AI literacy, drone technology among other skills taught at Academy of Innovation beginning this fall

WARNER ROBINS — The Houston County School District is meeting the meteoric rise of AI and technology with a new Academy of Innovation set to launch this fall.  

Located inside the Houston County Career Academy and led by Instructor Jake Harvey   under the direction of Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Stephen Hornyak , the Academy of Innovation will be available for students in grades 6-12  beginning in fall 2026. Enrolled students will complete core classes online, and attend one weekly class to apply the knowledge through a hands-on approach. 

Students will work on subject area sprints, including AI literacy, drone technology, running hydroponic farms, video game design, building sensory tools, researching and installing history markers around the county. 

“We all know AI has changed life, society and all fields. It’s important we’re preparing students for this new future that’s unknown,” Superintendent Richard Rogers said at a press conference. 

Harvey said in an interview that the Academy of Innovation is built for the learning of fast-growing entities like AI. He created a local AI platform that is strictly isolated from any public network and will be used for students to learn AI literacy and ethics. 

But not all teachers are open to AI in their classrooms. 

According to a June 2026 performance audit by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, some teachers have concerns about students’ use of AI, particularly among middle and high school students. Their concerns included plagiarism, over-reliance on AI, and reduced engagement and collaboration with other students. 

The Academy of Innovation hopes to balance that. 

“It’s really to teach them how to use it as a tool as it’s a thinking partner not an answering machine,” Harvey said. 

Harvey does not have any concerns at the moment about AI’s negative effects. He said the students are just learning about it and assured their information is kept private. 

He also said that if they don’t teach the students these innovative pathways, they may not have interest going forward. 

If students were learning about drones, Harvey said they would learn how they are being used in the community, such as their use on Robins Air Force Base as well as the building and agriculture industry. 

Some projects are self-led by the students and the courses are not like a typical class. Harvey described himself as more of a facilitator. 

“It’s really made to be hands-on, a bit of a [demonstration] then the students would do their activity or project,” he said. “I would create checkpoints to see where they’re at and how I can help and assist them to the next phase.”  

The District has already implemented online learning, Houston Virtual, for grades 3-12. Rogers said he heard from some parents and stakeholders that there needed to be a hybrid learning model for this past school year. 

“This is what we need. Parents want a hybrid model, we need more innovation and more partnerships with businesses,” he said.  

The Academy of Innovation will be a part of the Houston County STEM Academy when it is constructed sometime next year.