Osceola County Schools plans 'AI Fellows Program' for staff - Spectrum News 13

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County school leaders are working to expand how teachers and students use artificial intelligence as the new school year approaches, with district guidelines allowing approved AI tools for certain classroom and workplace uses.

During a workshop at school board headquarters, district leaders discussed how AI programs can be implemented across the School District of Osceola County. District policy supports the use of approved AI to support curriculum, lesson planning and productivity, but officials said there are strict guidelines on how the tools can be used.

The district has been working on its AI policy since 2024. One new effort planned for this school year is the AI Fellows Program.

Peter Thorne, chief information and technology officer for the School District of Osceola County, said the program is intended to help the district build responsible AI capacity across its schools.

“We are going to select about 30 people who both instructional and as well as operational, who are going to become our spokespeople for AI and the tools that we’re using,” Thorne said.

According to the district, the 18-week session will begin two weeks after students return to the classroom. The district described the program as a “structured, responsible pathway to develop AI expertise, produce measurable results, and prepare the district to lead future innovation with confidence.”

“At the end of that timeframe, they’re going to present their findings to us, that’s going to help inform us about the tools we’re using, about what initiatives we’re going to move forward with in the district from an AI point of view,” Thorne said. “Things that can help us move forward.”

District materials say the goal is for AI to “augment — not replace — human expertise, relationships, and decision-making.”

Kim Castro-Stevens, a teacher at Hickory Tree Elementary, said she uses AI in her classroom and has a vested interest in the district’s policy.

“It is one of the fastest-growing changes that happens every day,” Castro-Stevens said.

She said AI helps her with lesson planning and creating basic charts more quickly.

“It helps me with some lesson planning, helps me create basic charts and things like that to develop more quickly instead ion having to struggle. I can throw my standards in,” Castro-Stevens said.

Castro-Stevens said she believes the AI Fellows Program could help the district keep pace with the technology.

“If we’re not staying ahead of it, which we are trying to stay ahead of it, we’re going to get left behind,” she said.

The district said it plans to continue working on AI policy to ensure transparency and continuous learning.

For students, the district said those aged 13 and older will be able to use Microsoft Copilot, described as a 24/7 AI learning companion. Students must fact-check information on their own and are not allowed to share confidential or personal data with AI tools.