Empowering the Future: Powerful Technology for Powerful AI Teaching and Learning

“[This lab] represents not just a technological advancement but a tangible step toward nurturing the potential of every student. This initiative is more than a launch; it is a declaration of our belief in the dreams of our students and the transformative role of education.” — Dr. Chelsea Harris-Hugan, Principal, Ypsilanti Community High School

Students need access to higher powered technology and opportunities to engage in innovative thinking and learning that open pathways to careers in an evolving world shaped by AI. Schools without these resources are often challenged to meet these needs. However, every school leader knows that the promise of technology is only as powerful as the opportunities it creates for students. At Ypsilanti Community High School (YCHS), that promise is coming to life in a new AI Lab where students can design, build, and dream using the same kinds of tools found in today’s most innovative industries.

The HP AI Spotlight Schools initiative, a collaboration between HP, Microsoft, Intel, and Digital Promise aims to address this pathway challenge by integrating high-powered and effective technology into education. This isn’t just about providing new equipment and technology. It’s about what happens when a student sees their idea come alive in 3D; when they use AI to solve a problem that matters to them; or when they realize the skills they’re building in class connect directly to careers they once thought were out of reach. For Ypsilanti educators, the lab is a space where powerful learning meets possibility.

The new white paper, “Empowering the Future: Powerful Technology for Powerful AI Teaching and Learning,” shares stories from Ypsilanti’s classrooms. It highlights the ways educators and students are navigating real-world applications of AI while also grappling with practical challenges like staffing, scheduling, and sustainability. These honest reflections remind us innovation in schools isn’t always easy, but it is possible to consistently create powerful learning experiences for learners.

As the first HP AI Spotlight School, Ypsilanti is showing what can happen when we invest in educators’ growth, give students access to professional-grade technology, and build systems that put equity at the center. This work is still unfolding, but the vision is clear: create spaces where every student, especially those historically left out, can see themselves as creators, problem-solvers, and leaders in a future shaped by AI.

You can read the full story and learn from Ypsilanti’s journey in the newly published white paper.

Want to learn more about integrating high-powered and effective technology into education? Find more resources here:

• Learn more about Digital Promise’s HP AI Spotlight School initiative
• Read the full white paper
• Join AI Education Exchange | A Community Powered by Digital Promise and HP
• Explore Digital Promise’s AI Literacy Framework