Opportunities

Rural AI Leadership Cohort

A year-long cohort helping rural Illinois districts write AI guidance, plan teacher training, and map out what comes next.

About the Cohort

AI planning support for rural districts

Illinois is home to more than 300 rural school districts. Many have a small central office without a full-time leader focused on  instructional technology, so there’s rarely time to sit down and plan to address emerging trends like AI.

The Rural AI Leadership Cohort creates that space, and offers rural leadership teams perspectives that help them craft a roadmap toward safe, successful AI integration.

Over the school year, advisory teams from participating districts connect and collaborate while writing AI guidance for their students and staff. They also explore how they’ll train their teachers to efficiently utilize AI, in alignment with a long-term plan that sustains integration beyond an initial rollout.

Between sessions, the LTC team supports each team as they consider local adoption. By spring, every participating district will have its own  plan that’s thoughtfully tailored to their needs and goals.

Questions? Interested in joining?

Contact our team for more information.
Matt Sherrill
Staff Directory
By the Numbers

Built for rural Illinois

10

district leadership teams in the 2026–27 cohort

3

working convenings across the school year

100%

our goal: every district leaves with adopted AI guidance and a teacher PD plan

How It Works

A leadership team from every district

Each district commits an AI Advisory Council of at least three people who can turn plans into action back home:

  • A district leader, such as the superintendent or another administrator
  • A technology leader
  • An instructional coach or lead teacher

Teams work alongside other rural districts facing the same realities, share what’s working, and leave every convening with real drafts in hand. Between sessions, the LTC’s Program Manager for AI & Innovation supports each team as it moves its work forward.

2026-27 Cohort

Three convenings, one roadmap

Summer 2026 | Recruitment and cohort launch

Fall 2026 | Vision and Stakeholder Engagement: Teams establish a shared vision and draft a position statement, a stakeholder engagement plan, and resources to gather stakeholder perspectives

Winter 2027 | Governance and Areas of Need: Teams identify professional development and student learning needs, then draft localized policies and governance documents

Spring 2027 | AI Roadmap and PD Plan: Teams finalize a long-term AI roadmap and PD plan to ensure ongoing, thoughtful implementation

Outcomes

What each district builds

AI Policy & Guidance

Localized student AI policies and staff guidelines, drafted together with peers and ready for local adoption.

Teacher Learning Plan

A practical, school-wide professional learning rollout that builds AI literacy and confidence across your staff.

Long-Term AI Roadmap

A repeatable implementation plan to guide your district on its own through the 2027–28 school year and beyond.

Participating Districts

Meet the 2026–27 cohort

Ten rural districts are building AI roadmaps that fit their own students, staff, and communities. We are proud to work alongside them.

Amboy CUSD 272 Amboy CUSD 272 Eastland CUSD 308 Eastland CUSD 308 Freeport SD 145 Freeport SD 145 Kinnikinnick CCSD 131 La Salle-Peru Twp HSD 120 La Salle-Peru Twp HSD 120 Meridian CUSD 223 Meridian CUSD 223 Montmorency CCSD 145 Montmorency CCSD 145 Polo CUSD 222 Polo CUSD 222 Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD 3 Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD 3 Seneca Twp HSD 160 Seneca Twp HSD 160

In Partnership with aiEDU

National expertise, local leadership

The cohort is part of aiEDU’s Community Catalyst Program. aiEDU’s advisory sessions on district AI leadership shape each of our three convenings, and LTC facilitators help every team turn that national guidance into plans that fit rural Illinois.

 

aiEDU: The AI Education Project