Braveboy, Kaepernick Bring AI to PGCPS

By Raoul Dennis // PHOTOGRAPHY BY LLOYD JEREMIAH

In a historic step, Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy has partnered with former NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick in bringing a unique Artificial Intelligence platform to Prince George’s County Public Schools system, it was announced Tuesday, December 9.

The AI program developed and supported by Kaepernick allows young students to grow their reading and writing skills by becoming storytellers. The program, Lumi Story, embraces some 50 languages, which helps it overcome many of the “language barriers non-white users sometimes experience with other AI platforms.”

“We work in lock step in my administration to ensure that people across the county get what they need,” said County Executive Aisha Braveboy.

The occasion, held at Largo High School (Braveboy’s alma mater), had an atmosphere that blended a grand opening with a family homecoming.

“It's so important to have these tools and resources because so many students can sometimes think that they just can’t do it,” said new Prince George’s County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha.

As a young student, Oriadha struggled with reading until she worked with a teacher who helped her overcome the obstacles.

She says the new effort is the kind that allows students to unlock their creativity.

Kaepernick addressed those in attendance with his rationale for partnering with the county.

“As we think about education, the future of our communities, the future of our schools, Prince George’s County is really in play. I say that because we have been through conferences across the country and everywhere we go, people are looking at Prince George’s County as innovators,” Kaepernick said.

“Now, when we think about the partnership and how we are preparing our students for the future, we want to be sure that they have the best tools, the best resources and the best research products,” he continued. “We want to make sure that our students are prepared for the future. But we also know that future is now.”

Looking toward the students in the room, the former NFL star spoke as if he were an older brother.

“We were talking earlier about the journalism work that you want to do in the future? It may be different in the future than it has been in the past. We need to make sure that you are prepared for that.”

Dr. Shawn Joseph, acting superintendent of Prince George's County Public Schools, praised the Braveboy Administration for her work that aided the school system within its first 100 days, including improving immunization and establishing dual enrollment programming.

“We started with six schools, by the end of the year, there will be nine, and next year there will be 25 schools,” Joseph proudly reported. Then he discussed the new AI program.

“Now, through this visionary AI partnership, Aisha Braveboy is helping us open new frontiers for our children. Her belief in what is possible continues to move our school system and our county forward.”

U.S. Representative Glenn Ivey (D-District 4) attended and encouraged the powerful implications of the new program and the county’s technology-charged potential future.

“With the County Executive’s leadership, you have the technology exploding here in Prince George’s County and the quantum computing work going on up the street that this is going to dovetail right into, and you are being prepared to be part of that future,” Ivey said of county students.

County Councilmember Edward Burroughs III (D-Dist. 8), a product of county schools, is a staunch supporter of youth in the county and an aggressive fighter for their best interests.

“I’m excited about this technology that will make a big difference for so many of our students,” Burroughs said. “AI is here to stay. That’s our reality. So, either we will learn from it and use it to help our students, or we will miss an opportunity. In Prince George’s County, we decided we are going to learn from it and [use it to] help our students.”

Largo High School Journalism Teacher Danielle Locker has applied Lumi in her classrooms. She used the press conference as a ‘teachable moment’ to introduce Lumi and two of her students who use it.

“Lumi has allowed my students to voice and share what’s important to them through building characters and narratives,” Locker said. “All while strengthening their foundational understanding of how to responsibly and authentically use AI. This allows students to use their creativity while improving their literacy skills in order to share their stories with a wider audience. I’m thrilled that you will be able to see the journey that two of my phenomenal journalism students have gone through: Hakim Jervis and Nina Anderson.”

According to Kaepernick, this is the beginning of a broader effort.

“This is only the beginning. I’m very excited for what we will be able to accomplish together not only here in Prince George’s county, but for what it can look like nationally and internationally.”