In Pepper Pike, Ohio, Superintendent Lynn Campbell reassured parents in the Orange City School District that the rollout of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools will be implemented thoughtfully and at a measured pace. During a recent meeting of the Orange Board of Education on August 24, Campbell clarified popular misconceptions, stating, “We are not just opening up AI.” He emphasized that at the elementary level, particularly K-5, AI will be introduced in a way that supports teachers in curating their lessons, rather than being an overwhelming presence in the classroom. The deeper integration of AI into high school assignments will come later, as students will have more opportunities to utilize guidance and structure provided through these technologies.
The discussion about AI took place during a review of professional development initiatives for staff that occurred from August 17 to 18, right before students in grades 1-12 returned to school on August 20. Heather Miller, the new director of curriculum and instruction, highlighted the use of the AI platform MagicSchool, which is designed specifically for K-12 education to enhance lesson planning, grading, and classroom interactions. During the same professional development session, staff received insights from Kelly Fishman, the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), on discrimination definitions and bias, marking the first of three training sessions for the year.
Looking ahead, Campbell mentioned that the upcoming session in November will delve into the implications of AI and social media as potential drivers of bias and prejudice, and how educators can proactively address these issues in their teaching. “AI brings with it a lot of greatness and a lot of concerns at the same time,” he reflected, expressing enthusiasm for developing staff proficiency with the MagicSchool platform.
Additionally, during these professional development days, staff were introduced to the Marzano framework for High Reliability Schools by Melanie Lewis Magee. The school board recently approved a contract with Marzano to further enhance professional development for educators and administrators.
On a separate note, resident Liz Gillmore voiced her concerns during the board meeting regarding how the district processes eligibility decisions related to a federal law protecting students with disabilities, specifically referencing Section 504. This law is designed to ensure that students with disabilities are not discriminated against and have access to the same educational opportunities as their non-disabled peers. Gillmore emphasized that good academic performance does not necessarily indicate that a student is unaffected by a disability and insisted that students should not be required to struggle before receiving necessary support.
Gillmore urged the board to foster trust by promoting an environment where parents feel heard and respected, even when disagreements arise. She stressed the importance of open communication and constructive dialogues between families and the school, especially concerning accommodation requests.
In other developments, board President Beth Wilson-Fish announced the recent passing of Anita Tenney, a former teacher in the district who contributed significantly to the community and education. Tenney, a Pepper Pike resident, passed away on August 20 at the age of 76 and was remembered for establishing a successful early Spanish program at Moreland Hills Elementary School.
Lastly, the board approved a one-year contract for Julianne Cochran as an intervention specialist at Moreland Hills Elementary, effective August 17, and accepted the resignation of part-time bus driver Sabeen Chromjak-Harris, effective August 7.
