Louisville teachers use AI to build lesson plans as district backs classroom adoption
Jefferson County Public Schools is deploying AI tools in classrooms to help teachers generate quizzes, design lesson plans, and address student misconceptions. The district said the technology will support teachers, not replace them.
Teachers access the AI tools through Google Classroom, the software they already use daily. The tools come at no additional cost to the district.
How teachers are using the tools
William Pierce, the district's executive administrator of educational technology, demonstrated the system by generating a lesson on the causes of the U.S. Civil War. Teachers input Kentucky academic standards and adjust the material to fit their needs.
The biggest shift is personalization. A teacher can specify that seven students are visually impaired, and the AI develops a lesson plan, lists materials, and creates assignments tailored to those needs. Tasks that once took hours now take minutes.
District's deliberate approach
JCPS launched a generative AI task force last year and works directly with Google to help shape how the tools are developed. The district also sits on Google advisory councils, giving it input on future product features.
Eric Satterly, the district's chief information officer, said the goal is clear: keep humans in the loop. "We don't want AI to replace anything," Satterly said. "It will allow teachers to spend more time in front of students."
Student use still undecided
District leaders are still deciding how students themselves will use AI inside Google Classroom. Decisions are expected this fall.
Satterly acknowledged the reality of AI adoption in schools. "If we run away and say we're gonna take an approach of blocking this from students, some students are gonna find a way to get around those controls," he said.
Learn more about AI tools for classroom use or explore AI in education.
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