A symposium hosted by the AI Lab gathered educators from every campus to craft a unified policy ahead of the 2026-2027 academic year
JACKSONVILLE, FL, UNITED STATES, August 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Episcopal School of Jacksonville (ESJ) hosted an all-day symposium this June, uniting faculty across its three campuses to explore the role of artificial intelligence in education and define the institution’s strategy for classroom integration. A second meeting took place in July, with both events organized under the school’s AI Lab initiative and intended to produce a working policy for implementation starting this school year.
The Episcopal AI Lab, a pilot program focused on developing policy, strategy, and guiding philosophy, is made possible by a generous donation from the Cranberg family. The initiative reflects a deliberate, mission-driven approach that prioritizes human learning, ethical responsibility, and student growth in every decision.
During both sessions, faculty discussions consistently returned to a central question: What is fundamental to each academic field, and how does the inherent difficulty of learning in mathematics, science, history, theology, and language shape the abilities students take with them?
“We recognize that it is critically important for students to develop the skills gained through confronting struggle, process, reflection, and revision when completing assignments,” said Natalie Herford, Head of Upper School. “The learning process itself can never be replaced by AI; how we approach education at Episcopal School of Jacksonville becomes even more vital as society moves toward convenience and speed. Learning must be meaningful, build practical skills, and strengthen intellectual abilities.”
Through the symposium, Episcopal School of Jacksonville articulated its goal: to instruct students in using AI ethically and with intention as a tool that promotes deeper thought rather than substituting for it. Faculty highlighted the uniquely human qualities—judgment, creativity, curiosity, and moral reasoning—that AI cannot imitate and that the school must continue to foster.
AI literacy at ESJ is introduced in phases tailored to student development. Students in the school’s preschool and lower elementary school divisions do not use AI, instead engaging in age-appropriate conversations about digital literacy and ethical technology use. Fourth and fifth graders may use AI through Flint, the school’s private AI platform, under teacher supervision. As students move into Middle School, learning to prompt, question, and employ AI as a resource becomes part of their education. Faculty at the Lower Schools can use Episcopal’s closed Flint AI platform for lesson planning and curriculum exploration.
Teachers across middle and high school divisions apply consistent language and standards when addressing AI in the classroom. The AI Acceptable Use Menu, developed by ESJ and implemented across all campuses, outlines six assignment categories ranging from No Use through Inquiry, Tutoring, Research, Analysis, and Content Generation, each with specific disclosure and citation rules. All six categories are grounded in five shared principles: AI use at Episcopal must be human-centered, learning-centered, age-appropriate and safe, ethical, and purposeful. Approved platforms include FlintAI, NotebookLM, Canva, and tools within the Adobe Creative Suite. All authorized AI usage is monitored by educators via the Flint platform.
“Setting aside an entire day for our faculty to work through this together, and then bringing them back for a second session in July, speaks volumes about how seriously Episcopal School of Jacksonville is approaching this,” said Rev. Adam Greene, Head of School. “Many institutions are waiting to see where artificial intelligence lands before they react. Our faculty chose to engage with genuinely challenging questions about their own disciplines and shape our response while those questions remain open. We are preparing students for a world that none of us can fully foresee, and the way to do that is not to predict the technology. It is to be certain of our values.”
Herford added: “The discussions and conclusions our faculty reached during the symposium reflected the balanced, middle-way approach we apply to every challenge. We believe students must be actively engaged to learn, and that learning is far more complex and nuanced than anything a machine can do or teach. The irreplaceable value of the human presence in the classroom cannot be overstated.”
About Episcopal School of Jacksonville
Episcopal School of Jacksonville is an independent school in Jacksonville, Florida serving students from age one through grade 12 across three campuses. The school delivers an outstanding college preparatory education in an academically rigorous and supportive environment, emphasizing a well-rounded experience through its four pillars: academics, arts, athletics, and spiritual life. Learn more at ESJ.org.
Brandon Westerman
Episcopal School of Jacksonville
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