About The Alcuin Project

Who we are, what we are working toward, and what we hold ourselves to.

Our vision

Thinking at the heart of education — with AI amplifying the capacity of teachers, perfecting the craft of educating, and empowering the learning of children.

Our mission

We train teachers to use AI well and to judge what it produces, and we build the courses, tools, and standards that let students keep thinking for themselves.

Our core values

Integrity

We do what we say, by when we say, at the standard we say — and when we miss, we say so first.

Privacy

We protect the privacy of students and teachers absolutely, even when protecting it costs us the contract.

Mastery

We pursue mastery the way we ask teachers to: practicing, measuring, and improving our own craft continuously.

Critical Thinking

We build critical thinkers: every solution must strengthen, never shortcut, the thinking of teachers and students.

Core Solutions

We work by cause and effect, never by crisis — if it doesn't reach the core problem, we don't call it a solution.

Empathy

We listen before we prescribe: every engagement starts with the lived reality of teachers and students.

Teacher Centric

We build for the teacher first, because every child's learning flows through them.

Meet the founder

Joseph Dockstader

Joseph taught ELA and humanities for fifteen years across middle school, high school, and college, designing curriculum and helping students become more capable readers, writers, and thinkers.

Rigorous professional development in critical thinking has been central to his career, particularly Paul and Elder's critical thinking framework.

He now helps educators configure AI tools, build reusable workflows, and create instructional materials, including course websites. His training brings the same attention to the thinking students are being asked to do.

How Alcuin began

Joseph's account of learning the tools, reconsidering their place in teaching, and beginning his work with schools.

Read Joseph's story →

Let's talk about your school

Tell us what your teachers are working on and where they need help with AI. In a 20-minute video call, we'll discuss the training and support that could fit.

No preparation or commitment required.

Book a call