Sonoran Living recently featured the online elementary program at ASU Prep Digital, highlighting it as a flexible, high-quality education option for young learners.

Michelle Ugalde, Director of Student Advisement at ASU Prep Digital, took this opportunity to shine a light on the key elements that make the program so impactful for young elementary learners. During the interview, she emphasized how daily live lessons, personalized support and engaging resources empower students to thrive academically while also building essential life skills. She also highlighted the importance of community, saying, “We really see that when parents are involved, when students and the teachers have that partnership, that’s when we see students be successful.”

We’re always happy to share how our innovative, accredited K–12 program is designed to provide a personalized education that seamlessly meets each student’s unique needs. Be sure to check out the Sonoran Living feature.

At ASU Prep Digital, innovation in education isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a daily practice. And no one embodies that spirit more than Meaghan Goliday, who was recently named AI Teacher of the Year by MagicSchool. Her thoughtful integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into instruction transforms her students’ learning experiences and secures a place for AI-powered tools in digital education.

A path rooted in relationships

Meaghan Goliday’s journey to becoming AI Teacher of the Year didn’t begin with algorithms or platforms—it started in a traditional classroom in Louisiana. There, she discovered her north star as an educator: relationships come first.

That guiding principle has carried her across the country, from helping launch a high school in Seattle to teaching sixth-grade English at ASU Prep Digital. Today, she’s known not only for her warmth and connection with students, but for her transformative use of technology—particularly AI.

Teaching smarter, not harder—with AI tools

At ASU Prep Digital, Goliday quickly became a leading voice in AI-powered instruction. She’s among the network’s top users of MagicSchool AI, using it to streamline lesson plans, generate rubrics, scaffold feedback and build goal-tracking systems. With these generative AI tools, she’s found smart ways to lighten her planning load—without sacrificing student impact.

Her favorite hack? Designing custom reading passages for live lessons that align with grade-level metrics and student learning goals that they will later be assessed by, giving them a clear, consistent roadmap for success.

But AI isn’t just a behind-the-scenes tool for Meaghan—it’s something her students actively learn to use, too.

Students who think differently

In Goliday’s classroom, AI is a springboard—not a shortcut. She teaches students to use it for brainstorming, revising and organizing ideas, especially when they hit a creative block. They’re discovering how language models like ChatGPT can enhance their critical thinking and streamline their learning paths. The result: students who feel more independent, more capable and more engaged in their own interactive learning experience.

“How many times have I heard a student say, ‘I’ve written everything I can think of and I still need two more paragraphs’?” Goliday shares. “AI helps them practice their agency and cultivate their creativity and critical thinking without having to wait to meet with me during office hours.”

Rather than replacing human effort, AI extends it—giving learners the tools to think more critically, not just absorb information.

Where relationships and technology meet

For all the innovation in her classroom, Goliday is clear about one thing: tech doesn’t replace the teacher.

Students trust her because they feel seen, understood and supported. That trust allows her to leverage AI in ways that enhance—not hinder—human connection. By automating certain tasks, she creates an adaptive learning environment and more space for the moments that matter: the lightbulb realizations, the honest conversations, the real-world breakthroughs that can’t be scripted.

A model for ethical, empowered use

With AI at their fingertips, students face new choices. Goliday meets those moments with mentorship, not punishment. She sets clear expectations, revisits them often and helps students understand how their choices affect their growth. When missteps happen, they become learning opportunities.

“It’s hard not to go down the rabbit-hole of being the AI police when we see something suspicious. But I take a different approach,” she says. “I take these opportunities to talk to the student about what led them to make that choice and how it impacts their learning. We then talk about how to tweak what they did to help them in their planning and editing phases and what other tools are available to help them when they get stuck.”

Her values-driven approach teaches students to use AI tools thoughtfully, take ownership of their learning and become more reflective learners.

A look ahead

Goliday believes generative AI will soon be a standard part of every educator’s toolkit. Her advice for teachers just getting started? Start small. Focus on one tool or interactive workflow that genuinely helps. If it doesn’t make your teaching easier or your students’ experience better, try something else. 

“I found MagicSchool AI super easy to use, especially since they have their own certifications and examples within their tools,” Goliday says. “The number of tools they host might feel overwhelming, but start out with one that will make a big impact for you, like the Writing Feedback tool or the chatbots, and then go from there!”

A well-earned honor

Being named AI Teacher of the Year isn’t just a career milestone for Goliday—it’s a celebration of what’s possible when relationships and innovation go hand in hand. 

“Personally and professionally, this is a recognition of the work that I do faithfully every day,” she says. “It is recognition of how I use MagicSchool AI for not just the regular grading support, but how I have created motivating challenges for my students that keep them excited about coming to class.”

Her biggest inspiration is her mom, a longtime special education teacher who did what was best for her students, never letting a lack of resources limit her students’ potential.

“She inspired me to always think big,” Goliday says. 

And that’s exactly what she does—for herself, her students and the future of education.

Innovating K–12 education with adaptive learning and technology

Meaghan Goliday’s story reflects what we value most at ASU Prep Digital: strong relationships, meaningful learning, and smart use of technology to support every student. Her approach to using AI tools in the classroom shows how innovation can deepen connections and boost student engagement.

As an accredited K–12 online program, ASU Prep Digital blends flexibility with personalized support, offering students the chance to grow academically while exploring their interests. From dynamic lesson plans to real-time feedback and college-level learning experiences, we’re creating a future-ready learning environment where students—and teachers like Ms. Goliday—thrive.

