Speaking

Speaking grounded in district practice and public record.

This page is built for organizers, hosts, and institutions deciding fit. It keeps the emphasis on audience, topics, formats, and dated proof rather than promotional copy.

Organizer fit

Best when the room needs operating clarity.

Organizers usually invite Chris when they need a practitioner’s view of AI, leadership, or responsible implementation — whether the room is education leaders, business executives, IT professionals, or civic organizations. The best fit is an audience that wants operating clarity more than keynote theater.

288 presentations across 18 states over two years, covering district leadership teams, state and regional associations, business and industry groups, IT organizations, university programs, and national conferences.

Chris Chism before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce during the 'From Chalkboards to Chatbots' hearing
On record U.S. House Committee on Education & the Workforce — "From Chalkboards to Chatbots: The Impact of AI on K-12 Education," 2025

Audience fit

  • School districts planning leadership development or AI implementation work
  • State and regional education associations
  • Universities, policy forums, and civic organizations
  • Media hosts and podcast producers looking for a practitioner perspective

Common topics

  • Practical AI adoption in education, business, and industry
  • Leadership during periods of rapid technological change
  • Building AI literacy for educators and communities
  • Responsible implementation, governance, and guardrails
  • District operations, systems thinking, and decision-making

Formats

  • Keynotes
  • Panels
  • Conference sessions
  • Workshops
  • Leadership retreats
  • Advisory conversations

Selected appearances

Supporting public record

  1. April 1, 2025 · Federal hearing · U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce

    Witness on AI in K-12 education

    Chris Chism was listed as a witness for the April 1, 2025 House hearing on artificial intelligence in K-12 education.

  2. April 1, 2025 · Federal archive · GovInfo

    Congressional Record corroboration

    The hearing appearance is also reflected in the official Congressional Record, giving the testimony a durable federal archive source.

  3. 2025-2026 · State recognition · Pearl Public School District

    2025-2026 Mississippi Superintendent of the Year

    Selected as the 2025-2026 Mississippi Superintendent of the Year, recognized for district leadership and public work in education.

The witness panel at the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing on AI in K-12 education, April 2025. Chris Chism is seated at the far right.
Witness panel U.S. House Committee on Education & the Workforce, April 2025. Chris Chism (far right) joined fellow experts to address the impact of AI on K-12 schools.

Organizer-ready short bio

Chris Chism is superintendent of Pearl Public School District, co-founder of Ascended Intel, and the 2025-2026 Mississippi Superintendent of the Year. He has delivered 288 presentations across 18 states on practical AI implementation in education, business, and industry, and testified before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce on April 1, 2025. He received the 2026 Hugh I. Peck Research Award from William Carey University.

Inquiry handoff

Send the practical details first.

For speaking or media inquiries, the useful first note is simple: audience, date, format, location, and the decision you need the session to help people make.

A short note about topic, format, timing, and audience is usually enough.