Nashville Educator Wants to Build an AI School That Stays Human

Ben Schumacher is developing Horizon Academies, a tuition-free public charter school planned to open in Nashville in fall 2028 with sixth grade and eventually serve grades 6-12. He describes it as an AI-native school, meaning artificial intelligence would be considered in everything from classroom instruction to family communications. But Schumacher said AI would not replace teachers or give children unlimited access to chatbots. Instead, the school would use AI to support personalized academics while keeping human connection at the center.

The proposed model has three main pillars: human development, personalized academics, and connections to careers or college. One distinguishing feature is the Human Foundations curriculum, which treats personal development as something students should be taught and then practice. It organizes eight skills into four categories: head, heart, hands, and horizon. Schumacher said teachers would model those skills, students would practice them in class and in the community, and the school would look for ways to measure their growth.

Schumacher is already testing pieces of the model. Horizon's NextGen Fellowship brings together 11 young people ages 14 to 22 from district, charter, and private schools and universities for four design sessions running from October through January. Families can also get an early look at the concept during two free one-day camps for third and fourth graders on Belmont University's campus in November. The school still needs state approval and a suitable building. Schumacher has not decided whether to seek authorization through Metro Nashville Public Schools or the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission.