The Dysart Unified School District will roll out its artificial intelligence implementation plan beginning in September with administrators among the first to learn how to use the tool to assist in the educational environment.
After months of research, reviews and feedback, the governing board approved the district’s AI Implementation Plan as presented at the Aug. 24 meeting.
Implementing the plan includes adopting MagicSchool as the district-approved AI platform, acclimating administrators and teachers during the first year, eventually phasing in students’ use and blocking free AI toools on district devices.
The district’s guiding principals for AI use include:
AI does not replace professional judgment, great teaching and leadership.
AI will save time so educators can focus more on student learning.
AI use will be ethical, responsible and transparent.
“We still need to do the work as individuals and as a team,” said Andrew Frazier, director of curriculum and instruction 9-12, encouraging ethical use of AI in the district, and noting how it is more efficient for the teachers.
“It’s come a long way and has a long way to go,” said Superintendent John Croteau about using AI in education.
The district’s first-year goals require all administrators to be introduced and trained on the MagicSchool platform. Every campus will have what is called trained AI Champions as the district continues to communicate its AI guidelines for using the tool responsibly.
The district will develop a collection of Dysart-specific AI resources and prompts. For the second year and beyond, pilot classrooms will begin to be identified for possible student implementation.
Meanwhile, the phased-in roll out gives a timeline to prepare from September to November, activate accounts, identify campus AI Champions and set the district parameters while learning happens through February for administration and AI Champions to be trained.
Implementation plans will be drafted, and the models will be strengthened from February to May. The AI Champions will offer onsite training to coach colleagues. Refining the plan will continue in the summer with workshops, reviewing the first year and planning for the second year.
The parameters and safeguards include the required training, although AI use will not be mandated. Ensuring student privacy is protected remains important while using the district-approved tools. Security and data will be reviewed before the rollout to ensure the tools are aligned with the district and its priorities.
“The educator must edit, make sure it is read multiple times before it reaches students,” said Frazier of how AI should be used as a draft for instruction, not the final piece.
Board member Dawn Densmore asked about the delay in introducing students to the tool. She said it would be beneficial if seniors could experience it before heading to college and their careers so they are aware of certain technicalities and ethics involved with using the tool.
“Seniors are at a disadvantage ... We work so hard towards their college and career readiness,” said Densmore, adding that it is good service to provide that access to them.
Delarita Ford can be reached at dford@iniusa.org. Submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Meet Delarita Delarita Ford originally joined Independent Newspapers Incorporated, now Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA in 1997, as a general assignment reporter for the Delaware State News daily paper after starting her journalism career in Maryland in 1994, where she honed her skills by writing obituaries, covering community news from births to deaths, education to legislation and more. As a reporter, she has had the opportunity to cover sitting and former U.S. presidential visits in Baltimore, Delaware, and Arizona.
Community: One of the few seasoned journalists who still enjoys covering community events, she can be found with a reporter’s pad taking notes, her phone taking pictures while capturing life’s moments to memorialize them in print for the local newspapers and for the active-adult community where she lives. She maintains a presence with the Black media and the National Association of Black Journalists to encourage peers, socialize, and mentor younger writers.
Education: Life learner who learns from life. Aside from the collegiate education received, she got the best training from on-the-job experience with former editors who went through copy with a red pen and demanded the best writing for hard news and feature stories.
Random Fact: While a Delaware State News reporter, she could call then Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, usually late at night if a quote or input was needed for varying topics, including legislation and education.
Hobbies: Adopt rescue dogs and give them a nice home. Continuously read and critique news stories from various platforms.
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