District teachers highlight AI, VR and robotics at Leading Educator Academy showcase

Jared Fossen, the student-centered learning supervisor in the district's teaching and learning department, described the Leading Educator Academy as a districtwide professional-development program focused on improving the student experience through technology and cross-school collaboration. "One of the things we do is really focus on the student experience," Fossen said, adding that the program brings teachers and content supervisors together to support classroom practice.

Rochelle Herbst, supervisor of the Technology Integration Center, said the center acts as a bridge between teachers and the technology department, providing training and support for software used in schools. "The Leading Educator Academy is a program that fosters growth for educators, and we do that by teaching them the 21st century skills," Herbst said. She noted the district is piloting Skillstruck, an AI platform that lets teachers create customizable tutors for students.

Teachers who spoke at the session said the academy helps them apply new tools immediately. Mackenzie Scadlock, a sixth-grade teacher at Wasatch Elementary, described using an Amplify "Sherlock Holmes case study" app to guide students through clue cards and practice citing textual evidence. "It has little cards at the top and we follow one and then we go to card two," Scadlock said, describing how the app structures student inquiry.

Holly Fisher, a teacher at Lakeside Elementary, said virtual reality headsets have enabled students to experience environments and animals they might not otherwise see in class. "VR headsets is a cool way to really experience the world around them," Fisher said, adding that the academy inspired her to explore new technologies with students.

Jiping Li, who works in the Chinese immersion program at Stewart Elementary, said simulations help students understand seasonal concepts and then use language tools to explain their thinking in Chinese. Victor Morales, a teacher at Fairfield Junior, described a KLAS robotics sequence in which students build and code robots to observe how their programs perform.

Speakers emphasized teacher choice and experimentation as strengths of the program. "As long as they have a growth mindset, they're gonna find what they need," Fossen said. Multiple presenters praised participants' willingness to try new approaches and to tailor lessons to deepen student learning.

The district's Technology Integration Center said the Skillstruck pilot and other demonstrations are part of ongoing training and support; presenters encouraged teachers to join the Leading Educator Academy to experiment with tools such as AI tutors, VR and robotics. The session focused on classroom applications rather than policy or procurement decisions.