Resident urges Lake County Schools to adopt AI curriculum to prepare students for future jobs

Vance Yoakam, a longtime local advocate, told the Lake County School Board on March 23 that the district risks leaving students behind if it does not move quickly to incorporate artificial intelligence into classroom instruction.

"Lake County needs to get with the program on using AI and encouraging it, or all your students are not gonna be able to find a job," Yoakam said during public comment, urging the board to contact the University of Central Florida about its AI program and to form a district "red team" to begin curriculum planning. Yoakam said he had sent district leaders a four-page PowerPoint with recommendations.

Why it matters: Workforce analysts and educators increasingly say AI literacy will be a job requirement in many fields. Yoakam told the board neighboring counties already have curricular partnerships and have used state and Perkins funding to support AI programs; he recommended Lake County seek similar connections.

Superintendent Kornicki did not speak directly in the public comment but, according to Yoakam, "she was never told about it." A separate speaker representing local educators said the union offers AI trainings through affiliates and that members recently attended trainings in Orlando.

Board members thanked the public speakers and acknowledged the subject as an emerging priority for student career readiness. The district did not announce a formal plan at the meeting.

What’s next: Yoakam recommended the board pursue outreach to UCF and to consider pilots; board members expressed appreciation for the suggestion and said they would raise the matter with staff.