1 min read
Most districts are still debating whether to allow AI. Desert Sands Unified built a district-wide strategy, rolled it out, and has the playbook to show for it.
In this revealing webinar, Tiffany Norton (Chief Innovation and Information Officer, Desert Sands USD) shares the real story behind their AI implementation—including the public missteps, the course corrections, and the framework that now guides thousands of students and educators. Hosted by Damon Torgerson (CEO, Alludo) with Dr. Heidi Baynes (RCOE), this conversation goes beyond theory to show what actually works. 🎓🤖
Key Topics:
🎯 The RISE Framework: Respect, Integrity, Support, Empathy—Desert Sands' decision-making framework that guides AI use across all roles
🧑🏫 Human First, Human Last: Why AI is a "teammate, not a tool" and how keeping humans at the center transformed their approach
📊 Role-Specific Training: How they trained leaders first (principals as lead learners), then educators, then students—with ongoing support, not one-and-done PD
❌ Why They Don't Use AI Detectors: The accuracy problem, the Declaration of Independence story, and their conversation-based alternative
🔄 The Public Course Correction: How they walked back a tool that wasn't aligned with their values—and what that taught them about staying grounded in mission
👥 AI Futures Committee: Looking ahead at AI wearables, emerging tools, and what comes next for teaching and learning
🎓 Student Voice Matters: "If teachers gave authentic assignments, they'd know if we were cheating"—insights that shaped their authentic assessment approach
💡 Real Classroom Impact: AP Lit students using custom Gemini gems for rubric-based feedback in minutes instead of weeks
Perfect For:
- District leaders building AI strategies from scratch
- Educators seeking practical implementation examples (not just theory)
- Anyone navigating data privacy, board approvals, and community buy-in
- Leaders who want to learn from real missteps and course corrections
Resources:
Featured Guests:
Tiffany Norton – Chief Innovation and Information Officer, Desert Sands USD
A former classroom teacher and elementary administrator, Tiffany leads the district's AI initiative—from infrastructure and data security to professional development and personalized learning tools.
🔗 Contact Tiffany on LinkedIn
🔗 Contact Tiffany on Email @ tiffany.norton@desertsands.us
Dr. Heidi Baynes – Coordinator of Educational Technology, RCOE
With 25+ years spanning online, blended, and traditional classrooms, Heidi's work centers on expanding computer science access, exploring AI's role in education, and helping educators leverage technology for meaningful learning. A strong #CSforALL advocate, she believes preparing students means embracing AI's transformative potential today.
🔗 Contact Heidi on LinkedIn
🔗 Contact Heidi on Email @ hbaynes@rcoe.us
