Jacob Burke, Community Education Manager for Des Moines Public Schools and founder of FutureEdge Consultancy, is pioneering how schools communicate with families through the power of AI. By using HeyGen avatars to translate and personalize messages in multiple languages, Jacob is helping educators close the communication gap for English language learners and build stronger connections with families.
"We have students and families speaking 15+ languages, and some families may not read in their home language," Jacob explains. "Now I can send a video in Spanish or Vietnamese, with my avatar speaking clearly and directly to the parents. That level of connection was impossible before."
Jacob also runs a TikTok account sharing motivational stories, which he grew from 60 followers when he posted live videos to 23,000+ followers once he switched to publishing videos with his avatar.
From Athletic Director to AI Advocate
With over two decades in education as a teacher, coach, athletic director, and administrator, Jacob brings a unique perspective to AI adoption. His journey with HeyGen began when he realized how much time and translation effort could be saved by replacing traditional video workflows with avatars.
"I used to make a video, then hand it off to translators, who would record voiceovers in other languages. It took days. Now, I can create avatar videos in minutes and send them directly to families based on their preferred language."
A Game-Changer for Family Engagement
Jacob uses HeyGen for district-wide announcements, social media outreach, and targeted communications. Whether it's promoting a new girls flag football league or sharing academic updates, he tailors each message with HeyGen's multilingual avatars.
"We sent out a program update in English and Spanish and saw more interest from families we hadn’t reached before. It’s clear this is making a difference."
He envisions every teacher using avatars to share student progress reports in the family's home language, breaking down language barriers and improving parent-teacher communication.
TikTok Growth Powered by HeyGen
Jacob isn’t only using avatars in the school setting. He has become an avatar video expert by also growing a TikTok channel that shares inspirational stories. His success on TikTok shows just how powerful AI avatars can be when paired with great storytelling. His channel, Make Today Yours, jumped from 60 to over 23,000 followers in under 30 days.
The secret? Daily motivational parables, delivered consistently using HeyGen avatars. By creating content on his treadmill each morning, Jacob turns storytelling into a scalable routine. With the help of ChatGPT to shape scripts and HeyGen to deliver them, he's able to post polished, high-quality videos that resonate.
"When I used to film myself talking, I had 60 followers. Now with HeyGen, I have over 23,000 and growing. The reach and engagement are night and day."
Even when viewers comment on the AI-generated nature of the videos, Jacob leans into transparency. "I just say, 'Yep, it's my avatar. I use HeyGen.' The response is usually positive. People respect the message more than the medium."
Get Inspired by Jacob's Journey
Follow Jacob on TikTok at @make_today_yours and explore how HeyGen avatars can transform your outreach. 
