<p>What if students weren’t just learners — but problem-solvers?</p><p>At Ridgewood Local Schools, a group of senior honors students identified a growing literacy challenge and decided to do something about it. The result: an AI-powered platform that allows students to generate their own stories, read at their level, and build stronger engagement with reading.</p><p>In this episode of <em>Leading the Way</em>, host Scott Gerfen talks with the students behind the project and their teacher, Lester McCurdy, about how the idea came to life and why it’s gaining national attention.</p><p>You’ll hear:</p><ul><li><p>How the project started from a real classroom need.</p></li><li><p>What makes student-created storytelling so effective.</p></li><li><p>How the platform supports both students and teachers.</p></li><li><p>Why equity and multilingual access were built in from the start.</p></li><li><p>What students gained from leading the work.</p></li><li><p>Lessons for districts looking to empower student innovation.</p></li></ul><p>The team’s work has already taken them to Washington, D.C., where they met with leaders from government and major tech companies. </p><p>This conversation offers a fresh perspective on AI in schools — not as a shortcut, but as a tool for deeper learning, creativity and ownership.</p>