Artificial intelligence is continuing to expand into classrooms across Tampa Bay as schools increasingly adopt AI-powered tools to support students and teachers.
Scholar Education created AI tools now being used across 29 schools in the region during the 2025-26 school year.
BaxterBot is an AI-powered learning support tool designed to explain concepts and answer questions throughout the day like a personal tutor, according to a press release. Teachers also use PAWfessor Bruce to assist with grading, lesson planning and administrative tasks, allowing educators to spend more time focused on students.
“ChatGPT gives you the answers out front, but I think BaxterBot doesn’t really tell you everything — it helps you learn. It doesn’t just give you the answers right away,” said Roman G. at Pepin Academies.
These AI-dogs, who help students, will also visit the schools to help inspire them.
In the press release, Scholar Education said AI has also expanded special education support in classrooms.
“Today, many Tampa Bay families seeking special education accommodations face wait times of 12 to 18 months, and about 25 percent of students who need support never receive it,” the release stated. “This school year, Scholar Education helped automatically deliver 40,000 special education accommodations with AI. That represents a 29-times increase.”
By the end of the 2025-26 school year, Scholar Education said its AI tools across Tampa Bay had:
Provided 18,235 students with AI-powered tutoring support
Saved teachers more than 5,150 hours of administrative work
Saved families an estimated $200,000 to $385,000 in private tutoring costs
Expanded into 29 schools
Reached 1,400 teachers across Pasco County
“It does help, and I get excited about it because they seem excited about it,” said Amy McBride, a teacher at Pepin Academies. “Sitting down and doing a worksheet is different when they’re so computer-driven now. It’s who the generation is — it’s all computer-driven and AI-driven.”
Scholar Education said it plans to expand to more than 5,000 teachers and 50,000 students next school year and launch Scholar Health, a new initiative focused on providing families with faster and more affordable special education evaluations and support plans.