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Canyon City Schools to expand AI literacy, pilot classroom tools in 2025–26
Summary
The district presented its AI guidance and plans for the 2025–26 school year, including ongoing grant partnerships, teacher fellowships, classroom pilots and community training.
Diana Pelion, the district’s educational technology coordinator, told the Canyon City Schools Board of Education that the district will expand use of artificial intelligence in classrooms and staff training during the 2025–26 school year.
Pelion said the district has created an "AI belief and guidance" document begun last year by an AI task force and organized around four priorities: education and empowerment, safety, equity and accessibility, and ethical oversight. "We really strive to prepare our students for their future, not our present, and not even our future," Pelion said, urging a curriculum and staff training approach that spans pre-K through 12th grade.
The district is continuing a partnership with the Colorado Education Initiative and participating in an Elevate AI grant program. Pelion said the district is in year two of a two-and-a-half-year commitment to that grant, which has provided access to an AI platform developed in Denver and a teacher-facing platform the district expects to use with students. The district also has adopted a second AI tool Pelion identified as "Bridal Teaching" to help teachers differentiate instruction and said those tools integrate with the district’s Google Chrome environment.
Pelion described additional steps for 2025–26: a cohort of six AI fellows (four continuing from last year) who will have the opportunity to earn ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) certification in AI-related topics; three-month pilots to evaluate which platforms to continue after grant funding ends; expanded internship opportunities at the high school level that could include virtual placements; and professional development aimed at ensuring districtwide equity of AI access and use.
Pelion said the district will also offer parent and community training to increase AI literacy and address concerns. Board members responded positively during the meeting; one called the district’s approach "meeting us where we are" for teachers who are cautious about integrating new technology.
No formal board action was taken on the AI presentation; the board received the report for information.
