Building AI for STRONG Teachers in Public: Module 1.1 and Why Philosophy Comes First

I'm building an AI course for teachers. And I'm doing it in public. Here's why—and what I'm learning along the way.

Artificial Intelligence for Teachers

I'm building an AI course for teachers. And I'm doing it in public. Here's why—and what I'm learning along the way.

I've been teaching for 26 years, and I've built courses before. Here's "one way" to do this: build everything in secret, polish it until it's perfect, launch with a big reveal, and hope people check it out.

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But this time, I'm doing something different. I'm building AI for STRONG Teachers in public—right here, with you watching. Not because I'm particularly brave, but because it's a great way to build something teachers actually need, not just what I think they need.

This is the first in a series of posts where I'll share what I'm building, why I'm making specific decisions, what I'm learning from teachers along the way, and how the course is taking shape. Consider this your backstage pass.

Why Build a Course in Public?

Some people would say, "Don't show your work until it's done." "What if people steal your ideas?" "What if you change your mind and look inconsistent?"

But here's what I've learned after 26 years in education: the best things I've ever built came from conversation, not isolation. The STRONG Framework emerged from years of talking with exhausted teachers, testing ideas, getting feedback, and iterating. The STRONG Teacher's Lounge was built with input from founding members who talk about what they actually need. So why would I build this AI course any differently?

Building in public means you get to see the thinking behind decisions, I get feedback before wasting time building the wrong thing, and founding members feel invested because they are. Every "building" post teaches something, so it's valuable whether you join or not. Plus, honestly, it's more fun this way. Teaching in isolation is soul-crushing. Building in isolation is the same.

What I'm Building

The course is called AI for STRONG Teachers: Using AI to Become Happier, Healthier, and Stronger. It's a course inside The STRONG Teacher's Lounge for educators who are great at their jobs but exhausted by them.

The promise is simple: reclaim 5-8 hours per week using AI strategically—not to do more, but to create space for rest, relationships, and the work that actually matters. The approach is philosophy before prompts, boundaries before tools, and sustainability over efficiency. It's grounded in the STRONG Framework, Ikigai principles, Stoic philosophy, 26 years of teaching experience, and a community of educators who refuse to burn out.

Module 1.1: Welcome & Course Philosophy

Most AI courses start the same way: "Okay, everyone, here's ChatGPT. Here's your first prompt. Go write a lesson plan!" And then teachers try it, feel weird about whether they're cheating, get overwhelmed by options, and abandon it after two weeks because it feels like just another thing on their plate.

That's why I'm not starting there. I'm starting with Module 1.1: Welcome & Course Philosophy. Not because I love talking about myself, but because clarity comes before capability. Teachers need to understand the approach before they start using tools, otherwise AI just becomes another source of overwhelm.

What Module 1.1 Actually Does

Module 1.1 will contain a video (plus a downloadable Course Overview PDF) that establishes the foundation for everything else.

First, it clarifies who this is for. Not every teacher—specifically teachers who are excellent but exhausted. Teachers who care deeply about their students but are drowning in the work. If you're not clear on who it's for, you end up trying to serve everyone and helping no one.

Second, it explains what makes this different. Most AI courses teach tools and focus on efficiency, assuming you already know what you need help with. This course teaches strategic thinking and focuses on sustainability. We start with clarity about where your time actually goes before touching any AI tools. The thinking will last; the tools will change.

Third, it lays out the structure. The course has three parts: Philosophy Before Prompts (foundation), AI + STRONG Framework Integration (application), and Integration & Sustainability (making it last). The STRONG Framework runs through everything, because AI isn't separate from sustainable teaching—it's a tool that serves it.

Fourth, it sets expectations about how the course works. Self-paced, no deadlines, community support. Teachers need flexible systems, not rigid ones. The irony of building a course about reclaiming time that then demands you show up at specific times isn't lost on me.

