At ISTELive 26 + ASCD, ISTE debuted Stretch, a K–12 educator-focused chatbot designed to steer teachers toward research-backed instructional practice rather than boosting raw efficiency. ISTE said Stretch will be trained only on ISTE-vetted materials, addressing earlier concerns about outputs that didn’t match the organization’s resources. Joseph South, ISTE’s chief innovation officer, said the tool addresses teacher burnout and overwhelm by delivering evidence-based answers and support for job stress, including a “wellness coach” feature. ISTE emphasized Stretch is not a therapist, framing it as classroom and professional support rather than clinical care. For schools weighing how to respond to the “techlash,” Stretch adds another governance question: how districts validate AI tool behavior, ensure alignment to vetted guidance, and train educators to use AI as an instructional partner rather than a replacement for pedagogy.