PGCPS Schools Launch AI Program with Colin Kaepernick’s Lumi Story

Former NFL quarterback and civil rights advocate Colin Kaepernick visited Largo High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland, to help launch Lumi, an AI-powered storytelling program now being piloted across the district. The initiative is part of Prince George’s County Public Schools’ (PGCPS) broader effort to introduce classroom-safe artificial intelligence tools that support literacy, creativity, and digital skill development.

Lumi is already being used in ten PGCPS schools, with plans to expand districtwide and eventually scale nationally.

A New AI Storytelling Tool in PGCPS

At the launch event, Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph, County Executive Aisha Braveboy, and Kaepernick demonstrated how Lumi works. The platform enables students to create original stories and graphic novels by generating characters, scenes, dialogue, and illustrations from student-written prompts.

Students at Largo High School are currently using Lumi to produce a full graphic novel as part of the pilot. Early feedback describes the tool as highly accessible—especially for learners who struggle with writing or traditional story planning. Teachers noted that Lumi’s structure encourages students to think more deeply about character development, plot, and narrative flow while giving them creative freedom.

Lumi was designed specifically for K–12 classrooms, offering:

• Built-in teacher oversight
• Classroom-safe guardrails
• Alignment with curriculum pacing
• Transparency into all student prompts and interactions

The pilot is expected to run through June 2026, allowing PGCPS to evaluate its impact on literacy growth, student engagement, and writing confidence.

Who Colin Kaepernick Is Today

Colin Kaepernick emerged as one of the NFL’s most electrifying quarterbacks during his time with the San Francisco 49ers. His achievements include:

• Leading the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII
• Guiding the team to two consecutive NFC Championship appearances
• Setting the NFL record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in any game—181 yards—during a 2013 playoff victory against Green Bay

Known for redefining the dual-threat quarterback role, Kaepernick earned recognition for his postseason performances and rushing dominance.

In 2016, he gained national attention for kneeling during the U.S. national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. The gesture ignited a nationwide conversation and contributed to his departure from the NFL.

Since then, Kaepernick has dedicated his work to:

• Civil rights and youth empowerment, including through the Know Your Rights Camp
• Publishing and storytelling, highlighting marginalized voices
• Education technology, most recently through his leadership role in Lumi AI

Lumi represents an extension of Kaepernick’s commitment to expanding opportunity, representation, and creative access for young people.

Why PGCPS Selected Lumi

PGCPS leaders cited several reasons for choosing Lumi as one of the district’s first major AI tools:

• Literacy-centered design: Lumi emphasizes writing, story craft, and narrative thinking—not just image generation.
• Multilingual support: The platform supports more than 50 languages, enabling students to create stories in Haitian Creole, Japanese, Thai, Arabic, and others.
• Bias-aware development: Lumi was built to address common performance gaps seen in many AI language tools for non-white or multilingual students.
• Teacher transparency: Educators have full visibility into student activity and can intervene or provide support at any time.
• Workforce preparation: District leaders view AI fluency as essential for future careers in media, technology, computer science, and digital arts.

Lumi’s documentation also notes that student data is not used to train AI models and that the platform complies with federal student privacy laws, a priority for PGCPS as it adopts new technology.

Social Voice: Public Reaction

Public discussion around the launch has been active and wide-ranging, reflecting both enthusiasm for new classroom tools and ongoing conversation about Kaepernick’s public role.

Supportive reactions focused on his community engagement:

• “Still making a difference.”
• “Awesome—love this about him.”
• “Colin is leading the way.”
• “Love to see him doing things for the community!”

Many praised the initiative as a creative approach to supporting student voice and expanding access to modern storytelling tools.

Critical reactions centered on football history or skepticism toward AI:

• “He hasn’t played since the kids were born.”
• “Are the kids going to take a knee?”
• “Why give AI tools so they don’t have to read and write?”
• “This feels sketchy.”

These comments reflect two ongoing national debates: the legacy of Kaepernick’s activism and growing concerns about whether AI enhances or undermines foundational learning skills.

What This Moment Signals

The Lumi rollout highlights several trends in K–12 education:

• AI is shifting from theory to hands-on use in real classrooms.
• Equity and representation are driving design expectations for new ed-tech tools.
• Prominent public figures are increasingly shaping conversations about technology in schools.
• Districts are balancing innovation with concerns about over-reliance on digital tools.

As Lumi expands, educators and families will continue to evaluate whether AI storytelling meaningfully strengthens literacy, creativity, and student expression.

What Do You Think About AI in Classrooms?

This launch raises important questions for parents, educators, and students:

• Should AI tools be part of writing instruction?
• How can schools balance innovation with essential reading and writing skills?
• What level of screen time feels appropriate for different age groups?

what role do you believe AI should play in K–12 learning?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if you prefer low-tech, screen-free learning, Think Academy offers free, printable math worksheets for students from PreK to Grade 10. They’re designed to strengthen core skills through hands-on practice—no devices required.

Download printable worksheets today and support your child’s learning, your way.

About Think Academy

Think Academy, part of TAL Education Group, helps K–12 students succeed in school today by building strong math foundations and critical thinking skills. At the same time, we focus on the bigger picture—developing learning ability, curiosity, and healthy study habits that inspire a lifelong love of learning. With expert teachers, proven methods, and innovative AI tools, we support every child’s journey from classroom confidence to long-term growth.

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