Fulton County Schools shows that districtwide AI success isn’t about chasing tools—it’s about clear vision, safe vetting, and training systems that scale through people.
GUEST COLUMN | by Heather Van Looy
YUTTHANA GAETGEAW
Last year, only only 18% of principals reported that their schools offered AI guidance. While AI tools accelerated into classrooms at an unexpected pace, most teachers were left to figure out what was safe, what was useful, and what might expose students to risk. Fulton County Schools in Georgia took a different path. As one of the earliest adopters of AI in the country, we chose to lead with clarity and purpose, rather than urgency.
‘Fulton County Schools in Georgia took a different path. As one of the earliest adopters of AI in the country, we chose to lead with clarity and purpose, rather than urgency.’
Our district began studying AI in December of 2022, only one month after ChatGPT launched. Our superintendent and cabinet voiced a public commitment to make AI literacy a strength for both staff and students. This formed a strong vision for Fulton County Schools: every learner, educator, and leader should understand AI, be able to apply it responsibly, and use it to support deeper personalized learning and whole-student growth.
As the district’s Director of Instructional Technology, I serve 95 schools and over 86,000 students. My central IT team has only three people, yet we support every school site and thousands of educators eager to learn about AI and how to use it safely and meaningfully.
A New Approach to Training Was Needed
Fulton County is large and diverse. With more than 95 schools using the SchoolAI platform, it was clear that traditional professional learning models could not serve a rollout of this scope. Given the size of my staff, we could not personally train every teacher in every building or rely on ad hoc adoption. Without clear guidance, new tools might be introduced that are not FERPA or COPPA compliant, creating situations that compromise student privacy or safety.
Our district needed a safe, structured, and sustainable system to support innovative AI use, provide insights that help teachers understand student needs, and reflect our commitment to whole-child development. We wanted students to approach learning with curiosity, teachers to have real-time insight, and school leaders to have confidence that their tools were trusted, secure, and aligned with district expectations.
Here’s How We Did It
Step 1: Start with AI Foundations
We created an asynchronous online course around the Fundamentals of AI required for every teacher to complete. It ensures consistent understanding of how AI works, where it is useful, and how to use it safely.
Step 2: Choose Safe, Secure, District-Vetted Tools
The AI marketplace moves quickly and can feel overwhelming. My advice to any district is simple: create a vetted list of tools that meet FERPA, COPPA, and district privacy requirements. Then block everything outside those expectations.
When evaluating platforms, prioritize tools that give teachers real-time oversight and keep students within controlled, positive learning experiences. Teachers should be able to see how students interact with content and receive clear signals when they need support.
Step 3: Train Everyone Systematically
Scale was our biggest challenge. With 95+ schools using AI tools, centralized training alone would collapse under the demand. Teachers needed ongoing support that lived inside their building.
So we designed a Train-the-Trainer model.
How the Model Works
Each school identifies two AI leaders who participate in district training. This creates a network of more than 200 trainers who receive in-depth professional learning from my team. Their preparation includes:
- Understanding AI functionality
- Applying safety practices and privacy expectations
- Integrating AI into instruction
- Troubleshooting common issues
- Coaching peers
We also built a district infrastructure to support them. Our Summer AI Conference brought together over 200 staff and multiple vendors for hands-on learning. We provide ongoing training for principals, assistant principals, and curriculum leaders and have integrated AI training into district professional learning cycles.
Once trained, AI leaders re-deliver the content at their schools during fall and winter PD. This model ensures that each building has two people who understand the tools, can support colleagues, and can help teachers create engaging and developmentally appropriate AI experiences.
Fulton County’s experience shows that AI implementation is not about adopting new technology, but building a system that supports safe, meaningful learning for all students. With intentional planning and a clear vision, even a small team can support districtwide transformation at scale. Our students benefit from personalized learning and deeper engagement. Our teachers gain insights that guide academic and emotional support. And our district has a sustainable model that will grow as AI evolves.
If we want AI to strengthen teaching and learning, the work must begin with systems, structures, and, above all, people. That is the path Fulton County chose, and it is helping our schools prepare every student for the future ahead.
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Heather Van Looy, Ed.S., is the Director of Instructional Technology for Fulton County Schools in Atlanta, GA, a district recognized as an ISTE Distinguished District in 2022. With 26 years of experience in education, she is an ISTE Certified Educator who empowers teachers to create innovative, rigorous, and joyful learning experiences through technology. Heather leads the Fulton County Vanguard Team, a cohort of 350+ educators focused on building instructional capacity and transforming teaching and learning. She is passionate about responsible and impactful integration of emerging tools—especially generative AI—and regularly designs professional learning that bridges strategy, pedagogy, and innovation to support both classroom and district leaders. Connect with Heather via LinkedIn.
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