This article by Dr. Lance Gibbon originally appeared in the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) School Administrator magazine in April 2026. The original version of this article can be found here.

There are parts of the superintendent’s job that no credential program prepares you for.

You can study essential skills and shadow experienced leaders. Still, one morning, you may find yourself standing alone in a mechanical room, staring at an unfamiliar control panel — alarms blinking, screens flashing and time slipping away — knowing that if you don’t figure it out quickly, school will be canceled.

That moment came for me after a power outage disabled our rural K-8 school’s water pump system. With no running water by morning, a school closure was imminent unless I found a rapid solution.

Solutions in Uncertainty

In a large school district, this situation might fall to a facilities department. In a small one, it can land squarely on the superintendent.

At that point, with no training in mechanical systems and no technicians available to reach us in time, I faced a new reality. Yet I did have one unexpected partner: artificial intelligence.

Using my cellphone, I took photos of control panels, error messages and equipment labels. I uploaded the images and described the issues. AI quickly explained what I was seeing and guided me through step-by-step troubleshooting. Each time I adjusted a setting or reset a component, I uploaded new photos and updates.

Within about 20 minutes, the system came back online. By the time buses arrived, water was flowing and classrooms opened as usual.

It was remarkable how quickly confusion gave way to clarity. Once I understood the unfamiliar controls and possible next steps, I was able to stay calm, think clearly and act quickly.

An Invaluable Model

A powerful leadership model emerged from this experience. When urgent problems arise beyond my expertise, AI can help me gain just enough insight to respond effectively. I now apply this approach whenever I face complex challenges with significant knowledge gaps and tight timelines.

This model proved invaluable again during a school construction project when early cost estimates came in nearly 30 percent over budget — a gap of about $4.5 million. I had some experience with facilities planning but lacked deep expertise in construction estimating and cost engineering.

By uploading large technical documents and interacting with AI in real time during design meetings, I gained clarity on cost drivers and unfamiliar terminology, sharpening the questions I brought back to our architects and construction managers. After several iterations, our team closed the gap, and our most recent estimate now sits roughly $100,000 under budget.

In both cases, AI helped me acquire just enough understanding, just fast enough, to lead responsibly. I still relied on professional expertise and applied my own judgment, but AI helped me engage more deeply, ask better questions and serve my leadership role more effectively — even when I was operating outside my training or background.

Filling the Gap

Reflecting on both experiences, I was struck by how much leadership depends on timely, actionable understanding. When the knowledge gap is wide and the consequences are real, even a modest gain in clarity can reshape what’s possible.

For superintendents, AI’s greatest value may be helping us learn fast enough to lead well. Whether navigating facility emergencies, managing major construction projects or confronting any unfamiliar challenge, AI can shorten the distance between uncertainty and informed action — when we remain curious, skeptical and engaged.

In a role where the problems rarely match our training, the ability to rapidly bridge knowledge gaps isn’t just helpful — it’s becoming essential. And sometimes, that’s the difference between closing a school and opening its doors.

Lance Gibbon is superintendent of the Hood Canal School District in Skokomish, Wash. E-mail: lance.gibbon.edd@gmail.com