Somerville highlights $75,000 AI grant, new AI‑and‑ethics course and computer‑science funding
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Summary
District staff outlined how a $75,000 grant funded teacher professional development, AI teacher leaders and curricular units; the high school launched an AI and ethics semester course and a separate $64,000 computer‑science grant will expand programming.
District technology staff described progress on an AI initiative funded by a competitive grant and how it has been integrated into curriculum and professional development.
Ariel Dempich, identified by the superintendent as the district's director of technology and innovation, said the district was one of 10 awarded $75,000 to build teacher capacity and ethical instructional use of AI. Staff invested much of the grant in teacher professional development, created AI teacher leaders across departments and produced unit plans that pair tool use with ethics and student reflection.
Dempich said an AI and ethics semester course launched this semester at the high school and that students are using AI and machine‑learning concepts in class projects. She also said the district received an additional $64,000 expanding computer‑science programming and that the district's website will soon host curricular materials, lesson plans and student examples.
Dempich emphasized that decisions about AI are not made by a single administrator but by a committee that meets at least quarterly and that teacher leaders and students have helped shape classroom uses.
The presentation noted outreach and equity efforts, connections between high‑school students and younger grades for project work, and plans to continue developing AI lessons and professional development.
