PhD, just wrapped up an exceptional time at?ASU+GSV & Emeritus Summit India, where she moderated a panel on future-proofing students for an AI-driven world. The conversations were insightful, the energy was inspiring, and we can’t wait for the?ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego this April! Now, she’s off to Singapore for more excitement: the AI at #XCLWorldAcademy Powered by SureStart Finale!??? Tomorrow morning at 8:30am SGT, our 6th-grade students will take the stage to showcase their innovative #AI projects, putting all the skills they’ve learned with SureStart this semester into action. What better way to close out this incredible event tour, right? We’re beyond excited to witness their creativity and shared learnings??? Stay tuned for more highlights from Singapore!??? #AIinEducation #EducationAI #EdTech #EducationInnovation