The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) has taken a decisive leap into the future of education by partnering with La Nube STEAM Discovery Center and Microsoft TechSpark to introduce the Hour of AI - a program aimed at grooming students with skills in artificial intelligence and coding. During a special event, complete with a financial boost endorsed through a check presentation, the program was set in motion at La Nube’s Blue Sky Lab with students from Coach Archie Duran Elementary taking the lead.
Gina Martinez, CEO of La Nube, and JJ Childress, the Community Engagement Manager for Microsoft, alongside district authorities, underscored the urgent need for early engagement with AI. "This partnership helps us accelerate opportunities for students to explore emerging technologies in meaningful and engaging ways," Justin Yepez, an Instructional Tech at EPISD told El Paso ISD. The initiative ties in with the district’s participation in Computer Science Education Week - a reflection of their long-term commitment to imbue students with critical tech and digital proficiencies.
Crafted by Code.org and served up through Schoology, the Hour of AI invites students across EPISD to immerse themselves in interactive lessons tailored to various academic levels. The digital suite includes online activities, lessons that don’t require a plug, and more sophisticated options like Minecraft Education. It's a versatile educational cocktail with one core aim: to acquaint every child, from Pre-K through 12th grade, with the increasingly influential world of AI.
Anchoring the initiative is a shared belief that community synergy can set students on high-demand paths in fields such as engineering, robotics, and computer science. Yepez emphasized the initiative's impact: "Through Hour of AI, our students are not only learning how AI works — they are learning how to think critically, problem-solve, and imagine themselves as the future creators of this technology," he mentioned to El Paso ISD. This aligns with EPISD's broader strategy to democratize access to computer science, STEM education, and innovation experiences for its students, sculpting a foundation that helps them navigate and thrive in a future that's always in flux.
