Edinburg, TX (KRGV) — More than 200 educators gathered in Edinburg for Region One Education Service Center's annual iTech and AI Summit as schools across the Rio Grande Valley look at safe ways to use artificial intelligence in class.

Omar Lopez, coordinator for instructional technology, AI and STEM at Region One Education Service Center, said the summit focused on student safety and practical uses for AI.

"The idea is for us to foster a way where we keep our data, keep our students safe," Lopez said.

Lopez says the goal is not to replace what teachers are already doing but to give them more tools for students and help them better understand how AI can be used in education.

He also said educators talked about assistive technology, guard rails and governance around artificial intelligence.

At Rayburn Elementary School in McAllen, third grade teacher Charlotte Hollinger says she uses AI to plan, create images for vocabulary words and make packets.

"At the beginning, obviously AI was scary," Hollinger said. "As a teacher, I use it constantly to plan to create images for vocabulary words, packets, I even have kids judge me on some of my things that I do. But, it makes it simpler for us, right? It's really helped in the teacher life to, give me my time back at home."

Hollinger says AI can also give students more ways to explore subjects that interest them and share that work with classmates.

Mission CISD parent James Varlack says AI has become another resource at home and parents need to stay involved.

"I think these resources aren't going to go away. AI is going to be here," Varlack said.

Varlack says his children are encouraged to do their homework on their own first and use AI when they need extra help.

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