Marshalltown Community School District is proud to announce that Paula Johnson, 8-12th Grade Virtual Special Education Teacher, has been selected to join GenerationAI, a groundbreaking initiative led by ISTE+ASCD to advance artificial intelligence education in K-12 schools across the United States.
Johnson was chosen from hundreds of applicants nationwide to participate in this innovative 15-month program, which brings together a diverse cohort of education leaders from 38 states. The program, made possible through a $10 million investment from Google.org, aims to equip educators with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively and responsibly integrate AI technology in educational settings.
“The opportunity to participate in this program will be so valuable to my students and fellow educators,” said Johnson. “As part of this select cohort, I look forward to collaborating with fellow educators to develop practical solutions that will help prepare our students for an AI-driven future.”
The GenerationAI cohort represents a broad cross-section of American education, with significant representation from Title I schools, rural districts, and traditionally underrepresented communities in STEM. Fifty percent of the leadership positions are held by women, reflecting the program's commitment to representative leadership in educational technology.
Throughout the 15-month experience, cohort members will:
Participate in monthly virtual collaboration sessions with fellow members
Develop and implement AI-focused solutions for specific educational challenges
Engage in action research and evaluation of AI implementation strategies
Create resources and best practices to share with the broader education community
Work alongside experts and researchers to ensure measurable impact on student learning
The program is part of Google’s $75 million AI Opportunity Fund, which aims to help one million Americans access AI training in their local communities. Through collaboration with organizations including the Center for Black Educator Development, Computer Science Teachers Association, Indigitize, Latinos for Education, National Education Association, and Playlab, ISTE+ASCD's GenerationAI programming will reach over 200,000 educators nationwide.