LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — On March 13, SUNY Sullivan and Sullivan  BOCES co-hosted 30 high school teachers from across the region for a full-day professional development workshop titled “Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom:  Approaches and Strategies for Teachers.”

Organized through SUNY Sullivan's College in the High School (CIHS) and Sullivan BOCES’ Early College Access programs for teachers from participating districts, the event brought together educators to the college’s  campus for “a day of learning, collaboration and practical skill-building around the growing impact of AI on student learning,” the college said.

The morning session featured a keynote speech and workshop by Laurie Guyon, lead coordinator for instructional technology programs at the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES and Capital Region director for the New York State Association for Computers and Technologies in Education. She guided participants through current AI trends,  emerging tools and practical strategies for integrating artificial intelligence in ways that support student learning, the college said. 

The afternoon shifted from technology to teaching practice. SUNY Sullivan faculty and staff provide ongoing support to CIHS teachers through professional development, regular collaboration and classroom observations designed to ensure instructional quality and consistency with college standards.

SUNY Sullivan's CIHS program currently partners with 10 high schools across the region, including Monticello, Liberty, Tri-Valley, Sullivan West,  Rockland, Middletown, Pine Bush and the Homestead School, as well as Pathways programs in Fallsburg and Eldred that allow students to earn an associate's degree  while still in high school. 

This academic year, the program is offering more than 150  courses to more than 740 students, with most students enrolled in multiple college courses simultaneously. Both enrollment and course offerings are expected to grow in the years ahead. 

The program's most popular courses, including speech,  English composition, pre-calculus and U.S. history, are fully aligned with SUNY  General Education requirements, ensuring that credits transfer more easily and that students can speed towards degree completion, the college said. “College credits earned through CIHS cost a fraction of what they would cost after high  school and in many cases, as at SUNY Sullivan through the Early College program, they are covered entirely at no cost to the student or family. A student who enters college with 15 or 30 credits already completed can potentially finish a degree in three semesters rather than four, representing tens of thousands of dollars in tuition, fees  and living expenses saved.”

“I’m able to graduate from SUNY Sullivan's criminal justice program in three semesters,” said former CIHS student Sandra Hanofee, ‘26. “Getting to college, I wasn’t really nervous about the classes, because I knew I could handle it. Once you finish your  CIHS classes, you are so proud of yourself; it's so rewarding, and you realize that you've  saved money and are more prepared.” 

"In a rural community like Sullivan County, College in the High School is a lifeline,” said  SUNY Sullivan President David Potash. “It brings college within reach for students who might not otherwise see higher education as a realistic path. Every credit a student  earns before graduation is a barrier removed, a dollar saved, and a signal that college is  not just possible, it's already happening for them." 

At SUNY Sullivan, the Pathways programs in Fallsburg and Eldred allow students to earn an entire associate's degree while still in high school.  This compresses the college timeline, since the students can enter the workforce, transfer to a four-year institution, or pursue advanced training years ahead of their peers. 

“CIHS programs work because they meet students where they are, lower the barriers to entry, and give them the tools, confidence and credentials to succeed long before the traditional college journey begins,” the college said. 

Students and parents interested in learning which courses are available at their school should contact their high school guidance office for enrollment details and program offerings. For more information about the SUNY Sullivan CIHS program, email CIHS@sunysullivan.edu.