Protecting Staff, Students, and Our School Community
As educators, we hold positions of trust and responsibility. AI tools can support our work, but they cannot replace our professional judgment, ethical obligations, or the human relationships at the heart of education.
🎯 Core Principle: You are always responsible for the decisions you make, the content you produce, and the information you share—regardless of whether AI assisted in the process.
"Is it okay if I use AI to draft a lesson plan outline?"
Yes – As long as you review it, verify accuracy, and customize it for your students and standards.
"Is it okay if I ask AI to help me reword an email to sound more professional?"
Yes – AI can help with tone and clarity. Just review before sending and don't include confidential details in your prompt.
"Is it okay if I paste a student's essay into AI to get feedback suggestions?"
No – Student work may contain identifying information and should not be uploaded to external AI tools. Generate generic feedback templates instead.
"Is it okay if I use AI to help write a letter of recommendation?"
With caution – AI can help with structure and language, but the substance must reflect YOUR genuine observations. Don't include student names or specifics in prompts.
"Is it okay if I ask AI to analyze my class's test results to identify struggling students?"
No – Individual student data should never be entered into AI tools. You can ask AI about common misconceptions based on anonymized, aggregated patterns you describe.
"Is it okay if I use AI to generate quiz questions?"
Yes – This is a great use of AI. Just review all questions for accuracy, alignment to your standards, and appropriateness before use.
"Is it okay if I let AI determine a student's grade based on their work?"
No – Grading decisions must be made by teachers. AI can help draft feedback language, but the evaluation itself requires human professional judgment.
AI use must comply with FERPA, COPPA, and school district policies. Protected student information should never enter AI systems. See our Data Privacy page for detailed guidance.
AI can produce incorrect, outdated, or biased information. Teachers must verify all content before using it with students or in professional communications.
Be honest about AI use when appropriate. If asked, acknowledge when AI assisted in creating materials. Model the transparency we expect from students.
AI cannot replace the relationships, empathy, and understanding that define great teaching. Use AI to free up time for more meaningful human interactions.
Before using AI for any task, ask yourself:
If you answered "no" to any question, reconsider your approach or seek guidance.
AI is a powerful tool that can help you work more efficiently. But you remain the professional. Your judgment, your ethics, and your responsibility to students and colleagues cannot be delegated to a machine.
When in doubt, ask: "Would I be comfortable if a parent, student, or administrator saw exactly how I used AI for this task?" If the answer is yes, proceed thoughtfully. If not, reconsider.