Tomball ISD has partnered with an education software company to pilot an artificial intelligence tool for teachers to use to build classroom content, according to a Sept. 26 news release from the district.

In a nutshell

TISD will be the first school district in Texas to pilot PowerBuddy, an AI program from K-12 education software company PowerSchool, according to the release. The AI program has two program segments: PowerBuddy for Learning and PowerBuddy for Custom AI.

According to the news release, the two PowerBuddy AI programs can:

• Help teachers more quickly make assignments and instructional materials
• Adapt content for various classes and learning levels
• Give teachers real time responses and learning insights
• Answer user questions about TISD “​​policy manuals, athletic schedules, after-school programs, student handbooks, district calendars, lunch menus, job postings and more”

“PowerBuddy will lighten the load on our teachers and save time for everyone so that deeper learning can occur within each lesson,” Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora said via the release. “PowerSchool’s commitment to responsible AI and its natural integration with our existing edtech products made the decision to add PowerBuddy an easy one for our district.”

Learn more

TISD and PowerSchool will also be hosting a networking and informational event on AI on Dec. 3, according to the release. The event—dubbed Tomball's Roundtable for Artificial Intelligence and Networking Symposium (TRAINS)—will:

• Feature presentations on topics such as AI trends and AI in education
• Include a vendor expo
• Present networking opportunities with AI professionals
• Be held 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Tomball Event Center, 20235 Cypress Rose Hill Road, Tomball

TISD employees use other PowerSchool tools such as Applicant Tracking, Employee Records, eFinancePlus and Predictive Enrollment Analytics, according to the release. To learn more about PowerBuddy, visit www.powerschool.com/powerschool-ai.