Red Wing Public Schools Launches AI Education Initiative with $3.2 Million Gift
Red Wing High School alumnus Dwight Diercks and his wife, Dian, have committed $3.2 million over five years to support Red Wing Public Schools' new initiative, “Flight Path 2030.” This major gift is among the largest in the district’s history and aims to establish the district as a center of excellence in artificial intelligence (AI) education.
Diercks, a 1986 graduate and senior vice president of software engineering at NVIDIA, designed this pledge to prepare students for a future increasingly influenced by AI technologies. The School Board officially accepted the gift on July 28.
Preparing Students and Staff for the AI Future
Superintendent Bob Jaszczak emphasized that the funding will help students learn to use AI ethically, responsibly, and creatively. It also supports educators in rethinking how learning can evolve now and in the years ahead.
The “Flight Path 2030” initiative will embed AI-integrated computing education throughout all grade levels. This includes a specialized “AICE Flight Path” for students focused on technology careers. The program integrates age-appropriate computing, data literacy, and AI concepts into core subjects and electives, giving students practical skills to evaluate and apply emerging technologies.
- AI literacy across all grades
- Ethical and responsible technology use
- Preparation for workforce readiness by 2030
Inspiration and Vision Behind the Gift
Diercks credits his high school math teacher, Ron Gray, for sparking his interest in technology. After studying computer science and engineering at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Diercks now leads a global team at NVIDIA, a leader in AI and high-performance computing.
Board Chair Ryan Riester highlighted this gift as a foundation for innovative thinking about student preparation and staff support. The initiative’s strategic direction was guided by Laura Schmidt, ensuring it aligns with both the district’s educational goals and the Diercks family’s philanthropic vision.
Superintendent Jaszczak described this as a pivotal moment for the district and the community, with more details expected in September as the initiative develops.
For educators interested in AI training resources that complement such initiatives, Complete AI Training offers a variety of courses designed to build AI skills relevant to education and beyond.
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