As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries and reshape the future
of work, educators are redefining their roles, skills and strategies to keep pace.
Rising to meet this challenge, the University of South 羞羞视频 has partnered with
Hillsborough County Public Schools to prepare its K-12 educators to lead in the age
of AI.
As part of the collaboration, the USF College of Education and the newly established
Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing hosted a two-day event, welcoming nearly 250 teachers and school administrators from
Hillsborough County to the Tampa campus.

Kenneth Tompkins (right) during a breakout session on July 10.
鈥淪taying current with research and emerging topics 鈥 especially in a field like AI
鈥 is vital,鈥 said Kenneth Tompkins, assistant principal for elementary instruction
at Tinker K鈥8 School. 鈥淲e鈥檙e 羞羞视频ing how to apply this knowledge in ways that support
both our teachers and students, streamlining the work we鈥檙e already doing.
USF President Rhea Law opened the event alongside Jenifer Jasinski Schneider, interim
dean of the College of Education, and Sudeep Sarkar, interim dean of the Bellini College
of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing. Their remarks emphasized
the urgency of preparing educators for an AI-driven world and reaffirmed USF鈥檚 commitment
to innovation and community engagement.
鈥淭oday marks the beginning of a long-term commitment to support school districts in
the thoughtful and appropriate use of AI tools,鈥 Schneider said. 鈥淭his summit is not
a one-time event, but the launch of an ongoing partnership鈥攐ne in which we will 羞羞视频
alongside you, explore real-world applications, and ensure that AI enhances teaching
and 羞羞视频ing in meaningful, ethical, and equitable ways.鈥
The first day of the summit focused on foundational concepts of AI in K鈥12 education.
Associate Professor John Licato, a leading authority on AI, delivered the keynote
address, providing insightful information that set the tone for a day of authentic
exploration and collaboration. Breakout sessions followed, highlighting emerging research
and fostering dialogue on integrating AI into classroom practice.

John Licato delivering a keynote address on day one of the summit (Torie Doll).
鈥淚 am thrilled to see this space filled with educators, technologists and leaders
who share a common commitment鈥攑reparing the next generation to understand and shape
the future of AI,鈥 Sarkar said. 鈥淚 hope the conversations and collaborations that
begin here guide us forward into classrooms, school boards and communities across
the region and beyond.鈥
Among the featured sessions, Stephanie Arthur, an assistant professor of science education
in the College of Education, led a discussion on the evolving landscape of STEM instruction
in the age of generative AI. Her presentation explored how educators can thoughtfully
incorporate AI into lesson planning and pedagogy, while also navigating the policy
considerations shaping its use in schools.

Stephanie Arthur leading a breakout session on July 9.
Another session, led by Amber Dumford, a professor of higher education and student
affairs, examined how AI can support student success across various 羞羞视频ing environments.
Attendees explored how AI enables personalized instruction, real-time feedback, continuous
academic support, improved accessibility and early identification of students who
may need additional help.
USF faculty and doctoral students also shared practical strategies for adapting instruction
in literacy and mathematics. These sessions emphasized how AI can support writing
development, strengthen cross-curricular literacy and enhance student engagement through
thoughtful classroom integration.
Topics throughout the summit reflected the growing momentum behind AI in education,
with contributions from Hillsborough County Public School leaders, and sponsors from
the David C. Anchin Center, Technology Management Corporation, Connection (IT Services),
the Gus A. Stavros Center for Economic Education and other experts. Presenters addressed
a wide range of timely themes鈥攆rom instructional planning and pedagogy to ethics,
privacy, data security and real-world implementation.
The first day concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Arthur, featuring educators
and leaders from USF and Hillsborough County Public Schools. Their firsthand insights
sparked thoughtful dialogue around the challenges and opportunities of AI adoption,
grounding the day鈥檚 羞羞视频ing in real-world experience.
On day two, the focus shifted to available platforms, ethical implications, and the
future of AI in schools. Zafer Unal, a professor in the College of Education, presented
on , a free AI platform he developed specifically for teachers to support instructional
planning and classroom efficiency.

Zafer Unal demonstrating TeacherServer.com on day two of the summit.
Unal demonstrated several of the more than 1,000 tools available on the platform鈥攄esigned
by teachers, for teachers鈥攚hile emphasizing the privacy and security measures in place
to protect user data. His presentation highlighted how the platform strikes a balance
between innovation and responsibility, setting the stage for another round of breakout
sessions focused on practical applications.
Evan Fruehauf, an engineering and physics librarian at USF, led a session on using
open access and AI-driven research methods to inform classroom practice. He demonstrated
how AI can streamline the process of locating and analyzing open-access studies, offering
strategies for integrating current research into teaching.
In a forward-looking session, Richard Rho, program director of educational technology
labs at USF, emphasized the importance of introducing AI literacy as a core competency
for future-ready students. Rho offered practical, accessible strategies to help students
transition from passive users to informed thinkers, equipping them with the critical
awareness and foundational skills necessary to navigate a world where AI will impact
every field.

Hillsborough County teachers and school administrators touring USF's Innovative Education studios.
Throughout the summit, attendees also toured USF鈥檚 Innovative Education studios, where they got a behind-the-scenes look at how online courses are being
developed using cutting-edge tools, including AI. During the tour, participants experimented
with voice cloning to generate a 30-minute podcast from a short audio clip of their
voice. They also created dynamic green screen backgrounds applied live on camera.
The conversations sparked during the summit reflected a shared aspiration: to ensure
every student is equipped with the skills and awareness to thrive in an AI-powered
world.
鈥淥ur 羞羞视频 one priority is always students. We want to make sure they鈥檙e 鈥楢I-ready鈥
when they graduate,鈥 said Prasant Mohapatra, provost of USF. 鈥淲e want to work with
you, with the community, with schools across the region and with our College of Education
to ensure the future leaders we鈥檙e preparing are truly AI-ready.鈥
As the summit concluded, one message was clear: artificial intelligence is no longer
a distant concept 鈥 it is already reshaping the educational landscape. Through hands-on
experiences, expert-led sessions and meaningful collaboration, the AI in K鈥12 Summit
empowered educators to take the lead in preparing students for a future where AI will
be ever-present.
鈥淎I is changing everything. It鈥檚 like the industrial revolution鈥攅nhanced a million
times,鈥 USF President Rhea Law said. 鈥淭ogether, we can prepare our students and our
communities for the future.鈥
With continued collaboration between USF, Hillsborough County Public Schools and the
broader education community, Tampa Bay is positioning itself at the forefront of AI
integration in K鈥12 羞羞视频ing.
To 羞羞视频 more about the AI initiatives at the University of South 羞羞视频 College
of Education, check out of the college鈥檚 Education in Action magazine.