AFT President Randi Weingarten and AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins visit Park Elementary School to see how teachers and students are using Khan Academy and Khanmigo to strengthen classroom instruction and student engagement
NEWARK, N.J. – Superintendent León and other district leaders welcomed American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten and AFT New Jersey President Jennifer S. Higgins to Park Elementary School to demonstrate how Newark Public Schools is integrating artificial intelligence tools into classroom instruction through its partnership with Khan Academy.
During the visit, Superintendent León and Park Elementary School Principal Amy Panitch met with Weingarten and Higgins, and Vicki Zubovic, Chief External Relations Officer for Khan Academy. After they discussed the district’s implementation of Khan Academy and Khanmigo, Khan Academy’s AI-powered instructional assistant, the group toured classrooms where they met with students and teachers.
The visit highlighted how Newark Public Schools has embedded AI tools into instruction while maintaining a strong emphasis on teacher leadership, professional development, hands-on learning, and student engagement.
Superintendent León said the district’s approach demonstrates how AI can strengthen teaching and learning when implemented thoughtfully and collaboratively.
“In Newark Public Schools, we have always believed that innovation elevates teaching, not replace it,” Superintendent León said. “What visitors saw at Park Elementary School was our teachers using cutting-edge tools to deepen student thinking, strengthen engagement, and accelerate learning. This is another example of how our district’s strategic plan continues to transform educational opportunities for our students.”
“I was glad to see the incredible work educators are doing and spend time learning from them, their students and the administrators about how they integrate AI in the classroom,” Weingarten said. “It was a very instructive visit.”
Zubovic explained that Khan Academy’s work in Newark grew from classroom-level success into a districtwide instructional strategy supported by strong leadership and professional development.
“Newark Public Schools has demonstrated what is possible when school leadership, teachers, and instructional design are fully aligned,” Zubovic said. “Khan Academy and Khanmigo are being used here as tools to support excellent teaching, provide differentiated instruction, and help students build confidence and mastery.”
During a classroom discussion, students described how Khanmigo has helped them better understand complex mathematical concepts including scientific notation, the Pythagorean theorem, algebraic rules, and arithmetic sequences. Students explained that the AI assistant guided them through problems, reinforced classroom instruction, and encouraged deeper thinking rather than simply providing answers.
“One thing that really showed me is the fact that math is really just a rule that’s following,” one student explained while describing how Khanmigo helped strengthen understanding of algebraic concepts.
Another student described how the platform increased motivation and persistence during difficult assignments.
“Because of Khanmigo’s ability to break down the actual question and help me understand it, I was able to learn new things and understand things a lot better,” the student said.
Panitch, who has worked in Newark Public Schools for 22 years, said Park Elementary School’s teachers have embraced the district’s vision for integrating innovative instructional practices to meet the needs of all students.
“At Park Elementary School, we are focused on creating classrooms where every student is actively thinking, problem-solving, and growing,” Panitch said. “Khan Academy and Khanmigo have become valuable tools because they support our teachers while giving students individualized opportunities to strengthen their understanding and build confidence.”
Park Elementary School serves approximately 710 students in grades pre-K through 8 and includes general education, special education, bilingual, and medically fragile student populations.
“I am glad that President Weingarten and President Higgins took the opportunity to show how Newark Public Schools is embracing innovation while keeping strong teaching and meaningful student engagement at the center of learning,” said Hasani K. Council, President of the Newark Board of Education. “What the AFT leadership witnessed in our classrooms was technology empowering teachers and helping students think more critically, stay motivated, and build confidence in their abilities. We are proud that Newark continues to be recognized as a leader in preparing students for the future while remaining committed to equity and excellence for every child.”
The visit comes just weeks after Newark Public Schools became the first collective district recipient of the Khan Academy Award for Excellence and Innovation, recognizing the district’s successful implementation of AI-supported learning technologies.