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District technology coaches recommend Magic School AI pilot; committee OKs purchase recommendation
Summary
Technology coaches recommended adopting Magic School AI for instruction, safety and teacher supports and the committee voted to recommend a purchase; staff outlined a train‑the‑trainer plan and cited the district AI policy.
East Stroudsburg Area School District instructional‑technology coaches briefed the committee on artificial intelligence tools and recommended district adoption of Magic School AI, a platform the coaches said combines lesson planning, classroom AI tools and student safety features.
The committee moved and recommended a purchase of Magic School AI for the 2025‑26 technology budget. Presenters said teachers used a one‑month trial and that the platform scored highly on safety and privacy; Magic School representatives said the vendor can tailor privacy agreements to the district.
Maureen Seidel, elementary technology coach, said the district has seen voluntary teacher uptake: "We currently have 18 users at the elementary level and a total of 57 users at the secondary level," Seidel said, describing teacher trials of the platform's lesson planning and student tools. Coaches said teachers reported Magic School felt "user friendly" and helped them explore AI while retaining teacher control of classroom interactions.
Coaches described an implementation approach that starts with a train‑the‑trainer program for the district’s four technology coaches plus 2–3 power users from each building; those trained staff would then lead school‑level training early in the next school year. District presenters also pointed committee members to existing district AI policies (Policy 8.15 and 8.15.2) as the governance framework under which they proposed the tool.
Coaches emphasized safety features. The presentation said Magic School flags non‑school usage in real time, and coaches said teachers can moderate or restrict student AI rooms and review flagged inputs. "Teachers are the experts, and the best teaching happens as an exchange between people," a presenter quoted from Magic School promotional material and used it to emphasize that the tool is intended to augment teacher work, not replace it.
Ending: The committee recommended the purchase by voice vote. Staff will proceed with vendor negotiations, finalize a district‑specific privacy agreement and schedule the vendor train‑the‑trainer sessions if the board approves the regular‑agenda purchase.
