School board recognizes teacher for AI literacy research

Published 4:41 pm Thursday, January 1, 2026

ALBEMARLE — Earlier this month, a local educator was honored by the Stanly County Board of Education for her selection to a statewide fellowship focused on artificial intelligence literacy.

Alease Carrick, a third-grade teacher at Oakboro Choice STEM School, was recognized for being named a member of the AI by 8 research-practice partnership fellowship. Carrick is one of only eight teachers across North Carolina chosen to design lesson plans that integrate the ideas of AI into early literacy instruction.

“We are so proud of Mrs. Carrick and the incredible impact she continues to make for her students, our district and education across the state,” Stanly County Schools said in a statement.

AI by 8 is a multi-year initiative aimed at reimagining early childhood education by embedding foundational AI literacy into K-2 classrooms, with a particular emphasis on rural North Carolina school districts.

The program focuses on introducing complex concepts without relying on technology or screens.

Through storytelling, literacy-aligned lessons and other unplugged activities, young learners begin to explore how machines can formulate AI algorithms. The fellowship’s mission is to teach young learners about AI concepts through literacy standards in an age-appropriate way.

As an AI by 8 fellow, Carrick collaborated in virtual professional learning communities with educators from across the state.

These sessions allowed participants to co-develop engaging AI-integrated literacy lessons for K-2 students; the lessons developed through the fellowship align with North Carolina’s K-2 English Language Arts standards while introducing students to key AI ideas that promote creativity, critical thinking and early computational understanding.

“Mrs. Carrick also played an instrumental role in helping this curriculum gain approval and publication, showcasing her leadership, innovation and dedication to preparing young learners for a technology-driven world,” Stanly County Schools Superintendent Jarrod Dennis said.

AI by 8 officially launched in the summer of 2025 with a professional development summit that brought together the eight selected educators for hands-on training in AI literacy integration. That event marked the beginning of an ongoing professional learning community, where teachers continue to share classroom experiences and help shape the future of AI education for young children.

AI by 8 is a researcher-practitioner partnership between the American Institutes for Research, North Carolina State University, Partner to Improve, and educators in rural North Carolina school districts.

The Stanly County Board of Education’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Jan. 6 at 6:15 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.