MindSpark and Google Give Student-Facing Professionals Four Ways to Build AI Skills

Meet LEA offers free live sessions, self-paced training, team materials and a student program

LAKEWOOD, CO, UNITED STATES, August 12, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — MindSpark^®, a national nonprofit that strengthens education systems by upskilling educators, today announced its offering Meet LEA (Learn & Explore with AI) with Google, giving teachers and school leaders, youth program leaders, and students practical, no-cost ways to use the AI tools already built into Google Search.

Meet LEA is open to any professional working in an educational or youth-serving capacity, including K–12 teachers, teachers in training, instructional coaches, curriculum specialists, school and district leaders, homeschool educators, and program staff at after-school programs, summer camps, libraries, museums, and youth-serving organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs. Participants who want to extend the learning to colleagues can access materials through MindSpark to train their own teams.

AI is showing up in classrooms faster than most systems can support, through student use, lesson development, and everyday questions about responsible use. Many educators have limited time and limited guidance on how to use these tools to strengthen learning.

Four Ways to Participate

Meet LEA is accessible in different ways, so educators can choose the format that fits their role and schedule:

1) Live interactive sessions: A 45-minute virtual session led by MindSpark’s AI expert, Jacki Reid. Session dates are posted on a rolling basis, with registration open up to two months in advance.
2) Self-paced training: The same core content, available anytime, allowing educators to go at their own pace.
3) Train your team: Participants can receive Google training materials to bring back to their schools or programs.
4) Student program: Receive the materials to be used with students to teach them about using AI thoughtfully, safely, and responsibly.

Every format centers on inquiry and student comprehension over answer-giving. MindSpark’s approach believes that AI should expand access, creativity, and problem-solving. It should not replace human judgment or the relationships that make learning possible.

“AI literacy is becoming a core skill for students and teachers, and there is an urgent need for practical support that translates into classroom practice,” said Kellie Lauth, CEO of MindSpark Learning. “This PD session helps educators understand AI-powered features in Google Search and use them in ways that strengthen curiosity, critical thinking, and responsible use. When educators stay in the driver’s seat, more students get learning that feels accessible, relevant, and built for them.”

“Meet LEA works because Google’s AI tools are already inside the search bar every teacher and student already uses,” said Jacki Reid, M.Ed., MindSpark Vice President of Computer Science Education. “The range of ways to participate turns one training into skills that spread through an entire building.”

Learning Outcomes

Meet LEA focuses on three outcomes, with examples that can be used right away:

– Accelerate planning: Use Google Search’s AI-powered features to support lesson and activity planning, including follow-up questions and structured outputs that can help organize instructional preparation.
– Enrich learning: Use tools such as Google Lens in Chrome and AI-powered Search experiences to help students engage with sources, build context, and deepen understanding through guided exploration.
– Empower exploration: Use multimodal tools such as Google Lens and Search Live to support curiosity-driven learning and help students investigate questions about the world through inquiry.

For more information, session dates, and registration for any of the four pathways, visit www.mindspark.org/google-lea.

About MindSpark Learning
MindSpark Learning (MindSpark^®) is a national nonprofit organization that upskills educators and strengthens education systems to meet today’s and future needs. By uniting schools, local industry, and communities, MindSpark equips educators with the tools, partnerships, and real-world relevance needed to prepare students for high-demand careers and build resilient local workforces. Since 2017, MindSpark has supported more than 91,000 professionals and positively impacted 2.73 million students across all 50 states and 88 countries, in collaboration with 750+ industry and community partners.

Kim Peterson
MindSpark
Kim@mindspark.org
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook

Media gallery