Can it be used to cheat? How does it protect student privacy? Will it replace teachers?
These are just a few of the commonly asked questions when it comes to artificial intelligence and the future of education.
On January 13, 2026, Design39Campus hosted the second event in Poway Unified School District’s Family Engagement Night series, Learning in the Age of AI. As part of the district’s goal of helping students use AI tools safely, ethically, and responsibly, the event’s panel addressed these questions and others surrounding the district’s approach to AI, the impact of which will have far reaching implications on students’ educational outcomes.
Prior to the panel discussion, students and educators presented their work in artificial intelligence during a pre-panel expo. Projects showcasing how AI can elevate learning and solve challenges provided a preview into how Poway Unified students and educators are already harnessing AI to create meaningful learning experiences.
A Look into the Future of Education
Artificial intelligence is front and center in the daily lives of many students and staff members. Before they even arrive at school, they’ve likely already interacted with their smartphone, smartwatch, smart home devices, or their computers, all making use of AI-powered operations in the background.
It’s no surprise then that when attendees arrived at the Family Engagement Night event, they were met with several demonstrations by students of how AI can support learning.
Sathwick Kintada and Mihir Bapat, both Del Norte High School students, showed how their AI chatbot can help answer the trove of questions visitors to school websites may have for staff members.
“There’s a lot of information but it’s just so hard to find, so we’ve created an AI chatbot, we’re essentially taking some of that pressure off of the counselors so they don’t get bombarded with redundant questions over and over again,” says Mihir.
“It makes me feel really good and proud of myself that I was able to solve a pretty important problem that I’ve faced and my partner has faced,” Sathwick adds.
Other displays covered topics like tutoring with AI, creative writing and feedback, math, and image creation.
How AI will Impact the Classroom
The marquee draw of the night came when the event’s panelists shared their insights on the progression of artificial intelligence and how it has the potential to revolutionize learning across school districts.
Families heard from experts Jamie Nunez, of Common Sense Media: Daniel Gohl, of Hewlett-Packard; Dr. Amber Yoo, of California State University, San Marcos; Amy Fousek, Director of Educational Technology at Poway Unified; and Danielle Reyes, teacher at Black Mountain Middle School, on a variety of ways the landscape is changing for teachers and students, and what parents can do to get—and stay— involved with their students’ education.
As Gohl pointed out at the start of the panel, this year’s class of kindergarten students are the graduating class of 2038, and in another 20 years, those same kindergarteners will be the ones engaging with district leaders during a time in which AI has evolved far past its current state.
“It’s really important that we treat ‘trust’ as a question with AI, and not allow implied trust to be treating it as an authority. At best, it is a colleague. But never an authority,” Gohl says.
When it comes to trust, schools are able to utilize AI tools that have been approved by the district for use, which requires a data privacy agreement. This ensures that tools have been vetted and meet data privacy requirements before making their way into students’ hands.
Over the past two years, Poway Unified has worked with Common Sense Media to become a Common Sense Certified District, signaling PUSD’s commitment to promoting digital citizenship on every school campus. Educators and administrators have access to guidance on integrating responsible digital practices into curriculum. The district’s Technology and Innovation team has also created a Digital Citizenship course with vetted resources for students, and staff have access to selfpaced AI literacy training. The district’s plans include ongoing policy review, equity checks, and alignment with evolving state and federal guidance.
These vital steps help ensure that ethical AI use remains central to the district’s approach, and fosters a collective sense of responsibility and understanding across educators, families, and students.
Harnessing AI Ethically
Enter Poway Unified’s AI Playbook. The district hopes to empower parents with practical tips, resources, and exercises to meet families where they are.
The district’s guidance empowers parents to have thoughtful discussions with their children through explanations of how AI is used in schools, conversation topics for parents, and resources through Common Sense Media to further explore AI and its safe use.
“PUSD supports a human-centered, responsible, ethically guided approach to the use of AI in education. AI can enhance learning by supporting productive struggle, where students engage with challenging tasks, apply prior knowledge, and build deeper understanding through persistence,” says Fousek. “When used thoughtfully, AI serves as a tool to reduce unnecessary barriers, not replace the effort essential for meaningful learning. AI should be leveraged to enhance, not replace, human interaction.”
As part of the district’s playbook, leaders have adapted the W.I.S.E. framework from Designing Schools. W.I.S.E. stands for wellbeing, integrity, skills, and engagement. Providing these guidelines can help with the grappling of ethical AI decision-making. Engaging with students can also help parents share in the collective struggle when it comes to understanding AI— something that can be a powerful learning strategy.
Through these resources, families can help ensure their children are equipped with the skills needed to prepare for this technologydriven world.
Fousek adds that the playbook demonstrates the district’s intentional approach to how AI is integrated into students’ education.
“Central to AI literacy is nurturing the critical thinking skills necessary to discern when AI can effectively enhance a task and when it will not,” Fousek says. “As we integrate these tools, we remain committed to protecting the learning process and the essential value of human connection."
You can watching the full panel, Learning in the Age of AI, on YouTube.
This article was originally printed in the Spring 2026 edition of EmpowerEd Magazine.