MENDON — The Mendon-Upton Regional School District has been selected as one of 14 school districts statewide to participate in the 2026 Partnership for Educators Advancing AI Knowledge (PEAK) Cohort, an initiative focused on the thoughtful and equitable use of artificial intelligence in edaucation.
The cohort, led by MassCUE and Throughline Learning with support from EdTechTeacher and UMass Lowell’s AI Teach Co-Design Lab, includes educators and administrators from districts across Massachusetts. The cohort’s goal is to develop clear and responsible approaches to integrating AI into teaching and learning.
Mendon-Upton’s participation runs from January through June 2026 and officially began in January with a kickoff summit at UMass Lowell. At the summit, the District was represented by Superintendent Dr. Maureen Cohen, Director of Learning and Innovation Ryan Robidoux, Instructional Coach Maria Desruisseaux and School Adjustment Counselor Ryan Capuzziello.
Through monthly meetings and guided planning sessions, Mendon-Upton’s team will work alongside other districts to develop an AI implementation plan aligned with guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and best practices developed by Throughline Learning.
The District has identified three priority areas for the year: academic integrity, AI awareness and the development of clear policies and guidelines for staff and students.
“Our goal is to approach artificial intelligence in a way that supports learning and protects academic honesty, while simultaneously reflecting our District’s values,” said Superintendent Dr. Cohen. “This work will help ensure our students and staff are prepared to use emerging tools responsibly and thoughtfully.”
The kickoff summit featured professional learning sessions led by education and technology leaders from across the state and country, including keynote presentations from Justin Reich of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab and Shawn Rubin of Throughline Learning. Sessions focused on topics including digital wellness, student voice, instructional design, literacy in the age of AI and community engagement.
The Mendon-Upton Regional School District joins the following school districts in the 2026 cohort: Attleboro, Barnstable, Dedham, Fairhaven, Lawrence, Lowell, Nashoba, Newton, Norton, Pittsfield, Springfield, Watertown and Westford.
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