South Texas ISD spotlights AI integration at teacher convocation

A South Texas ISD staff member said at the district’s start-of-year convocation that the district will integrate artificial intelligence into instruction and provide training for teachers to ensure safe, effective classroom use.

The staff member said the convocation’s theme focused on emergent technology and AI and noted a student production, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, in which students used background AI technology. The speaker also named guest speaker Ravi Huttising and summarized his message as urging society to “pivot” and adapt to new technologies.

An AI committee representative said the district’s AI committee vetted a range of AI platforms during the past semester and will present its findings and recommendations to the district’s instructional staff. “South Texas ISD, our tagline is always innovating,” the committee representative said, describing the vetting effort and the planned staff presentations.

An AI task force member said district leaders are following a timeline to integrate AI into the curriculum and to provide safeguards and instruction so students and teachers understand when and how to use AI tools. “AI is the future, it’s not leaving us,” the task force member said.

District speakers framed the convocation as both celebration and professional development: showcasing student work that used AI and preparing teachers for curriculum changes and technology adoption. No formal votes or policy adoptions were recorded in the convocation remarks; speakers described planned presentations and training as next steps.