The Stanford Accelerator for Learning Create+AI Challenge

Congratulations to Adam J. Siegel, Ph.D., classroom teacher, Jonathan Lee Montoya, Ph.D., Visiting Scholar at the Center for Integrated Facility Engineering (CIFE), and Lindsey Couto, classroom teacher, for being selected as awardees in the Stanford Accelerator for Learning Create+AI Challenge—named among the top teams from 305 global applicants. Dr. Siegel, Dr. Montoya, and Ms. Couto were recognized in the Augment Teaching track for UGood?, an AI-driven Tier I attendance engagement system that supports underserved students while keeping educators at the center. The project uses AI to draft low-stakes student check-ins and empathetic follow-ups, with teachers retaining full voice and decision-making—combining pattern recognition with human relationships, context, and care. Dr. Montoya serves as an education research partner through CIFE and the Workforce Lab, contributing expertise in teacher preparation, STEM/CTE pathways, and applied workforce development. He is also Assistant Professor of Science Education and Director of Bilingual Authorization at Saint Mary’s College of California, and Visiting Scholar with CIFE in the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University.

https://acceleratelearning.stanford.edu/funding/create-ai-challenge/