Colorado teacher wins presidential AI challenge by integrating tools into business curriculum
Ciara Stastny, a second-year teacher at Colorado Early Colleges Fort Collins High School, was named a Colorado state champion in the 2026 Presidential AI Challenge for a project that puts AI directly into her students' hands rather than banning it from the classroom.
Stastny teaches business classes and uses Google's Notebook LM to give students multiple ways to engage with course material. The platform generates videos, podcasts, flashcards, mind maps, and a chat feature-all built from textbooks and materials she uploads.
Students access the tool free through concurrent enrollment at Aims Community College, which provides college credit for Stastny's business courses. The arrangement means students receive identical instruction and curriculum as those taking the same classes at the community college.
How the classroom tool works
In a Legal Environment of Business class, Stastny demonstrated the approach by having students spend five minutes in pairs reviewing key concepts through the AI platform on their laptops or phones. They then presented what they learned about consumer protection laws, lending regulations, and property rights to classmates.
Junior Jordan Maes said the structure ensures accuracy. "You know the answers we're getting line up with what we're being taught," he said. "It's a lot more helpful than pulling from any other, like OpenAI or just a Google search."
Sophomore Lyla Hirsch uses the podcast feature while doing household chores. "This class has college reading, so a lot of reading textbooks; it helps me retain that information," she said.
The platform also allows students to ask questions through a live chat feature and receive answers tied to course materials, not general web results. Samantha Wells, a junior, said this matters when studying the night before a test. "I don't have to worry about emailing her at 10 at night. I can just go and get on and know that all of the information is correct."
Teacher controls what students see
Stastny creates assignments for each chapter in advance and uploads them with source materials. She's currently using the platform most intensively in Legal Environment of Business while she learns more about its advantages and limitations before expanding to her other courses: Introduction to Business, Business Communication and Report Writing, and Social Media for Business.
All graded tests are taken live in class without AI assistance. The tool supplements learning rather than replacing it.
Stastny said the approach aligns with universal design for learning principles. Students with different learning preferences can choose videos, podcasts, mind maps, or chat-based questions depending on what works best for them.
Broader context: Teachers need preparation
The Presidential AI Challenge, created by executive order in April 2025, aims to "inspire young people and educators to create AI-based innovative solutions to community challenges while fostering AI interest and competency."
A Colorado Department of Education survey released in April found that 66% of teachers and instructional staff have used AI tools in their work, but only 34% felt prepared for future educational changes involving AI integration.
Stastny's students recognize AI will be part of their working lives regardless of career path. Maes said learning to formulate questions effectively-whether to people or AI systems-is a critical skill. He also noted the irreplaceable value of direct instruction. "The human interaction is a big piece," he said. "I don't think AI will ever wholly replace it."
For educators looking to implement similar approaches, resources like AI Learning Path for Teachers and broader AI for Education frameworks can help guide classroom integration.
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