Sheridan County school district talks AI in education

SHERIDAN —- As technology continues to evolve, artificial intelligence has been a predominant topic in education conversations.

“We know very well that this is something that is not going away,” Sheridan County School District 2 Superintendent Scott Stults said in a Dec. 15 work session. “Actually, it’s something that we need and feel responsible for educating our staff about artificial intelligence because it is something that absolutely has some concerns, we know, but equal to that is the benefits that come with that.” 

SCSD2 has three vetted AI tools that are available for school district use: Google Gemini, Magic School and Brisk Teaching. 

“If a student was to say, ‘My brother’s name is John,’ the model past our walls would not see that, so that’s his data protection. It will let data in, so if a student was to search for a process in science, it would let that data in so that the student could get that information or teacher,” said SCSD2 Technology Director Scott Martinsen.

Martinsen noted the school district will periodically look at each AI platform to check to see if anything has changed. SCSD2 also sends out a survey every spring to staff asking for feedback on the applications they are using.

If teachers would like to use a new AI application, they may submit a ticket to the school district to begin the approval process. 

Martinsen said the information obtained in the ticket will include if the application is for school or personal use, who will be using the application and if the school district already has an application that is capable of what they are trying to use.

The SCSD2 technology department will look at if the application is in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Children’s Internet Protection Act. If the application is denied, the technology and instructional team will then look at solutions to help the teacher accomplish his or her task, Martinsen said.

AI tools can be used to assist teachers with instruction design, to give students additional tools for learning and also provide feedback on student work, he said.

As a parent of two high school students and assistant coach of the Sheridan High School tennis team, SCSD2 board member Michael Lansing said he can’t believe how often he has heard, “I’ll have AI write it as my paper,” or, “I’ll have AI rewrite it.”

Lansing asked SCSD2 Assistant Superintendent Kristie Garriffa and Martinsen if there is software that can detect AI on student work.

Garriffa shared that Brisk Teaching does have an AI detection tool and will allow a teacher to replay a student’s writing process. It allows the teacher to see if there are any cut and paste, how fast the student typed and whether the student used any outside sources.

Board member Doug Moore asked as the school district is teaching students about AI if there has been any thought to helping parents navigate the world of AI.

“We realize that we only have them eight hours a day. They’re going to go home and we don’t have control over what they do at home, but I’m sure parents are also paralyzed to a certain degree with this as well, and they’re going to be turning to us for some answers,” Moore said.

Garriffa said the SCSD2 schools have been communicating with parents about what is happening in the classroom, what tools they are using and how they are functioning in the classroom. The school district also has a section in its website titled “AI in education” under the parent resources tab.

The page includes an explanation of what AI is, how AI supports children’s learning, privacy and safety and the role parents can play.

One class that has been using AI is SHS computer science teacher Megan Garnhart’s class. Garnhart has used AI to help write emails and brainstorm lesson plans. She has also been working to teach students how to use AI ethically, according to previous Sheridan Press reporting.

Garnhart said an important piece to teaching students about AI is having open conversations to help students understand when it is appropriate to use it.

She said she’s been “really focusing on being transparent and clear with students on when it’s an appropriate use and not.

“Even if it’s like, ‘This assignment, we’re OK with you using it for this, but this one is an absolute no.’ That communication just on our behalf as educators and on their side has to be really transparent and open,” Garnhart said. “It just has to become a part of our communication with students.”

This story was published on Dec. 24, 2025.