Our February 13, 2026, Institute Day is coming fast, and it is shaping up to be a practical and inspirational learning day. This day is about strengthening what we do best in Barrington 220—great teaching, strong relationships, and learning experiences that help students think, create, and communicate. Authentic Learning and AI (Artificial Intelligence) will be part of the day, but the real focus is building our shared skill set so we can use AI in ways that are aligned to our values and our Learner Profile.
The anchor topic for the day is our Barrington 220 AI Skills. These skills are about what students and staff should be able to do with and around AI, not just which tools to click. In other words, asking better questions, evaluating output, checking for accuracy, noticing bias, using AI for feedback and iteration, and making smart choices about when AI helps and when it gets in the way. The goal is consistency across classrooms so staff AND students build confidence over time, across subjects and grade levels. And, if you join an AI Task Force member-led session on February 13, you should expect to walk out with something you can use the next day that connects directly to those skills.
We are also excited to learn with one of our keynote speakers, Dr. Sabba Quidwai. A former colleague of mine at Apple, Sabba’s work sits right at the intersection of innovation, human advantage, and what learners need in a world shaped by AI. She will push us to keep the focus on the uniquely human parts of learning: creativity, empathy, identity, decision-making, and purpose. She is not coming to hype tools. She is coming to help us think differently about how learning is designed, how we build student agency, and how we create authentic learning experiences that help teachers and students thrive. If you have been wondering how to balance AI with authentic learning, Sabba is going to help us connect those dots.
Linda DeYounge from LTC will help us stay grounded and practical. Linda has worked with educators across Illinois who are navigating the same questions we are: What does responsible use look like? How do we build staff confidence without overwhelming anyone? How do we support students in using AI in ways that strengthen learning instead of shortcutting it? She brings a clear-eyed view of what is working in real schools, with real constraints, and real kids. Expect ideas you can actually implement, not just a philosophical conversation.
But, the true highlight of the day is that many choice sessions will be led by our own Barrington 220 AI Task Force members. These are educators who have been testing strategies, learning alongside students, and building a library of examples that connect AI tools to strong instruction. You will see sessions that reinforce our AI Skills through everyday classroom moves—planning, feedback, student reflection, and revision cycles. You will also see simple ways to teach quick AI literacy moments without creating a whole new unit, like using teachable moments about bias, hallucinations, and how to improve prompts through iteration.
On February 13, 2026, bring your curiosity and one small instructional challenge you want to improve. Something like giving faster feedback, helping students revise writing, supporting productive struggle, making group work tighter, or building student reflection. If we pair that real need with our Barrington 220 AI Skills and the experts in and out of our district, we can make progress that lasts far beyond one Institute Day.
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