At the University of Florida, academic achievement and innovative research are inspiring a culture of curiosity and collaboration that is propelling students, faculty and alumni to break new ground across multiple disciplines. This ethos is evidenced by the Florida K-12 AI Education Task Force, a statewide initiative coordinated through UF’s CS Everyone Center for Computer Science Education in collaboration with hundreds of Florida’s education professionals. The task force is working to implement safe and effective ways to use AI within the state’s K-12 communities and education workplaces. The task force was recently recognized for its effort with the 2026 Torchbearer Award at the EDSAFE AI Alliance Policy Lab Summit.
“This recognition reinforces that our work is making an impact beyond Florida,” said Roberto Alonso, a Miami-Dade County Public Schools board member. “It signals that we are helping set a standard for how AI, innovation and emerging tools are thoughtfully integrated into education, ensuring technology enhances learning while teachers remain at the forefront of the classroom.”
Maya Israel, Ph.D.
The Torchbearer Award recognizes AI pioneers who consistently share their research in educational settings and support others as they take initial steps to explore AI. The task force has thoughtfully crafted ideas to both introduce and implement practical AI policy and practices across the state. To mitigate potential concerns effectively, policies are being designed to balance AI‑driven pedagogical benefits with thorough privacy protections, ethical guidelines and inclusive access for all students and educators.
Behind this UF-led initiative is Maya Israel, director of the CS Everyone Center and professor of educational technology and computer science education. Israel and the task force focus on grounding AI initiatives in ethical, transparent practices to ensure that students’ understanding and future success remain the top priorities.
“We are actively collaborating with school districts to support safe and responsible AI integration in ways that align with instructional best practices,” Israel said. “We are also researching what teachers and district leaders need to make informed, effective decisions about AI in their settings, and the task force allows us to translate this research into statewide guidance because AI is already in our schools.”
Meanwhile, AI’s increasing presence in higher education—particularly at UF—is reshaping teaching, spurring research and streamlining administration. The World Economic Forum predicts that AI could produce a net increase of 78 million new roles worldwide by 2030, dramatically impacting the future workforce that Florida students need to prepare for.
Thomas Kennedy, a board member of the Citrus County School District, said, “We are working to ensure that Florida isn’t just reacting to AI, but leading it. Our focus is on creating a safe, equitable and practical roadmap for our schools.”
EDSAFE’s Andrea Claver, Israel, Kennedy, and Alonso with the 2026 Torchbearer Award
Whether it’s through policy development or certain classroom strategies, the overarching goal is to ensure every student, from smaller districts like Citrus County to larger ones like Miami-Dade, has the AI literacy needed to thrive in a modern workforce.
Israel reiterates, “Educators and district leaders are navigating a rapidly changing landscape in real time, so we cannot afford to be reactive. The task force positions us to be thoughtful and informed in how AI is integrated into Florida’s classrooms in ways that are safe, responsible and grounded in evidence.”