Short Intro
This summer, Carson City teachers embarked on a journey to discover how artificial intelligence can enrich their classrooms without replacing the human touch. By joining a statewide AI cohort—an online learning community led by the Nevada Department of Education in partnership with the University of Nevada, Reno—they’re exploring new tools, sharing real-world strategies and co-creating lesson plans that put students first.
Article
When ChatGPT burst onto the scene last year, many educators greeted it with a mix of curiosity and caution. Could AI really help students learn more effectively? Or would it simply become another way to cheat on assignments? In Carson City, teachers decided to find out for themselves.
This June, a group of 20 Nevada educators—including five from Carson City—took part in the inaugural “AI in Education Cohort,” a professional-development program designed to demystify the latest AI tools and to help teachers integrate them in meaningful, ethical ways. Over eight weeks, participants attended weekly webinars, completed hands-on projects and met in small “lab” groups to brainstorm lesson plans.
“We didn’t want AI to be this big scary thing,” says Sarah Moore, an English teacher at Carson High School. “We wanted to figure out when it adds real value—and when it doesn’t.” Moore used ChatGPT to generate three different versions of a persuasive-essay prompt, each targeted to a different reading level. Students compared the versions, then revised them to match their own voices. “It helped them see how word choice matters,” she notes.
Science teacher Mike Johnson took a different tack. His goal was to help students write clearer lab reports. He asked an AI tool to rewrite a sample report in a more concise style. Then, in groups, students identified what the AI did well—and where it got confused. “They learned not to take AI answers at face value,” Johnson says. “It became a lesson in critical thinking.”
Elementary teachers joined the cohort, too. At Fritsch Elementary, third-grade teacher Rosa Martinez experimented with AI-generated flashcards for spelling practice. When she discovered some of the generated words were too advanced, she had students work in pairs to correct the list. “That turned into a great vocabulary lesson,” Martinez says. “Kids love being the ‘teacher’ who improves the AI.”
Beyond the lesson plans, the cohort tackled the bigger questions. How can schools protect student data? What guidelines should districts set around AI use? And how do you ensure all students have fair access to these new learning tools?
“It’s about digital citizenship,” says cohort facilitator Dr. Jennifer Lee from UNR’s College of Education. “We want students to see AI as a powerful resource—but also to understand its limits and biases.” In one session, teachers analyzed AI-generated responses for factual errors and subtle cultural biases. In another, they drafted a district-wide policy on acceptable AI use, from brainstorming assistance to formal writing assignments.
Equity emerged as a central theme. Not every Carson City student has a home computer or reliable internet. To close that gap, the district is loaning more Chromebook devices and portable Wi-Fi hotspots. Librarians and after-school staff are hosting “AI labs” where students can experiment with tools under supervision.
Superintendent Jamie Crump sees the cohort as the first step in a multi-year plan. “AI is not a magic bullet,” Crump says. “But if we prepare our teachers and set clear expectations, we can use it to personalize learning and help students build critical thinking skills.” The district has earmarked a $50,000 state grant to support next year’s cohort and to expand on-site coaching for teachers at every school.
By the cohort’s final week, participants presented capstone projects: fully developed lesson sequences, grading rubrics that account for AI assistance, and parent-friendly guides explaining when and how students should use AI at home. Carson City teachers will introduce these resources at the district’s August professional-development days—and share their work with neighboring districts.
What started as a pilot has sparked real excitement. “Our biggest worry was that AI would just automate lower-level tasks,” reflects Moore. “But we’ve seen it can push students to look deeper at their own writing, their own ideas. It’s not about replacing us—it’s about giving us new ways to spark curiosity.”
3 TAKEAWAYS
• Teachers across Nevada are building AI skills through a collaborative cohort model.
• The focus is on purposeful, ethical use: enhancing critical thinking, not cutting corners.
• A successful pilot paves the way for broader integration, equity initiatives and ongoing support.
3-QUESTION FAQ
1. What is the AI in Education Cohort?
The cohort is a free, eight-week professional-development program run by the Nevada Department of Education and UNR. It helps K–12 teachers learn about AI tools, design lesson plans and establish district-wide guidelines.
2. How can AI tools benefit my child’s learning?
When used thoughtfully, AI can personalize explanations, generate practice quizzes, offer writing feedback and spark creativity. The key is teaching students to evaluate AI output critically and understand its limitations.
3. How do I learn more or get involved?
Carson City parents and educators can visit the district website or contact the Curriculum & Instruction office. Registration for next summer’s cohort opens in April.
Call to Action
Are you an educator excited about bringing AI into your classroom? Want to stay informed on best practices and future cohorts? Visit the Nevada Department of Education’s AI in Education page or connect with Carson City School District’s professional-development team. Together, we can shape the future of learning—one thoughtful AI lesson at a time.