Finally, it promises specific outcomes. By the end, you'll have reclaimed 5-8 hours per week (measurable, documented), clear boundaries on what stays human and what gets AI support, sustainable systems that last beyond the course, strategic thinking to adapt as AI evolves, and community support from teachers who get it.

Why This Module Matters

Here's what I'm really doing in Module 1.1: giving teachers permission to approach this differently.

Most teachers come to AI feeling guilty (am I cheating?), overwhelmed (there are too many tools), behind (everyone else seems to know this already), and pressured (I should be using this). Module 1.1 reframes all of that. You're not behind—you're being thoughtful. You're not cheating—you're working smarter. You're not required to use every tool—you choose what serves your purpose. You don't need to figure this out alone—you have a community.

This is permission-giving before productivity. And that's more important than any AI prompt I could give you.

What I'm Learning Already

I haven't even finished building Module 1.2 yet, but I'm already learning a few things.

First, teachers are drowning in tips, not lacking them. Everyone's giving teachers AI prompts—"Try this! Try this!"—but no one's helping them figure out where to start or what actually needs fixing. That's why Module 1.2 is The AI Audit, a systematic look at where time and energy actually go.

Second, boundaries matter more than tools. Teachers are scared of AI not because of the technology, but because they don't know their own boundaries yet. "Is this okay? Is this cheating? Am I crossing a line?" That's why Module 1.3 is Your AI Philosophy Statement, where you get clarity about what you will and won't use AI for.

Third, philosophy underpins the prompts. When I shared the AI Audit concept with a few teachers, their response wasn't "Give me the prompts!" It was, "I need to know where my time is going before I try to 'fix' it with AI." The philosophy resonates more than the tactics.

Fourth, building in public can be terrifying and exhilarating. What if no one cares? What if I change my mind about the structure later? But also, what if this helps someone? What if transparency builds trust faster than polish? I'm betting on the second set of questions.

What's Next

Module 1.2 is nearly done. It's called "The AI Audit: Where Your Time Actually Goes."

I'll share that process in the next "Building in Public" post, including:

Why does this come before any AI tools
The seven questions every teacher should answer
How to identify your highest-leverage AI opportunities
The worksheet I'm giving away (yes, for free)

Module 1.3 is taking shape. "Your AI Philosophy Statement: Boundaries Before Tools."

This is where you define what you will and won't use AI for. It's the most important document you'll create in the entire course.

Module 1.4 is sketched out. "The Stoic Approach to AI: What You Control vs. What You Don't."

Marcus Aurelius meets ChatGPT. Because Stoic philosophy is shockingly relevant to AI adoption.

How You Can Help

Since I'm building this in public, here's how you can be part of the process.

You can give me feedback. What questions do you have? What concerns? What are you most curious about? Comment below or email me. Your questions shape what I build next.

You can share your struggles. Where do you waste time as a teacher? What drains your energy most? Your honest answers help me make this course more useful.

The Real Reason I'm Doing This

The STRONG Framework came from my desire to make teaching more sustainable for me. The Lounge came from wanting to help other teachers avoid my mistakes. And now AI is here, and I'm watching teachers make the same mistakes I made: thinking they need to do more, feeling guilty when they set boundaries, adding tools without strategy, burning out in pursuit of excellence.

So I'm building this course to show a different way. Not because I have all the answers, but because I've walked this path, made these mistakes, and found something better. And I think building it in public—with transparency, and community input—is the only way to build something that helps.

One Last Thing

If you're reading this and thinking, "I don't have time to follow along with a course being built," I get it. You're drowning already. But here's why I think you should pay attention: these "building in public" posts will teach you how to think about AI strategically. Even if you never join the course, you'll learn the framework just by watching the process.

I'm not gatekeeping the thinking. I'm sharing it freely. The course just makes it easier to implement. But the strategy is here, in these posts, for everyone.

Because I don't care how you become a more sustainable teacher, I just care that you do. So whether you join, lurk, or just read these posts and implement on your own—I'm glad you're here.

Next in the series: "Building Module 1.2: The AI Audit (And Why Most Teachers Skip This Step)."

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