KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) — Knox County Schools leaders are working to determine how artificial intelligence should be used responsibly in classrooms as the technology continues to grow in everyday life.
Superintendent Dr. Jon Rysewyk said the discussion goes beyond education and reflects broader changes happening across society.
“You could probably erase teachers and just talk about society,” Rysewyk said. “We all continue to see it come.”
Rysewyk said the district has faced similar challenges with emerging technologies in the past, such as cell phones and laptops, and expects AI to be treated in a similar way — as a tool.
“We can’t just ignore it. We can’t just wait for it to happen,” he said. “We have to be training our students for the world they’re going to enter. For us, technology is a tool. AI will be a tool as well.”
The district is now working to determine how AI fits into different subjects and grade levels, including what role it should play in areas like English and writing.
Rysewyk said AI can be useful as a starting point for assignments, but schools must continue to prioritize critical thinking and student originality.
“I think it is a great way to start with drafts of things,” he said.
At the same time, district leaders want to ensure students continue to do their own work and maintain academic integrity.
“We have to embrace it,” Rysewyk said. “But we also have to make sure there’s still integrity in what we’re doing.”
The conversation may also lead to new skills for students, including learning how to use AI effectively and responsibly.
“What are the right ways to do it? Is it prompting? How do you write a better prompt? What are the right times to and not use it?” Rysewyk said.
The district has been working internally with its technology and instructional teams and could form a committee to help develop formal guidelines. That process may include creating “grade bands,” outlining how AI use differs by age group.
Rysewyk said leaders may also look at policies in other districts and states as they move forward.
He noted the discussion ties into broader concerns about screen time and the role of digital devices in education, cautioning against moving too far in either direction.
“I think there’s always the pendulum that swings,” he said. “And is there a place where too much is that? I think we don’t know the answer to that yet.”
District leaders say they will continue working with educators and state officials to adapt as AI technology evolves.
“We can’t bury our head in the sand about it,” Rysewyk said. “We have to embrace it. Hopefully not make too many mistakes along the way, but also not ignore it.”
