
Northshore School District / Inspirit AI 2025
Summer AI Programs
Impact Report
Program Overview
In Summer 2025, Northshore SD debuted its inaugural AI summer program for middle and high schoolers. This two-week initiative introduced students to artificial intelligence fundamentals and guided them to build socially-impactful AI projects. The program combined hands-on coding, ethical discussions, real-world case studies, and coding labs, culminating in a showcase of student-led innovations addressing real world challenges.
AI Pioneers for Middle School Students
AI Scholars for High School Students
Program Highlights
Dates:
July 7-18, 2025
Participants:
131 students, attending Bothell HS, Canyon Park MS, Inglemoor HS, Innovation Lab HS, Kenmore MS, Leota MS, North Creek HS, Northshore MS, Skyview MS, Timbercrest MS, and Woodinville HS.
Inspirit Faculty:
Spencer Austin, B.S., Columbia
Leah Branstetter, M.S., B.A., Dartmouth
Jason Wang, B.S., Yale
Dante Danelian, M.S., B.S., Stanford
SJ Jiang, M.S., Stanford
Arizbeth Rojas, B.S., Dartmouth
Uche Emenari, Ph.D. Candidate, MIT
Curriculum Overview:
Python, machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, neural networks, linear/logistic regression, AI+Ethics, positioning research projects in college applications (for high schoolers only), capstone projects unifying coding skill, ethical sensitivity, and research design
Capstone Projects:
Middle School:
AI Chatbots for Education
Creating Art with Generative AI
Disaster Relief Improvements with NLP
Music Recommendation Systems
Sketch Recognition
High School:
Distracted Driver Detection
NLP + Finance
Pneumonia Detection
Exoplanet Search
Unbiased LLM Engineering
Outcomes and Impact
100%
of students responding to the final survey reported improved confidence in understanding and applying AI concepts, Python skills, and AI research design.
100%
of students successfully built an AI model to answer a specific research question.
80%
of students expressed a desire to pursue further AI or computer science education.
Student Feedback
“The AI program was fun and interesting. I really liked how we went through the many aspects of AI, and that there were notebooks after that so we could code. It was very interactive, and the teachers made sure everyone was included.”
"The curriculum was well-structured and covered a wide range of topics, from Python basics to advanced AI concepts like neural networks and natural language processing. It was both challenging and rewarding.
“Instructors were fantastic. They were knowledgeable, approachable, and always willing to help. Their enthusiasm for AI was truly contagious.”
“Final project allowed me to apply what we had learned in a practical setting.”
“Really loved the instructors I had. I generally thought the units built well on each other and felt interconnected by the end of the program. Especially going into the 2nd week when I used some of the information I learned in the first week and did so light application. “
“I liked how interactive the program was. Also how we were able to make and train our own ML model.”
“The instructors were not just teachers. They were willing to connect with us and share their own experiences, making classes fun.”
“I really enjoyed this program, I loved learning about AI, the presentation was fun at the end. Spencer was a great instructor, helping me and my group learn about and navigate neural networks.”
“Something I liked about the program was the ethics conversation and how it forced me to think. I was very intrigued by the ideas and I am now thinking about how AI will work in the future.”
Community and Culture
The programs fostered a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration: students from coding, humanities, and design backgrounds worked in teams on both mini-projects and the capstone project endeavor.
Instructor spotlight talks featured current faculty’s applied AI research in both laboratory and industry settings.
Students developed a strong sense of purpose-driven learning, anchoring technical knowledge in social good, and walked away with a set of ethical precepts to guide further research they may undertake in AI/ML.
Thanks to generous subsidies from Organization for Educational Technology and Curriculum and Advanced Classroom Technologies, 21 underserved students were offered fully-funded scholarships to attend the program.
→ Looking Ahead
→ Based on overwhelmingly positive feedback, the district will be offering sessions in summer including a more advanced Deep Dives program for returning students, as well as new curriculum and projects for new students that reflect the latest advances in AI/ML and that address current social challenges.
→ Alumni of the program will be invited to deepen their AI/ML exposure and build new projects with Inspirit’s team to facilitate their growth in the field, including at a 1:1 level to build a custom project & publishable scientific paper will be invited to apply!
→ Provide a list of websites to be used in the program earlier so the district can whitelist
→ Give students more time to complete an optional but recommended pre-program Python crash course (especially for novice coders)
→ Improve financial aid to expand opportunities for underserved students