The Urban Assembly

In this special bonus episode of Innovations in Education, host David Adams sits down with Dr. Christina Cipriano (Director of the Education Collaboratory at Yale) for a live fireside chat recorded straight from the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego in April! ☀️✨

David and Dr. Cipriano engage the audience to tackle the most provocative questions facing educators today: Could AI replace teachers or therapists? Should it?

This thought-provoking conversation dives into how K-12 schools can move beyond the hype of artificial intelligence to use technology in ways that expand access, strengthen human connection, and advance equity for every learner.

🎧 Listen to the full episode and join the conversation shaping the future of learning:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0QF3nSLH2NjjHvcnXsA2nc?si=Ym-G6qftTPyMjtWUQspJtg

PRS Tips: Strengthening Postsecondary Support Networks 🎓 Supporting students through their first year of college is key to persistence and success.

Try these strategies:
🔹 Peer mentorship
🔹 First semester resource guides
🔹 College success workshops
🔹 Accessible support channels
🔹 Campus-based peer connections

When graduates stay connected, they’re more likely to thrive.

🌱 Photo from The Urban Assembly Maker Academy’s Junior College and Career Workshop, where students are building the skills and connections that support postsecondary success.

While the national average for postsecondary advising is just 41 minutes per year, students using CounselorGPT engaged for an average of 20 minutes per week. 📉📈

We are thrilled to see the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) highlight the impact of CounselorGPT in their latest field report. By acting as a 24/7 co-pilot for counselors and students, CounselorGPT uses large national datasets to help students explore careers and colleges.

With embedded labor market data, 80% of students are discovering high-wage, high-growth career paths they might have otherwise missed. We’re excited to showcase how our advising tool create more equitable outcomes for all students by giving them the guidance they need, exactly when they need it. 🌟

Read the full article on our work here: https://www.ncan.org/Web/News/CounselorGPT-Pilot-Shows-Increased-Student-Engagement-with-Advising.aspx

At Bronx School for Law, Government and Justice, an Urban Assembly School, we’re proud to honor the Class of 2026 and all they’ve accomplished so far. And there’s even more to celebrate:

✨ FAFSA completion has reached 85%—over 25 percentage points higher than the NYS average
✨ 94% of students have completed their CUNY applications
✨ Seniors are already giving back, connecting with 9th graders and building a lasting legacy at LGJ

The Class of 2026 is on fire for success, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to grow and thrive beyond high school. 🔥

Last month, two of our Postsecondary Readiness and Success (PRS) schools Urban Assembly Institute of Math and Science for Young Women (UAI) and Urban Assembly School for Leadership and Empowerment (SLE) partnered to bring students to the UFT Headquarters for an inspiring Women’s Mentorship event 💼✨

Students had the opportunity to explore their goals, build networks, and connect with women professionals across NYC through mentoring conversations and workshops focused on leadership, connection, and career readiness 🌟

At PRS, this is what we strive for: building networks, sharing resources, and creating opportunities for schools to support one another. This is the power of The Urban Assembly network and the PRS team; bringing schools together to expand opportunities, build connections, and support student success.

Meet our Director of Postsecondary Readiness and Success: Michael Manipakone!✨

Mike brings years of experience in the postsecondary success field, with a strong background in the CUNY system and higher education. He leads with collaboration, values feedback, and is always striving for growth—both for himself and the teams he supports. Outside of work, you can find Mike painting, engaging with his gaming community, or getting back into martial arts.

Thank you, Mike, for all that you do! 🎉

To close out Find Out What’s Working Week, we’re showcasing how we’re leveraging AI 🤖 to expand access and close gaps in postsecondary and career guidance 🎓.

In our latest look at CounselorGPT, we’re seeing how students are using AI to navigate the complexities of college and career pathways. At Urban Assembly, we’re using technology to make guidance more timely, personalized, and scalable 📈 for students and educators alike.

Watch the video to see these interactions in practice 🎥:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqMVUteSjsM
(video by ).

Follow along as we continue to innovate and learn alongside our schools 🚀

With a national average student-to-counselor ratio of 400:1 🎓 and only 6% of advising time devoted to postsecondary planning, many students lack the support needed to navigate their options.

At Urban Assembly, we’re bridging this gap with CounselorGPT 🤖—leveraging AI, large language models, and predictive analytics to help students explore pathways to college and careers while expanding counselors’ reach through tool-directed nudges.

Major Insight:
Students using CounselorGPT are receiving approximately 20 minutes of postsecondary guidance per week ⏱️ compared to the national average of 41 minutes per year.

We’re extending the reach of postsecondary advising—making support more accessible, timely, and scalable 📈 across our schools so more students can plan for their futures with confidence.

To read the full insight brief: https://counselorgpt-insights.netlify.app/