(Fargo, ND) — Fargo Public Schools is disputing a claim made by a candidate for school board saying a letter sent to educators during “Teacher Appreciation Week” was 100% generated by A.I.
The claim comes from Fargo School Board Candidate Paul Mohrer, who made the statement during the WDAY Radio // AM1100 The Flag Candidate Debate on Tuesday. While discussing A.I. usage in FPS, Mohrer said he spoke to a teacher about the 2024 Teacher Appreciation Week letter sent out by Dr. Rupak Gandhi, who claimed the letter was 100% A.I. generated.
“They sent out a letter that [was] from Dr. Gandhi that said all of these nice things about teachers. Well, they brought up that there is a method that you can go through and check to see if it’s generated by A.I., and this came back as 100% generated by A.I.,” said Mohrer.
Fargo Public Schools spokesperson AnnMarie Campbell confirms A.I. was used as a framework to begin the letter. However, they dispute the claim it was “100% generated” because Dr. Gandhi and Campbell herself edited the product produced by the A.I., later sending out the edited letter to educators.
“Dr. Gandhi is an AI-user. He uses a variety of AI systems to assist him in analyzing data and starting writing his messages,” wrote Campbell in a statement to WDAY Radio. “However, in writing, Dr. Gandhi uses a prompt and then he edits the product. As far as his note to staff during teacher appreciation week, he utilized AI to begin a message but took the product after inputting the prompt and edited the message from there. I can attest to that as I reviewed it for him after he had edited it and assisted in editing his message further prior to it being sent out.”
“Therefore, it was not 100% generated. Dr. Gandhi used AI to assist in writing the message after providing AI a prompt with the thoughts he wished to convey. He then edited the message it produced, along with adding a video link to the message,” continued Campbell.
Below is the full text of the letter sent by Dr. Gandhi to educators as part of Teacher Appreciation Week. The letter was acquired from District Rep. Campbell.
Dear Educators,
As we conclude Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you. Your unwavering commitment and dedication to our students at Fargo Public Schools are what make this district exceptional. You have not only demonstrated your value through your hard work and perseverance, but you have also touched the lives of countless students and families.
Your efforts in creating engaging and supportive learning environments do not go unnoticed. The passion you bring to your classrooms and schools every day is truly inspiring and has a lasting impact on our community. As we move towards the end of the school year, let’s carry forward the spirit of appreciation celebrated this week and continue to support each other in our shared mission. Remember, the influence of a good educator can never be erased, and your contributions are immensely valued.
Thank you once again for your hard work, dedication, and for making this year a memorable one. Let’s keep up the great work as we approach the end of the school year!
Teacher Appreciation Week Video: https://youtu.be/xLxsZq3RNyY?si=1duwoboW4f_0JJfr.
Sincerely,
Rupak Gandhi, Ph.D.
