Holton-Arms Students Lead the Way in Teaching AI Tools

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly prominent in the educational landscape, schools are exploring how best to incorporate new technologies into the classroom. At Holton-Arms, students are not just part of that exploration, they’re playing an integral role in shaping it. From teaching their teachers about emerging AI tools to representing the school at national conferences, Holton students are demonstrating what thoughtful, student-driven innovation looks like.

Role Reversal: Students as the Teachers
Driven by curiosity and a desire to bridge the gap between technology and education, a group of Holton students began working with Directors of Technology Integration Lucia Hassell-Lee and Troy Gordon, EdD, on developing an “AI Tasting” program to introduce faculty to emerging AI tools.

Led by students Angel S. ’26, Grace X. ’26, and Sofia F.S. ’27, the team identified a set of AI tools, including Google’s Gemini, Magic School, Wayground (formerly Quizizz), Notebook LM, and Brisk, and trained themselves to use them with a “teacher’s mindset.” Their goal: to introduce opportunities for educators with tools that could streamline workflow, inspire new approaches to assignments, and enhance classroom engagement. 

“They weren’t just learning these tools for themselves,” said Mr. Gordon. “They were thinking about how to teach them, how to make them useful for a teacher managing a classroom, planning assessments, or developing creative activities.”

“Engaging with the teachers in a different environment has been enlightening,” explained Sofia. “I've gotten to understand a different side to them, thus I can appreciate them better, as both people and teachers. Through the AI cohort, I also feel as though my teachers have seen me grow as a student.”

Building the AI Tasting Program
The students created a series of interactive modules featuring hands-on exercises and real-world classroom applications. Once finalized, they delivered the first “AI Tasting” to Holton-Arms’ faculty leaders, offering both a demonstration of the tools and an inspiring message that meaningful tech integration begins with open-minded exploration.  

“Teachers were learning from the students,” explained Mrs. Hassell-Lee. “That role reversal helped faculty see AI from a student’s perspective, sparking interest in how these tools could be used in their classrooms.”

Scaling Up: Faculty Presentations and Adaptability
Following the success of the leadership session, the students were invited to present to Holton’s world languages department. This required them to tailor their content for subject-specific use, refining their examples and exercises for a different set of educators.

Soon after, the students presented to the entire Holton faculty, adjusting their presentations for an audience of over 100 faculty and managing the logistics of multiple, rotating sessions over the course of four hours. A program for new faculty was also rolled out to ensure consistent onboarding into Holton’s AI philosophy.

“The students stepped up to each challenge they were presented with open, respectful collaboration and exemplary problem-solving skills,” said Mr. Gordon. “It’s been gratifying and motivating for them to see their hard work being implemented in the classrooms by their own teachers.” 

“When doing the presentation, I was surprised by how quickly my nerves disappeared once I saw how engaged and open-minded the teachers were,” said Grace. “This experience showed me the power of student leadership and reminded me that age shouldn’t be a barrier to making an impact. I’m now excited to bring the ‘AI Tasting’ to more student-driven spaces in the future.”

Beyond Holton
What began as an internal initiative evolved into a larger social venture. The students developed a full scale version, or “Full Menu,” of the “AI Tasting” and developed an outreach plan for area schools. Their first stop will be Holton’s brother school, Landon. However, their outreach won’t stop there. The students have proposed a replicable model that empowers schools to train their own students as AI ambassadors, creating a network of student leaders who will advocate for ethical and effective use of AI in education. 

Last May, the Holton AI Innovators presented their “AI Tasting” at the Reimaging Technology in Education Conference. Mrs. Hassell-Lee explained, “Since the conference was more tech-focused, the students had to shift their focus, showing educators how to implement the AI Tasting model in their own school communities.” 

In December, the team will host a virtual Q&A session for a Boston-area school district, sharing their experiences directly with interested teachers. Also in December, members of the AI Innovators Club will attend the Close Up Next Gen AI Roundtable in Houston, Texas, a student-focused, national conference held in conjunction with the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Symposium on AI and the Future of Learning.

Titled “From Classrooms to Careers: How AI is Shaping Our Paths,” the conference aligns perfectly with Holton’s mission to prepare young women for global leadership and positive influence. Students will spend three days examining AI’s role across professional fields, developing ethical tech-deliberation skills, and exploring how these lessons can be applied within their school community.

A Model of Student Leadership and Innovation
Recognizing the success and sustainability of this work, the AI initiative has evolved into an Upper School AI Innovators Club. Founding members Grace, Angel, and Sofia, are mentoring new members of the club to ensure continuity and leadership development. In addition to running the “AI Tastings,” the club also publishes AI newsletters for students. 

This student-to-student mentorship and student-to-teacher collaboration have become defining features of Holton’s AI model—revolutionary dynamics that challenge traditional educational hierarchies and maximize shared learning.

“The enthusiasm and professionalism these students have shown in developing these professional development presentations has been truly inspiring,” said Mr. Gordon. “They’ve created a model that empowers both students and educators, and it all started with curiosity and initiative.”

Of the experience, Angel reflected, “The ‘AI Tastings’ have provided a meaningful opportunity for me to not only share my passion for AI but also give back to the Holton community through an innovative, hands-on approach. One of the most rewarding aspects of this whole experience has been seeing how enthusiastic the teachers are in applying what they learned in the sessions to their classrooms. Through this initiative, I hope to continue bridging the gap between emerging technology and everyday learning, and to promote how AI can be used responsibly and thoughtfully in school settings.”

Grace’s mom, Jing Yu P’26, added, "The workshop organized at the May conference was informative and a fantastic way to support educators while giving the girls a truly rewarding experience."