The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s (LACOE) Educational Technology and Innovation team hosted the 2026 AI and Innovation Symposium on Sept. 19 at Duarte High School in collaboration with the Duarte Unified School District.

The event kicked off with a warm welcome from Duarte Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Jessica Medrano, setting the stage for a day centered on collaboration, innovation and learning. The symposium brought together more than 130 participants representing over 40 public school districts and agencies, eight County offices of education, higher education institutions, charter and private schools and industry partners.

Centered on the theme, "Lead With Innovation," the symposium created opportunities for participants to share innovative practices, creative teaching strategies and transformative learning experiences while engaging in meaningful conversations about the future of teaching and learning. Throughout the day, sessions explored responsible AI use, academic integrity, digital citizenship, AI-supported teaching and learning, accessibility, leadership and creativity.

A highlight of the event was a keynote panel that brought together voices from across the school community. Moderated by LACOE’s Dr. Christopher Hoang, the panel featured Duarte Unified students Owen Malone and Karena Flor, Duarte Unified parent Stephanie Carbajal, Torrance Unified teacher Gurbir Kahlon and La Cañada Unified principal Jason Ito. Together, they shared perspectives on how AI and innovation are being experienced by students, families, educators and school leaders.

“Innovation is not about adopting technology simply because it is new. It is about creating meaningful opportunities for educators and students to think, create and learn in new ways. As technology continues to evolve, people and learning must remain at the center of the work,” said Dr. Christopher Hoang, Director III for LACOE’s Educational Technology and Innovation unit.

The symposium reflected LACOE’s ongoing commitment to helping educators approach emerging technologies thoughtfully, responsibly and with a continued focus on student learning.

Thank you to Duarte Unified School District for hosting and to the presenters, panelists, sponsors, partners and participants who helped make the 2026 AI and Innovation Symposium a success.