Florida Gator Magazine Highlights Our Work in AI Education

A Privilege to Contribute to Florida’s Conversation on AI in Education

It was truly an honor to be included in the recent feature published by Florida Gator Magazine, highlighting the work of the Florida K-12 AI Education Task Force and the leadership of Dr. Maya Israel at the University of Florida.

The article, written by Paige Fry, does an excellent job capturing both the urgency and opportunity surrounding artificial intelligence in education. It also highlights the dedication and collaboration of the many educators, researchers, and policymakers across our state who are working together to help Florida’s students thrive in an AI-driven world.

The task force brings together leaders from school districts, higher education, industry, and policy to develop guidance and resources for responsibly integrating AI into Florida’s K-12 classrooms. Today, the group includes hundreds of members from districts across the state working collaboratively to address issues such as data privacy, ethical use, infrastructure, teacher professional development, and AI literacy for students.

As a founding member of the task force, I was grateful to share some of my own perspective in the article alongside my colleague Roberto Alonso of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Miami Dade College. One of the most important questions we are grappling with is simple but profound: are we educating students for the world that existed yesterday, or for the world they will enter tomorrow?

Artificial intelligence is already reshaping industries, workplaces, and the daily lives of our students. From healthcare to engineering to business, the workforce our children will enter will require new skills, new thinking, and new tools. Our responsibility in education is not to ignore that reality but to prepare students to navigate it responsibly and confidently.

What I appreciate most about this task force is that it is truly collaborative. Urban and rural districts alike, whether public or private, are sharing ideas, challenges, and solutions. Larger districts may move faster in implementation, but smaller districts often have the advantage of being able to implement successful strategies quickly across their entire system. By working together, we ensure that every district benefits from the collective knowledge of the group.

Equally important, the task force is focused on ensuring that AI enhances teaching and learning rather than replacing the human elements that make education meaningful. Technology should never replace teachers. Instead, when used thoughtfully, it can empower teachers, personalize learning, and help students develop the critical thinking and creativity that will define success in the future.

Paige Fry’s article highlights this spirit of collaboration and innovation beautifully. It also serves as a reminder that Florida has an opportunity to lead nationally in developing thoughtful, responsible approaches to AI in education.

I’m grateful to be part of this effort, and I’m proud of the work being done by so many dedicated leaders across Florida. Together, we are helping ensure that our schools are preparing students not just for the jobs of today but for the opportunities of tomorrow.

Read the feature column here: Florida Gator Magazine

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