Message from the Grass Lake District 36 Superintendent | Administration

April has arrived, bringing with it the renewal of spring and, of course, April Fool’s Day! While this lighthearted tradition is celebrated with jokes and pranks, its origins remain somewhat mysterious. Many historians trace it back to 16th-century France, when the switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar caused confusion over New Year’s celebrations. Others believe it may be linked to even older European springtime customs of playful trickery.

In today's world, however, distinguishing truth from fiction is becoming more challenging—not just on April 1st, but every day—due to rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI-generated text, images, and even videos can mimic reality so convincingly that it’s sometimes hard to tell what’s real and what’s computer-generated. While this raises important ethical questions, it also highlights AI’s vast potential to improve our lives in meaningful ways.

In education, AI is emerging as a valuable tool to support teachers and enhance student learning. For example:

Personalized Learning: AI-powered platforms, such as adaptive learning software, adjust instruction in real time based on a student’s progress, providing additional challenges for those who excel and targeted support for those who need extra help.

Automated Feedback and Assessment: AI can assist teachers by grading multiple-choice and even short-answer questions, offering instant feedback to students so they can learn from mistakes more quickly. AI can also analyze student responses to identify common misunderstandings.

Lesson Planning and Resource Creation: AI tools can generate lesson outlines, quizzes, and instructional materials aligned with state standards, saving teachers time while ensuring high-quality content.

Classroom Engagement: AI-driven educational apps and interactive platforms make learning more engaging through gamification, virtual tutoring, and AI-powered chatbots that can provide explanations in different ways to reinforce understanding.

Support for Diverse Learners: AI-powered speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools help students with learning differences, while real-time translation tools assist English language learners in accessing curriculum content more effectively.

As a district, we are committed to using technology responsibly to support both our students and teachers. We encourage families to have conversations with their children about digital literacy—helping them understand how to evaluate online information and use AI as a tool for learning rather than a source of confusion

Thank you for your continued partnership in shaping a bright future for our students. As always, I appreciate your dedication and commitment to our children’s success. Wishing you all a wonderful April filled with learning, growth, and maybe even a little laughter!

Sincerely,

William Newby Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Grass Lake District # 36

P.S. On April 8th at 6 PM, I will be hosting a superintendent’s forum on Zoom to discuss artificial intelligence in schools.

Here is the link: Superintendent Forum on AI