I am fascinated by how fast things change. We used to think evolution was a slow, creeping and barely noticeable thing. That was when we were talking about how human-kind developed. In the age of information, mediated by technology, it almost seems silly to think about evolution at that pace.
From the beginning of the school year in August 2025 to now (April 2026), EVERYTHING has changed. I am thinking about how this time last year, I was working with community others to develop a clear statement about AI culture and norms (because policy in the age of 4-5-7 means nothing)! How could reading Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation and listening to/reading Ethan Mollick’s work on Co-Intelligence be so mind-boggling accurate that a year later, I am in this place?!
Welp, here we are.
I have been thinking about how learning is now so different and what it means to be part of the generative world of AIs. So…I am putting it out there–I am working on a bigger paper (like I have nothing else to do)! I have created a way to think about these shifts and applying it to STEM Education (of course…my bias).
More is coming but here is the skeleton…what a wild ride!
The “O.G.” status you wore was not a badge of the street, but a testament to a soul that stood firm in its foundation. You were the Original, the first of your kind, the blueprint of excellence. You were the Grateful, the Gifted, and the Grand architect of a culture where style met substance. Your “gangsta” was your grit—a fierce, unwavering commitment to the uplift of our people, a bold refusal to let any child’s light be dimmed, and a soulful swagger that demanded respect for the art you carried in your bones.
You reminded us to LIFT E’VRY VOICE
As you
Walked down the halls
Held banners in the streets
Hugged children in the courtyards
Grabbed microphones on the stage…
You, The, O.G., have guided us to ourselves…
So
We
Sing a song
Full of the faith that our dark past has taught us,
With a voice like a cello, resonant, honeyed, and deep;
You walked through the hallways, a queen whom the ancestors brought us,
With a promise to honor and a sacred tradition to keep.
You were our Sweet Honey, a rock in the midst of the weary,
An artist who painted the spirit with every high note.
When the way became shadowed and the outlook was dreary,
You sang of the “Greatness” that every young dreamer once wrote.
Though you have left us, the echo of music is ringing,
Leading us on to the joy that your presence was bringing.
Stony the road that you paved with a passion for learning,
Where the stage became a classroom of history and light;
For the “Month” (28 days most of the time) was not enough to contain all your yearning,
To see every child stand tall in the glory of what is right.
You dressed in the garments of culture, a style so melodic,
Teaching that beauty is power and rhythm is truth.
With a grace that was ancient and a flair that was profound,
You poured out your wisdom into the parched vessels of our youth.
We now stand where the gleam of your bright star is cast,
Honoring the “Original” soul that has anchored our past.
Now, a prayer sung to the tune and timing of a song we sing…
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, we thank you,
For the sister who marched in our circle with laughter and song;
In the harmony of our sisterhood, let her spirit cover us,
Keep us forever in the path where her joyful presence belongs.
May the “O.G.” legacy bloom in the hearts of the singers,
In the minds of the teachers who champion the story that must yet be told.
For as long as the vibration of one soulful melody lingers,
Let her art remain vibrant, her story remain bold.
Lest our feet stray from the places, dear God, where we met her,
Lest, drunk with the wine of the world, we should ever forget her.
Facing the rising sun of a new day begun, this victory is won.
Joy Barnes-Johnson, Ph.D. 