AI math tutor to become available to high school students

By Alice Gerard

Senior Contributing Writer

Starting in the 2024-25 school year, Grand Island High School will have an artificial intelligence math tutor, called Khanmigo, available for students, Grand Island Central School Superintendent Brian Graham said at the Aug. 5 Board of Education meeting.

“I want to thank (high school Principal) Hillary Kretz-Harvey for her leadership in working with the company Khan Academy,” Graham said. “Khan Academy has been around since 2008, and 2009 is when the company got started. In 2010, they had free courses in algebra and all math courses from kindergarten through college available for free on their website.

“Now, they’re integrating an artificial intelligence tutor, which they’re calling Khanmigo. Hillary’s done a fantastic job in negotiating with this company. I think it’s OK to say it will be available for every student in the high school at a ridiculously low cost. This is a tutor that will be available for children in our high school 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the entire school year.

“Right now, it’s text-based, so a child can speak to Khanmigo, and then Khanmigo will type back to the child or the child can type to Khanmigo, and Khanmigo will type back.

“What’s important for the board and our community to know is Khanmigo will not give the child the answer. The AI tutor will use Socratic and cognitive coaching to help the child think and process and move toward the right answer on their own, but not have AI give that right answer.

“I’m sure all of you have had experience with Siri or with Alexa, but now, this is where artificial intelligence is moving for the social good of working with students, where our parents and our students will have access and they will see how this will help them in their journey, particularly if they are struggling with some of these concepts. Sometimes, math is a foreign language for kids.

“We’re very, very excited. Honestly, the lion’s share of this work is Hillary and her team working together to be one of the first school districts in Western New York to have this tool at a rate that is super affordable and at a time when some people are worried about artificial intelligence. That could be for good.”

Other school board news includes:

•John Fitzpatrick was appointed to serve as assistant superintendent for curriculum, staff development and human resources.

•The GISBA golf outing was held July 15.

“Although the weather was inclement, and we didn’t have the greatest turnout, we still raised funds that will support our students, not only in the emerging leaders’ program, but in the scholarships that GISBA gives out to students, so we were excited about that,” Graham said. “We had some wonderful sponsors who came out to support the good work of GISBA. Pinnacle Travel Staffing was one of our major sponsors, along with other companies that all came together to support our students. We thank the community and also give Jude Kuehne a gold star in putting together a great program, even though it rained quite a bit that day. A very nice time and we thank everybody for their support.”

•Mary Howard, author and sixth grade teacher at Veronica Connor Middle School, “has been presenting all over the state and in other places to talk about artificial intelligence,” Graham said. “ChatGPT came out in November of 2022 and, by March of 2023, Mary Howard had written a book about how artificial intelligence can help teachers in their daily work. She wrote a book and was published in six months and has been on the talking circuit, sharing her expertise with other educators. I share that with you because I also have been doing presentations on artificial intelligence and how it can support education.”

The next Board of Education meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 26 at Eco Island Nature Center, 3285 Staley Road.