Latest news with #RichlandHighSchool
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Richland senior named National Merit Scholar
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Richland High School senior Boyi Chen has been named a 2025 National Merit Scholar and collected one of the 2,500 competitive scholarships available throughout the country. 'I am incredibly honored and grateful to receive this scholarship,' Chen said in a statement. 'This support will be invaluable as I pursue my career goals in the medical field.' The National Merit Scholarship program is an annual academic contest that recognizes talented high school students across the nation. Students qualify for the competition by completing the PSAT or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and those who score highest move on to the semifinalist round, representing the top 1% of high school seniors in the country. Chen was a semifinalist in 2024, but did not advance. Students move on to the finals by submitting a detailed scholarship application, writing a compelling essay, maintaining good academic records, and providing an SAT or ACT score that confirms the PSAT or NMSQT results. Because Chen was accepted as a scholar this year, he earned a $2,500 scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Foundation. Winners are chosen by a panel of college admissions officers and high school counselors who examine each application. 'We are incredibly proud to celebrate Boyi's outstanding accomplishment in being named a National Merit Scholar and receiving this significant scholarship,' Richland High School Principal Timothy Regan said in a release. 'This award is a direct reflection of Boyi's remarkable intellect, relentless hard work, and the unwavering support of our dedicated faculty and staff.' Regan added that Chen's success serves as inspiration for everyone at Richland, and they are 'excited to see the incredible impact' that will have on his future endeavors.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The good, the bad': Some area educators taking steps to introduce students to AI technology
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – On any given day, the classroom of Richland High School teacher Jacob St. Clair could be decorated for lessons as a medieval ship, complete with a sail and wood-plank walls, or adorned with ancient Egyptian pyramids or Gothic cathedral windows. The world history teacher often transports his students back in time with props to reinforce the subject matter, but sometimes he turns to generative artificial intelligence tools, such as the image creator Midjourney, to provide another layer to the lesson. That may be philosopher John Locke and rival Thomas Hobbes appearing to come to fisticuffs, he joked, or bringing famous paintings to life. 'Seeing any historical character in any kind of novel situation or dynamic posture is something that's interesting,' St. Clair said. 'It's enjoyable (for students).' AI Integration | Richland High School Richland High School teacher and AI enthusiast Jacob St. Clair instructs students during an 8th-grade World History class at the school on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Although he takes a hands-on approach in his classroom, St. Clair said he sees value in the proper use of AI by both teachers and students. That's why he demonstrates potential positive implementations of the technology in his lessons. 'We need to demonstrate to children there are skills they can use with this,' St. Clair said. One caveat, he said, is that it's important that anyone using the tools is already familiar with the material to avoid mistakes. In addition to image generation, St. Clair uses AI to search curriculum rundowns to see if he's missed anything, and for the high school tabletop role-playing game club that he advises. He uses Midjourney to create scenes, backgrounds and tokens for games such as Dungeons & Dragons. These additions help provide depth to the experience for students, St. Clair said. St. Clair isn't alone in his AI usage. Several local teachers and administrators have adopted some form of the technology into their work since the newest versions were introduced three years ago. Mark DiMauro University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown professor Mark DiMauro speaks to Greater Johnstown teachers on artificial intelligence and its impact in the classroom on Friday, Jan. 12, 2023. Mark DiMauro, a University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown assistant professor of digital humanities who specializes in AI studies, said educators regard artificial intelligence as 'begrudgingly inevitable.' They've realized it's not a fad and not going away, so now it's time to learn to use it, he said. DiMauro travels the region holding seminars at schools about the proper use of artificial intelligence and the possibilities the technology holds, such as providing frameworks for lesson plans or helping tutor students. Several AI-based educational websites, such as MagicSchool AI, have been launched in the past few years as tools to help teachers. 'Polarizing topic' Since starting his presentations, DiMauro said he's found that teachers often fall into three schools of thought: those who advocate for AI and use it; those who are hesitant to start; and those who vow to never touch it. 'This is the most polarizing topic of all time,' DiMauro said. The Rise of AI logo When ChatGPT, a generative text model developed by OpenAI, released in November 2022, it created a splash in educational communities, with many raising alarms that the large language model could be used by students to cheat on writing assignments. A Pew Research Center report from November 2023 showed roughly one in five teenagers they polled, ages 13 to 17, 'who have heard of ChatGPT say they have used it to help them do their schoolwork.' But St. Clair said he hasn't had that issue in his classroom to date. Despite any potential negative uses, teachers are also implementing artificial intelligence to help students with their writing. Central Cambria School District Superintendent Jason Moore said his English Language Arts staff uses AI to give students feedback, which has been successful. 'When students take the state tests in the spring, the evaluators are almost certainly using AI tools to do their summative evaluations of the students' open-ended responses,' he said. 'Therefore, teaching students how to use AI formatively to improve their writing will not only help them come test time, but it will also help them in whatever their next step in life is – whether that is college, the workforce, et cetera.' According to a May 2024 Pew Research Center poll, a majority of kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers were timid about AI in education. The results show 35% were not sure about its use; 32% were mixed on whether it was good or harmful; 25% said there was more harm than benefit; and 6% saw more benefit than harm. A National Education Association study provided a different result. The teachers' union reported that members said they were 'brimming with excitement over the time they have saved planning lessons with artificial intelligence, the creative jump start AI provided their music class when composing a new song, and the scene-reader that is helping their visually impaired students get a mental layout of the playground or classroom that surrounds them.' Richland High School Principal Timothy Regan said one of the best uses of AI is for checking work. He will sometimes use the tool to examine an email before sending it out, and that's a point the district impresses on students. AI Integration | Richland High School Richland High School Principal Tim Regan shares Magic School AI website on his computer in his office at the school on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. 