Districts Rely On Training and Implementation Support for Google Gemini Adoption

Training Offers Strong Partnership Opportunities for Districts

Ransome attended CDW’s Gemini training workshop to learn more about how AI tools can make a difference for K–12 schools. 

“The training helped me think differently about how AI can help support instruction, exploration and differentiation,” he says. “Google representatives came in and we learned so much. What stood out most was the emphasis on professional learning, expertise and responsibility rather than just rushing into implementation. CDW helped me frame AI implementation in a practical and responsible way.” 

Justin Grigg, assistant superintendent for instruction at Virginia’s Louisa County Public Schools, also participated in the Google Gemini workshop, as his district is working to incorporate Gemini into its existing administrative workflows. He says the workshop strengthened and deepened his team’s understanding of how to effectively use Google Gemini within their daily workflows. 

The learning opportunities “have built capacity across our leadership team and supported ongoing professional growth as we explored various applications of AI in in processes and systems,” Grigg says.

DISCOVER: Training is key to maximizing Google Gemini for Education’s impact.

Beyond the initial training, Louisa County Public Schools has also relied on CDW’s partnership throughout its Gemini adoption and implementation process. 

“Their team has remained readily available to provide guidance, answer questions and help us think through next steps as our implementation has evolved,” Grigg says. “They have also played an important role in facilitating meaningful conversations about available resources, supports and best practices, ensuring that our approach remains thoughtful and sustainable.”

Using AI Solutions to Solve Problems

Following the workshop and training, both Louisa County Public Schools and Ella Fitzgerald Middle School are finding ways to solve problems with Google Gemini. For example, while Ella Fitzgerald Middle School has not yet rolled out Gemini for widespread use, its leadership team is using it for planning and exploration with positive results.

“Gemini is changing how we solve problems and how we compare old processes with new processes and make decisions,” Ransome says. For example, Ransome and his team have used Gemini to compare the school’s existing scheduling model with a new scheduling model, and the tool has provided perspectives the team had not considered.

LEARN MORE: K–12 experts share best practices for embracing artificial intelligence in schools.

In Louisa County, district office staffers are using Gemini to improve efficiency in their day-to-day work, Grigg says. The tool drafts, refines and summarizes emails to simplify communications. With Google Calendar, Gemini helps organize schedules, consider priorities and keep everything aligned.

The team also uses Gemini with other Google tools, such as Drive, Sheets, Slides and Docs, making it easier to quickly find and summarize needed information. For example, with Sheets, Gemini has been especially useful for analyzing student data and budget reports, helping the team spot trends and make more informed decisions, Grigg says. It also helps the team build stronger presentations draft meeting agendas, take and summarize notes, and capture next steps. 

“We have found that Gemini has become a practical everyday tool,” Grigg says. “It has helped with writing staff updates, developing observation feedback, summarizing meetings and even brainstorming ideas when you’re trying to solve a problem. At the end of the day, it’s about saving time on routine tasks so we can focus more on supporting teachers, being present in classrooms and doing the work that really impacts students.”

Reaping the Benefits of AI Implementation

School districts such as Louisa County are seeing practical results from incorporating AI tools into their workflows. Grigg says the biggest impacts for his district have been time savings, improved communication and more efficient data analysis. 

UP NEXT: CDW’s Connected Classroom workshops offer hands-on training.

“Tasks that used to take a large amount of time — like drafting emails, organizing documents, summarizing meetings or analyzing data — can now be done more quickly and efficiently,” he says. “School leaders can send clearer, more polished messages and ensure important information is shared in a timely way. In areas like data analysis, Gemini helps leaders more quickly identify trends in student performance or budget reports, supporting stronger and more informed decision-making. Another important result is better organization. Whether managing schedules, tracking documents or outlining next steps from meetings, leaders can stay more focused and aligned in their work.”

How To Maximize AI Investments

For school districts looking to maximize Google Gemini, here are some tips.

1. Start with a purpose. “Be clear about what problems you’re trying to solve,” Grigg says. That might be saving time, improving communication or strengthening data use. Know your purpose and then align Gemini to those goals.

In Louisa County, for example, the goal of adopting Gemini “was not simply to adopt AI for the sake of innovation, but to implement a practical tool that enhances workflow efficiency; supports better decision-making; and creates additional time for meaningful engagement with students, staff and the broader school community,” Grigg says.

2. Invest in training. A new AI solution will only be effective if your team is properly trained in how to use it, Ransome says. His school is taking a methodical approach, slowly experimenting with how Gemini can support daily work and instruction, building a vision and buy-in, and working toward an eventual full rollout. “It’s important to build staff comfort with the tool, allow them an exploration period, and then provide focused training,” he says. 

3. Identify champions. With a new tool such as Google Gemini, it can be helpful to pinpoint early adopters or champions who can share their strategies with others. “Creating a culture where school and division leaders have opportunities to share their experiences, successes and takeaways and opening a forum for ongoing support is critical,” Grigg says. “When leaders learn from one another, it builds momentum, increases confidence, and helps spread effective practices across your organization and school system.”

4. Focus on consistency and expectations. Help with drafting emails, summarizing meetings or analyzing data may seem like small use cases, but setting expectations for specific, simple tasks can give your staff a clear starting point. “Over time, those small wins build confidence and lead to more meaningful integration,” Grigg says. “Our goal wasn’t just to use Google Gemini; it was to use it in a way that saves time, improves practice, and allows our school and division leaders to focus more on teaching and learning.”