Arizona education leaders want their students to be ready for the dawning age of artificial intelligence (AI).
The state is now the leader in the nation for percentage of students using AI tools. State Superintendent Tom Horne announced this development on Thursday in a press release.
“I am a strong supporter of AI as a classroom tool to assist, but not replace, educators,” said Horne. “So far, about 4,000 educators statewide are using this system, and I encourage more teachers to sign up. It is an invaluable resource that helps educators do their jobs more effectively.”
Over 170,000 students — representing 16 percent of the state’s public school student population — are using AI-powered tutoring to improve their academic performance.
These students rely on the AI education system Khanmigo within Khan Academy. Horne called the sweeping adoption of the tools “tremendous.” The Arizona Department of Education invested $1.5 million for Khamingo access last year.
Horne said he selected Khanmigo for its tutoring approach: guiding students through the critical thought process, rather than merely providing answers.
“It engages students by asking questions that guide them to discover solutions on their own,” said Horne. “This approach delivers rigorous, individualized Socratic-style tutoring — a proven method for improving academic outcomes.”
The “Socratic” method referenced by Horne concerns arriving at answers through a series of open-ended questions structured to encourage critical thinking.
An example of Khanmigo’s phrasing provided in the press release (solving for “m” in the sample math problem, 3 – 2(9+2m) = m) showed how the tool prioritizes guiding the student to work through problems.
“Let’s work through it together! What do you think the first step should be to solve this equation?”
Khanmigo conversations are also recordable and viewable by teachers.
The over 4,000 Arizona educators mentioned by Horne rely on an online AI platform called the Arizona Digital Educators Library (ADEL). This platform assists educators with creating lesson plans and classroom materials that meet the state’s academic standards.
ADEL also has 50 ambassadors to increase educator usage throughout the state. There are over 57,000 educators in the state: over 47,000 in district schools and nearly 10,000 in charter schools.
As Horne explained in his State of Education speech in January, educators can use Khanmigo to strengthen student weaknesses revealed through testing.
“Today, when a teacher gives a test, some students get 90 percent, others get 70 percent. Those with 70 percent are moved to the next grade, missing 30 percent of the knowledge they need for continuing their studies. They are lost,” said Horne. “With Khanmigo, the teacher can say ‘here is what you did not learn, use Khanmigo to tutor you on that subject.’”
State Senator Jake Hoffman, founder of the Arizona Freedom Caucus, expressed support for the implementation of AI tools in schools. Hoffman said AI posed a greater threat to the American worker than Russia, China, and nuclear war.
“If K-12 public schools and public universities are not aggressively retooling every aspect of their operation to equip students with the skills to survive in this new AI age, they’ve already failed,” said Hoffman.
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An elementary school student testified that his former teacher harassed him over his family’s conservative beliefs.
The young boy brought his complaints to the attention of the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) at their most recent board meeting.
The little boy accused SUSD teacher Donna Javinett (Anasazi Elementary School) of coordinating with one of his neighbors to target himself and his family for their “extremist” beliefs in recent years.
The boy referenced a court case that resulted in a restraining order against his neighbor; during a hearing, the neighbor disclosed email correspondence with Javinett documenting their collusion against the boy.
“This teacher created a hostile school environment for kids like me when she didn’t like their parents. She would yell at me in the hallway and hurry me along. I also caught her filming me one day. She claimed she was filming for field day but the event was over and her phone was pointing right at me. At the same time, a neighbor on my street was also filming me while I was outside my home. It was creepy and I felt unsafe. It became so bad that my family had to get a restraining order against my neighbor. At court is when the neighbor revealed a personal email from Mrs. Javinett to my teacher not to my neighbor thanking my neighbor for protecting teachers against extremists. This is when I found out that Mrs. Javinett and my neighbor were working together.”
Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity, an activist group of SUSD community members and parents, obtained the referenced email. Javinett wrote an email thanking the neighbor, a retired educator by the name of “Ellen,” to thank her for her actions.
“I want to thank you for defending Scottsdale teachers against extremists who have nothing better to do than harass teachers, administrators, board members, and the superintendent on social media. We have been called groomers, rapists, and people who want nothing more than to indoctrinate children. You have defended us every step of the way. I know you are a retired educator who is still involved with many of our wonderful students in Scottsdale and I hope you know how much your support is appreciated.”
The parents of the student featured in the video shared an email sent by the SUSD 3rd-grade teacher to her neighbor. This email – obtained through a legal proceeding involving Ms. Javinett – appears to confirm that she referred to parents and families who raise concerns about… pic.twitter.com/iC1dJ7VgSD
— Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity (@ScottsdaleUnite) October 13, 2025
Javinett first came into the public eye for her Facebook comments responding to the assassination of Turning Point CEO and president Charlie Kirk.
Javinett argued with community members and parents on social media over whether Kirk was partially at fault for his assassination.
