Kentucky School Advocate

April 2024

Before the start of Annual Conference, the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) Local School Board Member Advisory Council met in Louisville. 

The 13-member council meets to discuss how KDE initiatives and decisions made at the state level are affecting school boards and districts throughout Kentucky.

Marty Park, KDE’s chief digital officer, led the group in a discussion about artificial intelligence(AI) and how it will impact teaching and learning. 

Park said AI can help teachers work smarter, not harder – such as generating images, turning data into a table, planning an event or helping write an email to parents. 

“AI is a working and learning partner,” Park said, noting that teachers also need to make sure they are using safe AI applications. 

Bellevue Independent school board member Julia Fischer, a 1st grade teacher, said teachers will need professional development on the best ways to use AI in the classroom. 

“I think teachers are always really wanting to learn, so if you give them what they need to learn, then they’re excited and ready to do it and you’re ready to try,” she said. 

Park said AI could help teachers use their time more efficiently. 

Advisory Council members also heard an update on the 2024 legislatives session from Brian Perry, KDE’s director of governmental relations. 

Also during the meeting, KDE’s Director of Innovation David Cook, who has led the group, announced he will be retiring from KDE this summer. 

“David has certainly done an outstanding job with the work that he does with local school boards, but also with the work that he does in innovation assisting school districts,” said KDE Interim Education Commissioner Robin Kinney, who attended the meeting virtually. 

The council also thanked Cook for his work with school board members and wished him well in his retirement. 

The next meeting will be held in July in Bowling Green before KSBA’s Summer Leadership Institute.