Upcoming Events
Join us this fall for a FREE Caregiver Workshop and Family Hike at Riverbend's nature preserve. Hear from psychologist Dr. Melissa Anderson, Pencils Over Pixels' Dr. Mike Balkin, and Riverbend's own Dr. Jill Shashaty as they discuss healthy screen limits and swapping screens for outdoor play, while kids enjoy nature-based activities led by Riverbend's educators. Designed for caregivers of children Pre-K through 8th grade.
5:00 PM: Pizza or bring a picnic. 5:30–7:30 PM: Workshop, activities for kids, family self-guided hike.
Questions? ereilly@riverbendeec.org
Speaker: Ifeoma Ozoma, nationally recognized tech policy expert and one of the country's leading voices on technology accountability. She has held public policy roles at Google, Facebook, and Pinterest, helped drive California's landmark Silenced No More Act, and created the Tech Worker Handbook to help technology workers speak out when the public interest is at stake.
Today, she is bringing that same accountability lens to AI in our schools. In New Mexico, Ifeoma has raised urgent questions about unvetted AI tools, children's voice data, parental consent, corporate transparency, and what happens when technology reaches classrooms before safeguards catch up. Who decides what technology enters our classrooms? What happens to our children's data? And are schools asking the right questions before embracing AI?
AI, Student Data, and Accountability
Past Events
Big Tech On Trial: What the Social Media Lawsuits Are Revealing
Nicki Petrossi (Scrolling 2 Death) took us inside the major social media trials, revealing what lawsuits are uncovering about addictive design, algorithms, and what tech companies knew about harm to children.
Bringing Back Childhood: Lessons, Leagues, Overscheduling, and the Loss of Play
Perk Musacchio drew on five decades in education to show what it looks like to bring genuine childhood back and why resilience depends on restoring free play and connection.
The Final LMSD Technology Policy
The LMSD Board voted on the final technology use policy, addressing phones, EdTech, and screens across the district.
100 Years of EdTech: What History Can Teach Us About AI in Education
Speaker Danny Zeliger traced a century of ed-tech history to show that today's pushback against tools like iReady and AI tutors is a course correction, not a pendulum swing.
Pencils Over Pixels In-Person Meetup
Community gathering with the Bloomberg Originals documentary team, followed by a private community conversation. Open to adults and children 12+.
Beyond Toys vs. Tech: Toy Story 5, AI, and the Future of Childhood
Free virtual panel on childhood, play, and technology featuring Alexa Arnold (TAG CEO), Dr. Dana Suskind, and Shelby Knox (ParentsTogether).
End of the School Year Party
Our community came together to celebrate the end of the school year. Pencils up, screens down. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Have an idea for a community event?
speakup@pencilsoverpixels.org