Tara Carrozza, Director of Digital Learning and Innovation at New York Public Schools, shares her unique journey from college basketball and acting to teaching and leading digital innovation in the largest U.S. public school system. She emphasizes the centrality of people in technology integration, focusing on equity, personalized support for teachers, and the importance of foundational skills and data infrastructure before leveraging AI. Tara discusses creating AI literacy, gathering student voice, and developing an AI governance framework that ensures safe and responsible use. Her leadership is marked by a commitment to shifting mindset away from mere technology consumption to demanding educational tools that meet real needs, while fostering trust and psychological safety for educators and students alike.