How Somerville Public Schools Is Navigating AI

In this episode, we explore how one school district is responding to AI not as a passing trend, but as a rapidly evolving reality for students, teachers, and school leaders.We are joined by Alicia Kersten, Principal of Somerville High School, and Jason Behrens, Innovation Project Specialist for Somerville Public Schools, for a conversation about how Somerville is approaching AI from both the classroom and district perspectives.Topics covered include:Why Somerville believes schools can’t simply avoid AIHow student AI use is changing teaching, writing, and assessmentProtecting critical thinking while allowing students to use new toolsPreparing students to use AI in college, careers, and technical fieldsHow teachers can use AI without adding another overwhelming initiativeBringing students, teachers, administrators, and families into the conversationThe practical tension between innovation, budgets, priorities, and implementationSource:https://www.aasa.org/resources/resource/students-first-act