“Yes hate leads to violence and unfortunately Charlie Kirk in sided [sic] violence. He was nothing more than an ugly bigot,” said Javinett. “Kirk’s hatred of trans, LGBTQ, black people, and women is out there. I don’t have to defend the fact that I don’t respect hatred and bigotry.”
Javinett also accused Kirk of being a white nationalist.
“He was disgusting. He was in [sic] white nationalist. He disparaged marginalized communities. He thought that men should control women. You should be embarrassed that you support him,” said Javinett. “It makes me sad that you all try to indoctrinate kids with this right wing Christian bulls**t.”
The little boy asked the SUSD governing board why Javinett was allowed to continue teaching given her comments and past behavior.
“She’s the reason why we and others left Anasazi,” said the boy.
Javinett previously sustained criticisms for supporting an all-encompassing social and emotional learning approach to education.
Scottsdale Unified 3rd grade teacher Donna Javinett said the quiet part out loud and confirmed that class time across all subjects is spent on Social Emotional Learning, i.e. feelings/emotions, racial awareness, gendered identities and distributive justice. (CASEL is the… https://t.co/bPaLjoZCmvpic.twitter.com/6IzJv7dEXe
— Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity (@ScottsdaleUnite) October 23, 2024
Last fall, Javinett donated nearly $1,000 to the campaign of progressive SUSD board member Donna Lewis.
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An unidentified pink-haired student at the University of Arizona (U of A) gave a death threat to Turning Point USA (TPUSA) students.
The student had a male-presenting voice and wore sunglasses, a long pink dress, light pink jacket, black and white sneakers, and a canvas backpack.
The student’s voice and the type of shoes worn in the video that captured his threat — Puma Zip C men’s sneakers — indicated that the student was a male.
Per a video captured by those present, the student threatened those working the TPUSA table with the same fate that befell the late TPUSA founder and CEO, Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated by a gunshot through the neck last month at Utah Valley University.
Kirk was one month shy of 32 years old at the time of his death. The prominent young conservative activist and pundit left behind a wife, Erika Kirk, and two young children. The individual arrested and charged for Kirk’s assassination, Tyler Robinson, held progressive political beliefs and was in a romantic relationship with a male who identified as a transgender woman.
“Hey Nazis, can you set up somewhere I can avoid you easily?” said the student.
“Yeah, have a great day,” responded one of the TPUSA individuals behind the table.
“Ah, f**k you Nazi. Watch your neck,” responded the student.
The individual who captured the threat on video, TPUSA field representative Caden Hart, reported that, aside from the incident, their tabling efforts yielded over 25 new signups for their chapter.
Besides this situation, tabling today was full of great conversations and interactions! • Thanks to our @tpusastudents at the University of Arizona we ended the day with 25+ signups! https://t.co/KnCa2N7s7k
There is a closed hearing scheduled for Friday at the Utah County Courthouse for Kirk’s alleged killer, and a waiver hearing next week. The proceedings will remain “open to the public,” per the judge in the case. Robinson may receive the death penalty if found guilty.
Some point to this recent incident with the TPUSA table as indicative of the political climate at U of A, and associated it with a reported 19 percent drop in first-year students.
The university associated the decline with a dropping number of out-of-state and international students (23 percent less out-of-state students, nine percent less international students); overall student enrollment fell about four percent.
While hundreds in the U of A community mourned Kirk’s assassination, some have been outspoken about their indifference or even support for his death.
Yazmin Castro, a freshman and member of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta, told AZPM that Kirk bore some responsibility for his own assassination since he was vocal about his conservative beliefs, which included his support for gun ownership.
“I think he was very hateful sometimes with his views,” said Castro. “I hope that the people that believed in those views as well, seeing someone that they looked up to being a victim of gun violence, I hope it opens their eyes to its not worth it,” she said.
A recent U of A graduate and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality employee, Jessika Mesa, posted a celebration of Kirk’s death on her social media page.
Jessika Mesa who has recently graduate from the University Of Arizona posted some hate regarding Charlie Kirk.
Tucson Councilwoman Lane Santa Cruz, an adjunct professor at U of A, responded to Kirk’s death with a story on social media that read “diosito te maldiga,” meaning “God curse (damn) you.”
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Developers looking to build in the Phoenix area may soon be mandated to install art.
The Phoenix City Council may vote on a draft of the proposed ordinance in the spring.
Phoenix City Council’s Economic Development and the Arts Subcommittee discussed the creation of an “Art in Private Development” ordinance last week.
The city’s outgoing Arts and Culture Director, Mitch Menchaca, presented the proposed ordinance. Menchaca said developers would be made to allocate a percentage of their project’s construction costs to original, site-specific art.
Menchaca was hired earlier this month by the Greater Columbus Arts Council in Ohio to be its CEO and president. They reportedly will be paying Menchaca “double” what he was paid by the city of Phoenix.
Sedona, Scottsdale, and Tempe all have variants of public art in private development requirements.
