weskriesel.comspeaker contact sheet, 2026

BRIDGES 2026: The Public Sector AI Summit
Pier 60, Chelsea Piers, New York City, July 21-22, 2026

Wes Kriesel

AI Education Lead, Orange County Department of Education

Practical AI sessions for K-12.

Contact Wes
Portrait of Wes Krieselportrait01
Wes Kriesel speaking with a microphone at a conferenceat the mic02

People first. Technology second.

Signature talks

6 frames / titles first / venue, place, date underneath

  1. frame 03upcoming

    Your Students Already Built What You're Still Drafting

    FETC 2027
    Orlando, FL
    January 26-29, 2027 ← on the calendar

  2. frame 04upcoming

    AI at Scale: The COE Strategy for Supporting District Implementation

    CITE Annual Conference
    Anaheim, CA
    November 17-19, 2026 ← on the calendar

  3. frame 052025

    AI That Supports MTSS: Practical Tools for Intervention & Equity

    California MTSS Professional Learning Institute
    Anaheim Convention Center
    July 2025

    triple exposure2024 / 2025 / 2026

  4. frame 062025

    AI for the Whole School: Insights from OCDE's Office Staff, Translators, and Administrators

    ASU+GSV Summit, AI Show
    San Diego, CA
    April 2025

  5. frame 072025

    Cobra Kai's Stealth Strike: How AI Just Swept Education's Leg

    OC CUE TechFest 2025 keynote, with Kunal Dalal
    Huntington Beach, CA
    March 2025

  6. frame 082024

    AI: The New School Counselor's Sidekick

    Orange County Counselor Symposium, with Kunal Dalal
    Hilton Anaheim
    February 2024

    triple exposure2024 / 2025 / 2026

Selected stages

8 headline venues + the full history

frames 09-16 / headline venues first

  1. frame 09upcoming

    BRIDGES 2026: The Public Sector AI Summit

    Pier 60, Chelsea Piers, New York City
    July 21-22, 2026 ← on the calendar

  2. frame 10upcoming

    CITE Annual Conference

    Anaheim, CA
    November 17-19, 2026 ← on the calendar

  3. frame 11upcoming

    FETC 2027

    Orlando, FL
    January 26-29, 2027 ← on the calendar

  4. frame 12April 2025

    ASU+GSV Summit, AI Show

    San Diego, CA
    April 2025

  5. frame 132026

    Concordia University Irvine, AI & Education Conference

    Keynote
    March 21, 2026

  6. frame 142026

    California MTSS Professional Learning Institute

    Anaheim
    2024, 2025, 2026

    triple exposure2024 / 2025 / 2026

  7. frame 152025 and 2026

    OC CUE TechFest

    Keynote with Kunal Dalal, 2025
    2025 and 2026

  8. frame 162018 and 2019

    ISTE

    Chicago 2018, Philadelphia 2019
    2018 and 2019

the negatives / the full history beyond the six / hover or tap to develop

  1. frame 18

    CASCWA webinar

    CASCWA webinar

    Panelist, online - September 29, 2026

  2. double exposure frame 19

    CUSD AI Institute kickoff keynote

    CUSD AI Institute kickoff keynote

    Keynote - August 2025 and August 10, 2026

  3. frame 20

    Newport-Mesa USD Shifting Learning Day

    Newport-Mesa USD Shifting Learning Day

    Newport-Mesa, CA - August 11, 2026

  4. frame 21

    Grounds for Innovation Conference

    Grounds for Innovation Conference

    Hans Christensen Academy, Menifee, CA - July 2026

  5. frame 22

    Student and Community Voice AI Summit

    Student and Community Voice AI Summit

    Anaheim, CA - March 20-21, 2026

  6. triple exposure frame 23

    Orange County Counselor Symposium

    Orange County Counselor Symposium

    Hilton Anaheim / Costa Mesa - 2024, 2025, 2026

  7. frame 24

    AI Myths & Realities in Education

    AI Myths & Realities in Education

    Webinar with Dr. Lisa Dawley and Rylee Robles, University of San Diego - October 2025

