LOOKING AHEAD

Ron Sunderland, Woodward High School Principal

By 2050 students and staff will use “scan cam” recognition at gates and doors to enter. This recognition will automatically take roll. It will also sync info to report absences and staff leave, sending computergenerated communications to parents/admin about the absences. No more buzzers, lanyards of keys, or unsecured gates, and there is a rapid return on the morning intel!

– Amy Estes, Sallie Gillentine Elementary Principal

It is my dream that in 2050, technology has evolved to support work-life integration, not just balance. I’d love to see an AI tool that can help manage daily tasks at school with emotional intelligence – handling scheduling, parent communication, even planning student learning opportunities – so I can be fully present with my students and be the kind of parent, spouse, and person my own family deserves. It’s a wild hope, but one rooted in making both school and home life more meaningful, human, and joyful.

– Melissa Barlow, Yukon High School Principal

Time-dilated learning chambers. Step inside, and an hour in real time feels like a week inside the chamber. You could learn new languages, master instruments, or train for complex tasks in what feels like a lifetime… while only a day passes outside.

– Matt Johnson, Shawnee High School Principal

I would like for our public schools to change and add to our state standards a mandatory nap time during school hours for grades K-12th!

– Joe Ballard, Poteau High School Principal

I’d love to see fully immersive learning environments – like classrooms that use advanced holograms, AI tutors, and neurallinked tech to simulate any place, concept, or era. Imagine a history lesson where you’re walking through ancient Rome or a science class where you’re floating in the bloodstream next to red blood cells. Total sensory engagement = ultimate learning!

– Kurt Myers, El Reno Etta Dale Junior High School Principal

Flying cars, with of course advanced air space control systems.

– Arlis Henegar, Jay Middle School Principal

I hope we have self-driving cars and alternative energy power systems/grids with zero carbon emissions and that are infinitely renewable!

– Dr. Ryan Glaze, Jenks East Elementary Principal

The future that I would love to see is the development of immersive, interactive learning environments powered by advanced VR and AI, where education is fully personalized and experiential. Imagine being able to step into a fully immersive history lesson where you can walk through ancient Rome or explore the depths of the ocean to study marine biology, all while interacting with AI-driven tutors who adapt the experience to your pace and interests.

These learning environments could be entirely customized to suit different learning styles –whether you’re a visual learner, physical/ interactive learner, or those who prefer auditory input – and they’d be available anywhere, anytime. No more traditional classrooms but new forms of interactive classrooms with flexible schedules. Physical teachers to help support, engage with, and drive students to achieve their best. Students could learn at their own speed, in ways that engage them fully, fostering creativity and critical thinking. The entire world would be an interactive classroom. Students would still need to come to schools to interact in person with others and learn social and emotional skills for life. Schools would still be a place where the students could be a part of different clubs, teams, and organizations that cannot be done remotely.

– Scott Davis, Ardmore High School Assistant Principal ■

True community-based schools where all schools, agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector are all working toward the same goal using the same resources and pot of funds to eliminate redundancy and lack of access to certain things in schools.

– Scott McCall, Executive Director of Special Services, Piedmont Public Schools

That ALL kids will have an equal opportunity for a quality public education that is properly funded in our state.

– Dr. Mike Simpson, Guthrie Superintendent

By 2050, I’m hoping for a hologram superintendent who can be in 12 buildings at once, smile at every parent, answer every email instantly, and still make it home by 5:00 p.m. Basically, me – but with better Wi-Fi.

– Rob Miller, Bixby Superintendent

I hope the teacher shortage is gone by then, but if it isn’t, it would be cool to conduct any distance learning classes with life-size holograms of the teacher instead of watching on a screen.

– Jason Goostree, Sentinel Superintendent