By Julie Faryniarz
Funding innovation to elevate achievement for all students is an element the Greenwich Alliance for Education looks for in the Reaching Out Grant proposals we receive from the public schools. This funding gives educators the opportunity to explore new technologies and ideas in their classrooms.
This year, Greenwich High School (GHS) was awarded $37,000 in grant funding to trial two different AI innovative student-facing tools: Khanmingo and SchoolAI.
SchoolAI is a platform for students to access academic resources, collaborate with peers, and receive AI-driven feedback on their work. Khanmingo, developed by Khan Academy provides personalized learning support, acting as a virtual tutor to guide students through concepts and problem- solving.
GHS Administrators and teachers have been exploring AI tools for teaching and have engaged in professional development opportunities over the past few years. They have developed student and staff regulations, and are prepared to integrate AI tools into the classroom. Teachers are committed to enhancing student learning and preparing students for success in the rapidly evolving world. “We recognize the transformative potential of AI in education and believe that student-facing tools like Khanmingo and SchoolAI can address critical needs in our district,” says Shawn Hoyt, Science Program Administrator at GHS and Interim Assistant Principal at Western Middle School.
Over the past few months administrators from science, math, social studies and English language arts have been participating in seminars to better understand how AI can best be leveraged in each of the subject areas. In a presentation called “School AI Ignite” GHS science teachers shared with their colleagues mini lessons using both SchoolAI and Khanmingo and the student interactions and responses. Working with AI on these science lessons students say they are building confidence with science concepts, validating their ideas, and amplifying curiosity. Students in AP Environmental Science are practicing reading and responding to questions in the style of the AP exam and, in honors chemistry, they used AI to speak to the scientists.
Both Khanmingo and SchoolAI, provide real-time feedback, individualized learning experiences, and data-driven insights that enhance both student achievement and instructional practices. They function as an interactive tutor, guiding students through problem-solving rather than simply providing answers. This aligns with best practices in education, as immediate feedback and scaffolding support deeper learning and retention. GHS educators who are using AI on a regular basis in their classrooms are finding the formative assessment capabilities help them to track student progress in real time and adjust instruction accordingly.
The GHS AI Committee meets frequently to reflect on the grant objectives with the primary goal to test two student-facing AI platforms with a representative sample of GHS students to assess usability, engagement and learning outcomes. SchoolAI and Khanmingo are actively engaged and are providing professional development for the teachers to increase confidence with AI tools as another resource for classroom instruction.
AI tools encourage students to develop digital literacy skills and critical thinking skills – both essential for future careers. As AI becomes more embedded in society, exposure to these tools in education ensures that students are prepared for an increasingly AI-driven workforce.
Funding this grant at GHS aligns with Greenwich Alliance for Education’s newly adopted mission to advance student success by funding innovative programs that promote educational excellence and equitable opportunities for Greenwich public school students. We are looking forward to hearing the outcomes of this AI trial at the end of the school year which we will share with our community.
Thanks to Shawn Hoyt, Andrew Byrne and Ralph Mayo for writing and submitting this innovative proposal which has been used in the content of this article.
Julie Faryniarz is the Executive Director of the Greenwich Alliance for Education and a long time community volunteer. She has 3 children who graduated from the Greenwich Public Schools.
