Artificial intelligence is transforming the way people learn, work, and communicate, and Dallas ISD wants to ensure teachers and principals have the tools to succeed.
Recently, the district hosted its first AI Summit, where campus-based staff explored how AI can strengthen instruction, support educators, and prepare students for an evolving workforce.
The summit also launched Dallas ISD’s AI Champions initiative, creating a network of educators who will serve as campus leaders and resources as the district continues implementing responsible AI practices across schools.
“Our students won’t be competing against AI — they’ll be working alongside it,” said Angie Gaylord, chief academic officer. “Our responsibility is to teach them how to use it thoughtfully, ethically, and effectively. Whether they’re attending college, earning an industry certification, or entering the workforce, AI will be part of their world.”
For teachers, AI offers an opportunity to reclaim one of education’s most valuable resources: time.
Whether refining parent communication, organizing lesson ideas, or drafting initial feedback, district leaders said AI can streamline routine administrative tasks, allowing educators to spend more time building relationships with students and delivering high-quality instruction.
“AI is the tool,” said Tiffany Huitt, chief of schools. “It is not the expert. Our teachers are the experts.”
Dallas ISD’s approach to AI will be gradual.
Rather than introducing the technology uniformly across grade levels, elementary students have limited, protected exposure to AI tools, while middle and high school students receive greater access as they develop the digital literacy and critical thinking skills needed to use the technology responsibly.
District leaders emphasized that the goal is not simply to teach students how to use AI, but to prepare them for a workforce where the technology will become commonplace.
“Every high school graduate is going to enter a workforce where AI exists,” Gaylord said. “Our responsibility is to make sure they’re prepared.”
For Dallas ISD, the AI Summit is more than a professional learning opportunity. It reflects the district’s commitment to integrating AI into classrooms while preparing for a future that demands both technological fluency and distinctly human skills.
“Technology will continue to evolve,” Huitt said. “Our responsibility is making sure students are ready for the future without losing what matters most, the human connections that make learning possible.”
