El Segundo AI Academy
Stanford CREATE AI Challenge 2026 Proposals
This site contains three comprehensive proposals for the Stanford CREATE AI Challenge, each targeting a different track while drawing from the same transformative initiative: the El Segundo AI Academy.
Funding Request: $50,000 per Track
Deadline: January 12, 2026 at 12 PM PST
The Three Tracks
Track 1: Augment Teaching
AI Champions Teacher Training Program
A train-the-trainer model that transforms teachers into confident AI practitioners, addressing the critical gap between AI potential and classroom reality.
Track 2: Augment Learning
Equity-Centered AI Curriculum
K-12 AI literacy curriculum with intentional design for gender equity and accessibility, ensuring all learners participate in the AI future.
Track 3: Augment Career
AI Studio Teams & Workforce Pipeline
Portfolio-based learning that connects students directly to employers, creating alternative pathways to meaningful work in an AI-transformed economy.
The Unified Vision
All three tracks emerge from a single insight: the traditional pathways to economic participation are breaking down, and schools must transform to prepare students for an AI-native world.
| Challenge | Data Point |
|---|---|
| Entry-level jobs disappearing | 50% reduction in tech entry-level roles since 2019 |
| AI gender gap widening | Women are 16% less likely to use AI tools |
| Teachers unprepared | Majority lack structured AI training |
| Credentials losing value | Employers prioritize demonstrated capability over degrees |
The El Segundo AI Academy addresses all four challenges through an integrated three-tier approach targeting administrators, teachers, and students.
Why El Segundo?
El Segundo Unified School District serves 6,500+ students in a community anchored by aerospace (Boeing, Northrop Grumman), technology, and entertainment industries. This creates a unique laboratory for AI education innovation:
- Industry proximity enables authentic employer partnerships
- Manageable scale (4 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high school) allows rapid iteration
- Community support for innovation and educational excellence
- Replicable model for districts nationwide
Team
| Name | Role | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Sims | Project Lead | Skafld Studio, NYU |
| Keith Coleman | Strategic Partnerships & Stanford Liaison | Stanford University (B.A. Economics '86), Advisory Scholar mediaX at Stanford, Co-Chair UN Joint SDG Fund Breakthrough Alliance |
Keith Coleman's Stanford Credentials:
- B.A. Economics, Stanford University (1986)
- Advisory Scholar, mediaX at Stanford University (2019-2022) - Stanford Graduate School of Education affiliate
- Founding Co-President Emeritus, Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs of Southern California
- Active connections to Stanford Venture Studio, Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Doerr School of Sustainability
Full team biographies available in each proposal.
Evaluation Alignment
Each proposal addresses Stanford's evaluation criteria:
| Criterion | Our Approach |
|---|---|
| Innovation & Creativity | Novel integration of AI literacy, equity, and workforce preparation |
| Learning Impact | Measurable outcomes at administrator, teacher, and student levels |
| Fairness & Inclusion | "50/50 by design" gender parity and accessibility-first approach |
| Learning Sciences | Evidence-based design from corporate training, military, and esports research |
| Measurement Plan | Quarterly metrics, employer validation, longitudinal tracking |
| Feasibility & Sustainability | Phased implementation with clear milestones and self-sustaining model |
Quick Links
- Track 1: Augment Teaching - Teacher transformation focus
- Track 2: Augment Learning - Student equity and participation focus
- Track 3: Augment Career - Workforce pathway focus
- Stanford CREATE AI Challenge - Official challenge page