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Concord schools preview AI tools, urge staff training and a deepfake policy
Summary
Communications Director Terry Wolf demonstrated AI tools for the Instructional Committee and urged the district to adopt guiding principles, year‑long professional development and family outreach; staff said Microsoft Copilot and Canva are available to employees but students are not yet given direct access.
Terry Wolf, the district communications director, opened an AI demonstration at the Sept. 15 instructional committee meeting and told board members the technology is arriving fast. "The idea of us hiding from it isn't really an option," Wolf said, citing rapid adoption metrics for ChatGPT and stressing the need for preparation.
Wolf traced the district's work on AI to an 18‑month implementation team and described pilots and professional development for staff. She said the district already makes some tools available through single sign‑on — "Microsoft Copilot is built in" and staff may use Canva and other cloud tools — but emphasized that staff must not enter student data when experimenting.
The presentation included a short voice demo, described in the meeting as the assistant "Maya," that prompted visible surprise from members and underscored concerns about synthesized voices and deepfakes. Wolf said AI companions and deepfakes present particular risks for children and that "there's some legislation" under discussion to provide protections.
As immediate next steps Wolf outlined drafting guiding principles and a general AI policy with a potential deep‑fake prohibition, continuing PD for teachers and administrators, and offering AI literacy opportunities for families. Staff emphasized that current classroom use is cautious: teachers may demonstrate tools but students are not being given general access during the rollout.
The district said it will continue pilots, engage reading and digital‑learning specialists, and return with recommended policy language and training plans for committee and board review.