From the arts to engineering, ASU Prep Digital empowers students to pursue their passions while achieving academic excellence. Join an upcoming information session to see how ASU Prep Digital can help your student grow with confidence—and curiosity.

We’re ASU Prep Digital, of course we’re celebrating National Online Learning Day—online!

Dr. Sage E. Sirotkin, Director of Digital Student Engagement, and Shay Wallace, Digital K–8 Program Manager, share how our ASU Prep Digital community is marking this exciting occasion.

Dr. Sirotkin emphasized the modern reality of balancing work from home with managing distractions and achieving work-life integration. This approach is vital for students too, as learning should be seamlessly woven into their lives rather than treated as a separate task. This philosophy is just one of the many reasons to appreciate online learning.

But there are even more! Our students, teachers, and Learning Success Coaches have enthusiastically responded to the prompt, “I love online learning because…” From participating in Lego Club to conducting science experiments, students are sharing their experiences through posts and photos, with some highlights featured on our ASU Prep Digital social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

Wallace noted the standout theme in these responses is the focus on student-centered learning. At ASU Prep Digital, we see each student as an individual, customizing their educational journey to suit their unique needs.

Here are the top three reasons our community loves online learning:

• Flexibility, enabling more time with family, friends, pets and personal passions like hobbies, volunteering, jobs, and travel.
• Socialization and the ability to make friends with peers globally.
• School as a safe and fun space with supportive teachers.

To further celebrate, we’re inviting “Where Do You Prep” photo submissions from our digital community, who are sharing snapshots of their online teaching environments on Instagram. We can’t wait to see the creative setups. Follow along with our celebration using the hashtags #NationalOnlineLearningDay and #ASUPrepDigital.

Looking ahead to next year’s National Online Learning Day, ASU Prep Digital envisions an even bigger celebration filled with innovative grade competitions, celebrity live lessons, and perhaps ambitious record-setting events like achieving the most online assignments submitted in a day or hosting the largest online book read and pizza party.

Interested in joining this vibrant online learning community? To learn more, schedule a call with an advisor today!

Spirit of DLAC Award Recognizes Julie Young’s Ongoing Collaboration, Knowledge Sharing

Media Contact: Angela Menninger, angelam@dualitypr.com or 602-373-8212

TEMPE, Arizona (March 12, 2024) – Julie Young was recognized during the recent Digital Learning Annual Conference with a Spirit of DLAC award in recognition of her contributions to helping students reach their full potential. Young is the former ASU Vice President of Educational Outreach and Managing Director of ASU Preparatory Academy. She currently serves as a Senior Advisor to ASU Prep.

The Spirit of DLAC award honors individuals who embody the spirit of selfless sharing, support and collegiality across the digital learning field. Young began her career as an elementary educator and has continued to use that lens in designing internationally connected and engaging models of education throughout her career.

Young’s distinguished tenure as President and CEO of Florida Virtual School from its inception in 1996 marks a significant chapter in her career, during which she turned the organization into a model of excellence for online learning.

A long-standing leader in the field, Young has set new standards for personalized, accessible education across the world. Her visionary leadership extended Florida Virtual School’s reach to over 2 million students in 50 states and 68 countries, establishing it as a global benchmark for innovative, personalized learning solutions.

Moreover, her trailblazing work has paved the way for countless education leaders, inspiring them to adopt and further her innovative approaches. Young’s passion for building teams and creating cultural alignment has been instrumental in shaping successful forward-thinking learning models.

Young continues to put her expertise as the leading authority on virtual and online education to use as she advises a number of entrepreneurial education and technology organizations, including ASU Prep.

“As the education landscape evolves, we must continually challenge ourselves to bring new and innovative opportunities to help students excel,” Young said. “I wholeheartedly believe that creating new avenues for academic success requires collaboration and idea sharing at every level of the education system, and I’m deeply honored to be recognized for sharing my passion with others.”

Among her many recognitions, Young also is the distinguished recipient of the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education, she was featured in Digital Learning’s Converge Yearbook as a top 50 innovator, named Technology & Learning Top 30 Influencers in Ed Tech, 2010 and received the Florida Diversity Council’s Multicultural Leadership Award.

Young graduated with a master’s in education from the University of South Florida following her undergraduate work at the University of Kentucky. She is a Fellow of the 22nd class of the Pahara – Aspen Education Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

About ASU Preparatory Academy

ASU Prep is chartered by Arizona State University and serves more than 7,000 students across its network. ASU Prep uses innovative approaches to curriculum to prepare all students for success in graduating from a university. Its mission is to design new models for educational success and raise academic achievement for all learners. ASU Preparatory Academy has schools in Phoenix, South Phoenix, Mesa and Casa Grande. In addition, ASU Prep Digital serves online students grades K–12 in Arizona and around the world. For more information, visit asuprep.asu.edu.

About the Digital Learning Collaborative

The Digital Learning Collaborative (DLC) is a membership group made up of educators, providers and supporters seeking to improve education for all schools and students through research, information-sharing and collaborative activities. Members include school districts, state agencies, online schools, state virtual schools, NGOs and companies. DLC provides spaces for collaboration, community and professional learning, and promotes recognized quality standards. Members receive exclusive access, including: an expert community of educators serving students across the continuum of digital learning; curated resources; advocacy that accelerates the impact of high-quality digital learning; and Digital Learning Annual Conference (DLAC). The DLC runs the DLAC; the DLC is organized by the Evergreen Education Group. The Evergreen Education Group has been the leading advisory and consulting firm in K-12 online, hybrid and blended learning for 21 years. We advise companies, NGOs and government agencies on a variety of digital learning issues, including digital learning trends, policies and practice.