  8. frame 25

    Western Alliance Conference

    Western Alliance Conference

    Concordia University Irvine - September 2025

  9. frame 26

    OC GLAD Spring Institute

    OC GLAD Spring Institute

    "Speak. Create. Inspire: AI-Powered Language Learning That Moves Kids" - April 2025

  10. frame 27

    Spring CUE

    Spring CUE

    Palm Springs, CA - March 2025

  11. frame 28

    OC Career Forum

    OC Career Forum

    Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA - March 2025

  12. frame 29

    AI K12 Deeper Learning Summit

    AI K12 Deeper Learning Summit

    Lead presenter workshop, Anaheim, CA - 2025

  13. frame 30

    Future Leaders Conference

    Future Leaders Conference

    Keynote - November 2024

  14. frame 31

    University of Redlands

    University of Redlands

    Panel on AI in education and counseling - February 2024

  15. frame 32

    Innovations in Game-Based Learning

    Innovations in Game-Based Learning

    Webinar: "iPersonalize and Agents of Change in FSD" - 2017

  16. frame 33

    iNACOL Symposium

    iNACOL Symposium

    Pre-conference panel, San Antonio, TX - 2016

Slides

slide decks, Newport-Mesa USD Shifting Learning Day, August 11, 2026

Agentix 101 for Educators title slideAgentix 101 for Educators: Pedagogy EditionDoing to Directing. AI agents in teaching practice. Open the deck. Ten Ways to Reclaim Your Well-Being with AI title slide10 Ways to Reclaim Your Well-Being with AITen small shifts, counted down. Open the deck.

Field notes, on video

short takes from Kriesel's Field Notes / tap to play

How to teach AI literacy with no screensSimple, and we've already been doing it. Watch on Instagram
The most common mistake districts make with AINot talking about it to students, parents and staff. Watch on Instagram
Listen to students firstWhat students think of and do with AI is key for any K-12 AI effort. Watch on Instagram

More on Instagram

About

Wes Kriesel leads artificial intelligence and innovation for the Orange County Department of Education, with over 25 years in public education. His work advances outcomes for students, families and staff through inclusiveness, storytelling and innovation.

As Director of Innovation and Instructional Support at Fullerton School District, he led personalized learning initiatives. At Santa Ana Unified, his roles centered on 21st-century learning and virtual education. He holds a Clear Administrative Services Credential and an M.A. and B.A. in English from UC Irvine.

Away from work: photography, his dogs, his Jeep, and time with his wife, in reverse order of importance.

The convening, recognition and press

recognition and press

he built this

frame 17countywide

Student AI Convening

OCDE's countywide student AI event, developed and led by Wes
Third year running: 2024, 2025, 2026
600+ students at the first convening, April 2024
Students lead the keynote and closing; industry mentors run the breakouts
2026 edition: November 6, OCDE Conference Center

recognition

  • ASU+GSV Summit featured speaker, AI Show2025
  • Google for Education Certified Innovator, #MTV162016
  • Leading Edge Certification, CTAP2012

podcasts and media

  • Mike Conner podcast, on leading AI and innovationJuly 2025
  • Future Ready Schools, with Adam Phyall III and Carl HookerJune 2025
  • AUHSD Future Talks, episode 116, with Kunal DalalOctober 2024
  • Edtech Insiders, with Kunal DalalMay 2024
  • NBC Los Angeles, feature on OCDE's AI administratorsApril 2024
  • OrangeJuice.ai podcast2024

Leading AI strategy for 28 K-12 districts at the Orange County Department of Education.

Media and recordings

10 podcasts, panels and press

hear it or read it

Contact

Wes gives keynotes, leads workshops, joins panels, works with districts on practical AI strategy, and advocates for student agency.

Contact Wes

LinkedIn / Instagram / Kriesel's Field Notes / wes@weskriesel.com