Cold Spring School Integrates AI to Enhance Hands-On Learning

Montecito school leverages AI tools to personalize education and support teachers without replacing them

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Cold Spring School in Montecito, California is thoughtfully integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its curriculum, aiming to amplify the work of teachers and deepen student understanding. The school is using secure AI tools like Khanmigo to personalize learning experiences, while ensuring that technology enhances rather than dictates the learning process. Students remain firmly engaged in project-based learning aligned with California academic standards, with AI providing structure and support without replacing critical thinking and creativity.

Why it matters

The approach at Cold Spring School reflects a growing trend of preparing students to thrive in an AI-driven world. By fostering skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, the school is ensuring students can leverage AI tools while maintaining control over their learning. This balanced integration of technology aims to address widespread concerns about AI diminishing essential human skills.

The details

At Cold Spring School, teachers are utilizing Khanmigo, an AI-powered tool from Khan Academy, to customize learning materials and project prompts for individual student needs. This allows for personalization while maintaining student agency over the creative process and final output. The lessons remain firmly rooted in California academic standards, delivered through hands-on, project-based learning. A recent example involved students constructing detailed California maps, with AI assisting in the organizational framework but all artistic and analytical decisions made by the students.

  • Cold Spring School began integrating AI tools into its curriculum in the 2025-2026 school year.

The players

Amy Alzina

The principal of Cold Spring School, who emphasizes the goal of using AI to amplify the work of teachers and students, not replace them.

Ryan Francisco

A teacher at Cold Spring School who highlights how AI tools help customize materials to meet students' individual needs.

Khanmigo

An AI-powered tool offered through Khan Academy that assists teachers in creating personalized learning experiences for students.

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What they’re saying

“Our goal is to utilize AI to amplify the voice of teachers, and students. It's not to replace them — it's to be a thought partner.”

— Amy Alzina, Principal (newsy-today.com)

“It really helps teachers custom-make materials to meet students where they are.”

— Ryan Francisco, Teacher (newsy-today.com)

What’s next

As Cold Spring School continues to refine its approach to AI-enhanced education, the school plans to explore more sophisticated personalized learning paths and AI-powered assessment tools that can provide detailed feedback to students and free up teachers to focus on individualized instruction.

The takeaway

The balanced integration of AI at Cold Spring School demonstrates how technology can be leveraged to support, rather than replace, traditional teaching methods. By empowering teachers and maintaining student agency, the school is preparing students to thrive in an AI-driven world while preserving the essential human skills of critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.