Vasilii, for those who may not be familiar with your work, can you tell us a bit about your journey and what led you to become an expert in Edtech, AI in Education, Digital Marketing, Human Resources, and Startups?
I’d say entry into EdTech and AI started with a simple conviction—technology can transform education. I’ve always been fascinated by how technology can change the process of learning, and seeing how traditional education was falling short motivated me to step in and be the change.
That is why I started Legacy Online School, where we leverage AI to provide a more personalized, accessible learning experience. AI in education is really one of the areas that gets me super excited because it allows us to tailor learning to each student’s needs, making education more effective.
But it’s not about the technology itself—it’s about how we use it to help students and teachers in the moment. I’ve also had to become knowledgeable about digital marketing in order to help get the word out about our mission, reaching people where they are. On top of that, understanding human behavior has been key, which is why I’ve focused on building a team that aligns with our values.To me, it’s really all about combining tech with a human touch to create something meaningful, and that’s what drives me every day.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that solidified your passion for the intersection of education, technology, and entrepreneurship? What drove you to co-found Legacy Online School?
One of the turning points in my career was realizing how far behind the conventional education system was in truly addressing the needs of students. I was fascinated by technology, and I could see how it was revolutionizing so many areas, yet education was falling behind. I could see that the gap between what students needed and what was being offered by the education system was enormous, especially as far as personalization and access were concerned. It was the belief that technology could have a real-world impact that made me co-found Legacy Online School.
I wanted to create a platform by which every single student could learn at his or her own pace, have access to good-quality resources, and be empowered in education. I saw the possibility of combining my passion for technology with the power of entrepreneurship to solve real issues in education. Legacy is the result of that dream—a school that combines innovation with a highly individualized learning experience.
The longer I worked in education and technology, the clearer it became: the nexus of these two sectors wasn’t just an opportunity—it was a necessity. That is what urged me to make the leap and establish Legacy Online School with the goal of making learning more engaging, convenient, and accessible for all.
You’ve spoken about using AI for personalized outreach at Legacy Online School. What advice would you give to smaller educational institutions that might not have the same resources but want to leverage AI for marketing?
For the smaller schools that are looking to integrate AI in marketing, my advice would be to try your toes at it and begin with things where you can realize the value directly. Personalizing your communications with AI is one place to start—email chains or chatbots to speak to visitors to your site real time. By using AI, you can address your audience in a more personalized manner, something which is so essential in a learning environment.I also learned just how using AI in providing data insights, uncovering what works and what doesn’t can really help you make adjustments to your strategies accordingly and quickly.
You don’t need to spend an arm and a leg for this—affordable AI tools can still provide big returns. Also, AI can automate repetitive tasks, allowing your team the time to do what matters most—build relationships and deliver good learning experiences. Start from basics, and when you can see the benefit, you can further implement AI.
Many argue that AI in education risks becoming impersonal. How do you balance the efficiency of AI with the need for human connection in online learning environments?
I completely understand the concern that AI in school can be impersonal, but I believe it’s a matter of how you do it. At Legacy Online School, we view AI as a tool to enhance human connection, not replace it. AI helps us personalize learning at scale, offer differentiated recommendations, feedback, and resources to students. This frees up our educators to spend more time building rich relationships with students and addressing their unique needs.
A really good example I can give you here is grading and administrative tasks which are handled by AI, allowing the teacher to concentrate on creating engaging, interactive lessons. It provides instant feedback on students’ progress, allowing the teacher to step in and offer individualized support when needed.
In the end, the answer is to use AI to do what it excels at—streamlining and enabling—and retain the human factor that makes education actually potent. Technology should be the platform that enhances stronger, more cohesive learning environments, not what replaces the heart of education.
What’s the biggest misconception you encounter about AI in education, and how do you address it?
The biggest myth I see regarding AI in education is that it will replace teachers or human interaction. The truth is, AI is just there to support our teachers and help them, not replace them. At Legacy Online School, we use AI to handle tasks like grading and progress monitoring, leaving teachers time to interact with students on an individual level and give specific feedback.
AI helps our team of teachers to gain real-time insights into student performance and can step in and provide guidance when needed. It is pretty easy for me to set the record straight when it comes to AI in education because I genuinely believe that AI pretty much augments, not replaces, the human element in learning. It
From a human resources perspective, what new skills do you think are becoming essential for educators in the age of AI, and how can teachers develop these skills?
As there is more and more integration of AI in schools, I think the most important skills for teachers to possess are technology familiarity and data interpretation and application. Although their pedagogy is still crucial, possessing the ability to use AI to personalize instruction is becoming more and more of a necessity.
We should be training them in how to integrate technology into classrooms, reading student data, and exposure to AI-driven tools. However, it is also about not losing the human element. As educators, we must approach this freely, remain curious, and experiment with new tools as they are developed. The hope for us is that teachers will use AI to gain a deeper understanding of their students, serve their needs, and still introduce that human touch into the classroom.
Looking at the startup landscape in Edtech, what trends are you most excited about, and what advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in this space?
I’m excited about how AI is transforming education, particularly in creating customized learning paths for students. Hybrid learning is another trend that emerged from COVID and one that I believe is here to stay. It’s a mix of online and offline learning, and it offers students the flexibility they so badly need. My advice to Edtech entrepreneurs who are just starting out is to attempt to address real problems rather than chase the latest trends. Be nimble, learn from what works, and always do what is best for students.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about building and managing a remote team, especially in the context of an online school?
The biggest thing I’ve learned about remote working, especially in an online school, is that you must have open communication and trust. You have to trust that your team can get their work done while staying connected to the big picture. Check-ins are good, but keeping them open and simple is most important. It’s also necessary to build a team culture, even if everyone is working remotely. Little things like virtual happy hours or simply checking in in a friendly manner can go a long way. Really, a remote team works best when there’s trust, transparency, and a shared purpose.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice about navigating the evolving landscape of Edtech and online education, what would it be?
Wow, that’s a great one! To my younger self, embracing change and being flexible is my advice. The online education world changes so rapidly and what is effective today may not be effective tomorrow. It is easy to get set in your ways or have one way of doing things, but the secret is to remain curious, test, and be willing to take on new ideas. Having the ability to turn around and learn from errors is just as important as wallowing in success.