Remember the Human: Deploying AI in Your District

In K–12 education, artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept; it’s here, shaping classrooms, leadership, and operations. The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) recently hosted a compelling webinar, “Remember the Human: Deploying AI in Your District”, followed by a podcast that distilled the discussion for a wider audience.

The webinar featured four education leaders from California, representing districts, a county office, and a former superintendent—sharing practical strategies for bringing AI into schools while keeping human intelligence at the center

Why This Conversation Matters Now

Generative AI has become one of the fastest-adopted technologies in history, and schools are moving quickly to find their footing. The panelists emphasized a critical truth: AI must be harnessed with intentionality, transparency, and a relentless focus on relationships.

“AI should enhance what humans do best — building connections, inspiring creativity, and designing great experiences.”

From Pilots to Policy

One of the strongest takeaways from both the webinar and podcast: start small, but start now.

The panel shared how they launched safe pilots at the cabinet level, testing AI for emails, trip planning, and lesson drafts before scaling up. Volunteers, not mandates, created momentum. These early adopters became “reverse mentors,” spreading confidence and sparking excitement.

As Jerry Almendarez explained:

“We didn’t mandate it. We asked for volunteers, and those early adopters became our champions.”

Rather than waiting for perfect policy, districts leaned on existing frameworks like Acceptable Use and academic honesty. The consensus: publish guidelines, revisit them often, and adapt as AI evolves.

Leadership, Culture, and Communication

AI adoption works best when leaders model the way. Several panelists described superintendents and principals sitting in trainings alongside teachers sending a powerful signal that this is not “one more initiative,” but a shared journey.

Technology leaders also stressed the importance of having IT at the cabinet table. They translate privacy, procurement, and feasibility concerns into clear language and help avoid duplicate spending.

Transparency with families and students was another theme. Communication toolkits, town halls, and student roundtables build trust and demystify AI’s role in schools.

Classroom Impact and Academic Integrity

When it comes to students, the panel underscored the importance of reframing academic integrity. Instead of relying on detection tools, schools are piloting approaches like student “AI badging” showing how AI was used in an assignment and fostering a culture of choice and trust.

In practice, AI is already reshaping classrooms. Teachers are using it to adapt content for multilingual learners within days, not weeks, and to design personalized materials that meet students where they are.

Practical Use Cases to Watch

The panelists highlighted concrete examples already in motion:

• Leadership workflows: Superintendent GPTs for board prep, budgeting, and planning.

• Teacher tools: NotebookLM for instant video explainers.

• Student support: Brisk for multilingual translation and accessibility.

• District communications: AI-generated video summaries of board meetings.

• Operational efficiency: Drafting SOPs, scopes of work, and guides.

Where to Learn More

The full webinar, Remember the Human: Deploying AI in Your District, is available on the CoSN YouTube channel, and the companion podcast provides a quick, engaging overview you can listen to on the go.

For additional resources and upcoming AI guidance, visit www.cosn.org and explore CoSN’s reports, toolkits, and professional learning opportunities.

Final Word

As the webinar panel made clear, AI in education is not about replacing teachers, it’s about empowering them. When schools lead with human intelligence and adopt AI responsibly, they can unlock new levels of accessibility, creativity, and efficiency.

In the end, remembering the human isn’t just a webinar title. It’s a roadmap for how schools can embrace the future without losing sight of their core mission: teaching, learning, and connection.

CoSNweb YouTube – Remember the Human: Employing AI in Your District

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