Hello AI, I think I love you

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Superintendent counts the ways artificial intelligence has made her job easier

January 6, 2025

The following was written by Katrina León, superintendent of the San Pascual Valley Unified School District.

When artificial intelligence walked in my door, or rather, made itself available in my workspace, I took the opportunity and jumped into learning all about my new administrative tool. I am a huge believer in using the tools we have available to increase efficiency and, let’s be real, we all need options when managing the demands of our professions.

Having a former colleague ask me for a letter of recommendation, and writer’s block, made me tiptoe into artificial intelligence. I took the cautious dip, initially, by creating an account on ChatGPT and then typed in my request. AI took about 30 seconds and created an outline with well-formed paragraphs, which I was able to personalize. Receiving the instantaneous result was similar to the clouds opening up on a cold, windy day and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face … the letter was done. Bless you, AI!

Saving five minutes or 10 minutes in our line of work makes a difference, so when I was presented with responding to a situation with a diplomatic reply, and having difficulty, I turned to AI. The result was brilliant — and I don’t say that lightly. The reply I needed to give with a balanced, thoughtful and diplomatic flair was essentially written. Hallelujah! Once again, I edited and personalized based on the circumstances, but artificial intelligence saved my time and brain power. I have since used AI numerous times and have encouraged my teams to get familiar with the tool.

Some may question if we, as a society, are losing our ability to think for ourselves. The answer is no. In both the examples I provided, I could have written the documents. However, AI gave me the opportunity to do it faster and from another, broader, perspective. When using artificial intelligence, it is imperative we still use our analytical, critical thinking abilities. I could not have shared either document without revisions or personalization. The need to restructure, review and revise word choice, and adapt the document to personalize it requires a critical lens. AI is an administrative tool, not a replacement for creating the flavor you seek to share.

Am I cheating if I utilize artificial intelligence to complete a task? I would consider myself deficient if I selected not to use the tools available. Efficiency in the workforce is necessary. If I worked in the construction industry and needed to build a house, you can bet I would use every tool available to make the job easier. I wouldn’t pick up a rock to mimic the activities of a hammer, or use a shovel when I could use a backhoe. Artificial intelligence allows us to receive input and structure, but requires the user to finesse the final result.

If I utilize AI as an administrative tool in the workforce, are students cheating if they use artificial intelligence to complete assignments? It depends. As educators, we need to structure the activities and interactions with AI so that our students are critically engaged, using their creativity and, ultimately, learning. The educator needs to answer three questions. What is the goal of the lesson? How does AI enhance the intended learning? What is the success criteria? AI does not replace the teacher. As with all new tools, we must adapt and learn how best to implement them in the classroom environment.

Years ago, I taught Advancement Via Individual Determination at a large, comprehensive high school. It was during the era when students had to pass the California High School Exit Exam, so I focused on five-paragraph essays for the writing portion. We started simple as my students had various backgrounds related to writing styles and proficiency. I asked my students to write a five-paragraph essay about their favorite animal. Basically, I wanted to see a developed introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. My goal was to teach structure, stay focused on the prompt, and to make my students feel like writing was easy.

Considering how I would use artificial intelligence as an aid for my students now, I typed in “five-paragraph essay about tigers” in ChatGPT. Within seconds, I was provided with a well-developed essay about the significance of tigers, their habitat and behaviors, as well as conservation efforts. As a teacher, I could have used this as a guide on structure, how to develop each paragraph, and how to design a conclusion. I could have used this same AI essay for rubric placement conversations. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of opportunities for educators to utilize AI. Is it necessary? No. Is it cheating? Also, no. We need to teach our students how to use the tools at their disposal.

Attending a conference recently, two of the sessions were on Artificial Intelligence. They exhilarated and energized me with ideas of what can be done in our personal lives and professional environments. Prior to the sessions, I had not even considered that I could create a presentation or video by uploading a few photos and providing a basic narrative. My high school brain immediately went to Career Technical Education when informed AI can interview individuals as preparation for employment. Honestly, the sessions made me want to return to the classroom, or become a full-time AI facilitator, so I can teach others to embrace the technology available. I love the possibilities!

Educators must embrace artificial intelligence. Do you remember leaving your first voicemail? I do, and I practiced what I was going to say before I called, as I was nervous. Our current situation is similar to the 1990s when the internet first became publicly available. We were cautioned to be careful, not much different than now. We have a responsibility to effectively utilize technology in our sphere of influence, and there are brave, excited humans in your buildings wanting to turn the figurative page on how we do our jobs right now. Let them lead the way. AI is truly exciting and can only become more masterful, making you, our staff, and our students increasingly productive.