'We want kids to utilize it to further their intelligence,' he said. Richland is an early adopter of the new technology. Not only does the high school offer an 'Exploring AI' class taught by computer science teacher Becky Piscitella, but the district also brought AI guru Matt Miller in for this year's national speaker series for area educators. 'It truly is an area if we don't expose kids to what's out there, then we are not preparing them for the jobs that we don't even know exist yet,' Piscitella said. Her class explores a variety of artificial intelligence models and how to train them properly and improperly, while also diving into coding aspects. 'The course in general … is built around exposing them to the foundational knowledge of AI so they can get a clear understanding,' Piscitella said. 'The course covers all sides of it – the good, the bad, ethics issues with AI.' The students have responded well to the first-time offering, Piscitella said. However, she stresses students that they should not be overly reliant on the technology. Piscitella said 'research time and time again shows AI is most effective when it enhances human abilities rather than replace them.' 'The best analysis of AI that I have heard was that we should worry less about AI taking our jobs and more about someone who knows how to use AI more effectively taking our jobs,' Moore said. DiMauro encourages his students to explore artificial intelligence, he said, but to not become reliant and to never trust any technology implicitly. He does this by removing their fear, teaching them how to properly use it and motivate them to play with these tools, he said. 'I try to foster curiosity,' DiMauro said. Policy progress In response to the implementation of AI in schools, many area districts, such as Central Cambria and North Star, have adopted policies to regulate its use. The item is filed under the operations section of district manuals and typically numbered 815.1. The policies note the 'potential that Generative Artificial Intelligence offers in enhancing educational opportunities' while also outlining 'guidelines for the proper management and responsible use' of the tool. That use is limited to approved educational purposes and needs to comply with applicable state and federal laws, the policies state. Additionally, 'tools and resources used in district schools and programs shall be evaluated and authorized on an ongoing basis for age- appropriateness, bias, privacy protections, accessibility standards and data security,' the document reads. Glenn Gaye, Windber Area School District director of education, said it's important to maintain a policy-driven approach when dealing with AI. 'We are constantly evaluating the potential benefits for staff, students and families,' he added. Gaye said his view is one of cautious optimism when dealing with artificial intelligence in education. However, there is the possibility of disciplinary issues related to AI technology. Richland was the first local district to address that situation in November when high school students allegedly used the tool to create and distribute obscene images of peers. An investigation in cooperation with local authorities was launched and the matter was handled internally. Regan said with new technologies comes new territory, and disciplinary matters are examples of that intersection. For administrators, that means finding a cross-section of precedent and new guidance to properly address the situation, he said. This is another example of the need to educate students on proper AI use, Regan added. 'My biggest takeaway is learning to live with it responsibly as educators so we can properly convey it to our students,' Regan said. DiMauro said if educators and students are willing to put in the work and be trained to use AI properly, real learning can begin. Large language models, such as ChatGPT, are the start of this, St. Clair said, not the end. DiMauro agreed, saying the development of quantum computing – advanced computing using quantum mechanics – and AI agents, which are autonomous intelligent systems to perform tasks, will revolutionize the field moving forward.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Richland school bars substitute for concerning ‘behavior.' Parents say it was Nazi salute
The Richland School District has removed a substitute teacher from its pool after being notified of behavior that was 'inconsistent with district policy.' 'The district takes this matter seriously and immediately launched an investigation. This matter has been addressed in accordance with our policies. The substitute teacher will not be returning to the Richland School District,' staff said in a Thursday letter to parents. It's unclear what behavior precipitated the sub's removal, as well as if they were subject to any other disciplinary measures. The district is not naming them and has declined to talk more about the allegations that the substitute made Nazi salutes. It's unclear how long they worked for the district as a substitute. 'Richland School District is committed to maintaining a learning environment where all students feel safe, valued and respected,' the district's letter read. 'We maintain dedicated to fostering an inclusive and supportive community for all students.' A community member who posted online alleged the substitute 'threw the Nazi salute three times' during a Richland High School college prep period and claimed their descendants fought for the fascist party in World War II. Nazism was a German socialist movement in the mid 20th century that came to power under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. Under the 'Third Reich,' Nazi Germany coordinated the largest genocide of the century, systematically killing more than six million Jewish people and millions of other Europeans. Modern Neo-Nazi hate groups carry on the party's views of antisemitism today in the U.S. through Active Clubs and White Lives Matter networks. School district staff investigating the incident spoke to multiple students to verify the claims, the community member said in the post. Families, students and staff can make anonymous tips via test message, email or phone call for any incidents involving cyberbullying, harassment, threats, weapons, drugs, mental health or domestic issues. That tip line is 509-392-4668 or online at A Richland Police Department spokesperson says their agency wasn't contacted about the incident and they have not investigated the claim.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Yahoo
Police investigate potential threat of violence at Richland High School
Tri-Cities police investigated a potential threat of violence at Richland High School on Thursday. Richland police officers responded to a report of a student at the high school allegedly threatening violence the next day. When officers investigated they found the student had already been suspended for 10 days on an unrelated matter, according to a social media post. It's unclear if this was a shooting related threat, but the department said the student did not have access to firearms at home. Police and school resource officers interviewed the student, their parents and witnesses. The student and their family were fully cooperative, police said. The department referred commenters to Richland schools for more information about potential disciplinary action. Richland police said they take every school threat seriously, and their officers remain vigilant in protecting the community and its schools. Richland schools were closed Friday due to inclement weather and will be closed Monday for the Presidents Day holiday. It's the second threat allegedly made by a Richland student in about a month. In early January police say a hoax threat was made just before students returned from winter break. In that instance, the student was arrested.