Sedona passed its requirement in 1995. Developments exceeding 5,000 square feet of gross floor area and expansions of existing structures over 2,500 square feet of gross floor area must have art.
Scottsdale passed its requirement in 1985. Planned block developments in the downtown area must have art approved by the Scottsdale Public Art Board.
Tempe passed its requirement in 1991. City-wide developments over 50,000 square feet must either install art approved by the Tempe Arts and Culture Department or contribute fees to the Tempe Municipal Arts Fund.
Per the Public Art Archive, at least 18 states have municipalities with public art in private development requirements.
Currently, the city of Phoenix has an incentive program which rewards businesses that install art with earning density or height bonuses and an alternative to meeting standards.
Catrina Kahler, ArtLink Inc nonprofit CEO and Democratic donor, expressed support for a mandate. ArtLink is behind monthly events to support local artists downtown such as the popular First Fridays.
“This risk is low. The return on investment is very high,” said Kahler. “We are in competition with many other cities, not only across the Valley but across the nation. People have choices about where to live, no matter what sector they engage in in terms of their employment, they want to live in a city that’s creative, thoughtful, and beautiful.”
Phoenix Committee Alliance’s advocacy director Patrick McDaniel also expressed support for the mandate.
Vice Mayor Ann O’Brien indicated support for a proposed ordinance, and that she would like more private developer input prior to establishing the ordinance.
“One of my frustrations with being in the northwest part of the Valley is that the only places we can have art is where something is done with city dollars and we use one percent, which means it might be at a water facility. And not that that’s not a great place but it’s not a place where we see a lot of people hang out,” said O’Brien. “And so my desire to have you all here today was to look at what our options are. It’s important to have art everywhere in our city as we are bringing in more businesses and more people, and we want to continue to do that. Art creates culture. And culture creates community. Art should be throughout our city.”
Councilwoman Debra Stark said she would support a city-wide ordinance but, like the vice mayor, requested the council engage further in talks with the private sector.
Councilwoman Laura Pastor also expressed support for sourcing more funding for the maintenance of existing art installations, possibly within the proposed ordinance.
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It pays to know the guys making the laws from the highest offices in the land.
Senator Ruben Gallego used his voting power to protect the business interests of a longtime friend — fellow Harvard University graduate and prominent Democratic donor and activist Joe Sanberg — interests which would turn out to be fraudulent.
In August, Sanberg pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud perpetrated through his online financial services company, Aspiration Partners. Sanberg admitted to defrauding over $248 million.
Senator Ruben Gallego fought for the success of Sanberg’s company while in Congress.
When he was still a congressman in 2023, Gallego voted to protect against environmental, social, and governance (ESG) limitations that would have impacted Aspiration Partners. The financial services company was uniquely focused on progressive environmental and social causes, including investing in fossil fuel alternatives and selling carbon credits.
Months before that vote, Sanberg gave Gallego a positive endorsement in The Hill. FEC records show Sanberg donated just over $13,000 to Gallego’s campaign from 2014 to 2017.
“The thing about Ruben is he knows exactly who he is,” said Sanberg. “This campaign isn’t about any individual personality.”
In 2015, the two men also launched a political action committee to help elect progressive Latino candidates — LLEGO-PAC, short for Latino Leaders for Equality, Growth, Opportunity, Progressive Action and Change.
Gallego praised Sanberg as “a thought leader” and “progressive leader from day one,” and credited the financial services CEO for being the one who “recruited” him into the Democratic Party. The senator was even a part of Sanberg’s wedding in 2021, per social media posts reported on by Fox News.
“He convinced me to get more involved in politics, and has been a good guiding post for me since then,” said Gallego.
Just a few years ago, Sanberg was shopping himself around to the media as a potential Democratic candidate for president. The Atlantic published one such feature of Sanberg in 2019.
In 2021, Aspiration disclosed in its annual Securities and Exchange Commission filing that 70 percent of its revenue came from ESG services.
Senator Gallego began banking with Aspiration in 2017 and then acquired a non-public stock in the company in 2019.
However, Gallego failed to report that purchase for three years, per Fox News reporting.
Aspiration came on the progressive venture capital scene in 2013 as an “environmental” bank with a “conscience,” the brainchild of co-founders Sanberg and Andrei Cherny, the latter Arizona’s former Democratic Party chairman, congressional candidate, and a Clinton administration speechwriter.
Cherny left Aspiration in mid-October 2022, two years after Sanberg later admitted to prosecutors the company turned fraudulent.
In 2021, Sanberg went into talks with the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team about a four-year, $48 million endorsement deal to sponsor one of their players, Kawhi Leonard.
Many have come to view the endorsement deal as a workaround to the NBA salary cap — a view bolstered by comments from those within Aspiration — though the Clippers have denied this speculation.
Following Sanberg’s arrest and pleading, Aspiration rebranded as GreenFi.
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