From Classroom to AI Strategy: Matt Mervis’s Journey in Education - EduUnlocked Podcast
Matt mervis
Season 1 • Episode 58

From Classroom to AI Strategy: Matt Mervis’s Journey in Education

January 15, 2026
30:20
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About This Episode

In this episode of EDU Unlocked, Matt Mervis joins Ashish Fernando to share his journey across education, technology, and entrepreneurship. From his early learnings in the classroom to building diverse career pathways and founding his own company, Matt reflects on what shaped his work and what continues to drive his passion for AI in education.
As Co-host of the ChatEDU podcast and Director of AI Strategy & Innovation at EdAdvance, Matt brings a practical, ethical lens to how schools and districts can adopt generative AI. He also leads Skills21 at EdAdvance, where he champions project-based learning and innovation across K–12 education.

Host & Guest

Matt Mervis

Matt Mervis

Guest

Matt Mervis is the Director of AI Strategy and Innovation at EdAdvance, the Educational Service Agency in Litchfield, CT, and co-host of the AI in Education Podcast – ChatEDU. He is a senior nonprofit leader dedicated to advancing immersive project-based learning and the responsible adoption of AI in education.

Matt brings extensive experience across the education spectrum, having served as a teacher, professional development specialist, district technology director, and product developer. He currently leads AI and project-based learning (PBL) product integration on the Skills21 platform and works with schools, higher education institutions, workforce development programs, and corporate partners to support the meaningful implementation of generative AI.
A frequent speaker on AI and the future of education, Matt is known for his engaging and accessible style, blending expertise with humor to make complex concepts actionable. Through his work, he empowers educators and leaders to confidently leverage AI to enhance teaching, learning, and student outcomes.
Key Highlights:
1. Director of AI Strategy and Innovation, EdAdvance (Litchfield, CT)
2. Co-host, AI in Education Podcast – ChatEDU
3. Experienced educator: teacher, PD specialist, district technology director, product developer
4. Leads AI/PBL product integration on the Skills21 platform
5. Frequent national and international speaker on AI in education and workforce development
6. Known for making AI accessible, actionable, and engaging for educators and leaders

Ashish Fernando Founder & CEO, EDMO

Ashish Fernando Founder & CEO, EDMO

Host

Ashish Fernando is the visionary founder and CEO of EDMO, a revolutionary educational technology platform that's transforming how people learn and grow. With over 15 years of experience in education and technology, Ashish has dedicated his career to making quality education accessible to learners worldwide. Before founding EDMO, Ashish held leadership positions at several prominent EdTech companies and worked as an educational consultant for Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Master's in Computer Science from MIT. Ashish is a frequent speaker at educational conferences and has been featured in publications such as EdTech Magazine, Learning & Development Today, and TechCrunch. He's passionate about the intersection of technology and human potential, believing that the right tools can unlock extraordinary learning outcomes for everyone. Under his leadership, EDMO has grown to serve over 100,000 learners globally and has partnerships with leading educational institutions and corporations. Ashish continues to drive innovation in personalized learning, adaptive assessment, and educational analytics.
Key Achievements
1. Founded EDMO in 2019, now serving 100,000+ learners globally
2. Named 'EdTech Innovator of the Year' by Learning Technology Awards 2023
3. Featured speaker at Global Education Summit 2024
4. Published researcher in educational technology and learning analytics
5. Advisor to multiple EdTech startups and educational initiatives

Show Notes

  • 1 0:00 – AI as a mirror on learning, trust, and assessment
  • 2 1:06 – Welcome to Edu Unlocked & introducing Matt Mervis
  • 3 4:07 – Generative AI, skills, and the future labor market
  • 4 6:52 – Are we moving in a meaningful direction with AI in education?
  • 5 7:55 – The “AI cat-and-mouse” problem and authentic learning
  • 6 9:18 – From essays to “AI ninjas”: rethinking essential skills
  • 7 12:04 – Real-world examples of students using AI to solve problems
  • 8 15:56 – Skills21, EdAdvance, and project-based learning
  • 9 21:08 – Can institutions keep pace with AI-driven change?
  • 10 26:51 – Agentic AI and the future of online learning
  • 11 29:00 – Final reflections and closing thoughts

Key Quotes

“AI is holding a mirror up to education forcing us to confront trust, rigor, and the depth of our assessments.”

“The real question isn’t whether students are using AI, but whether they’re authentically engaging in productive struggle.”

“Being an ‘AI ninja’ isn’t about prompting a chatbot it’s about using AI to solve meaningful problems.”

Resources

EDMO

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