Quest Academy and Microsoft to Collaborate on AI

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is revolutionizing how we interact with the world around us, specifically as it pertains to the technology we encounter everyday. Inspired by this ever-changing landscape, Quest Academy has embraced the philosophy of “learning today, leading tomorrow” to ensure that tomorrow’s leaders are indeed equipped to be AI changemakers.

Collaborating with Microsoft and the AI Country Plan effort to create the right conditions to drive innovation, drive economic growth, and promote the responsible use of AI, Quest has a vision to implement a robust AI curriculum during the 2019-2020 school year with the goal of developing “knowledgeable and responsible users and creators of AI.” This collaboration between the two leaders in their respective fields developed over several months before the initial launch meeting in March 2019 when the Microsoft team met with the Quest Academy AI team. Since then, the AI infused curriculum has evolved to include content and resources provided by Microsoft and features an emphasis on the values espoused by Microsoft on the topics of ethics, fairness, inclusivity, security & reliability, and safety & privacy, trust, and transparency.

“Collaborating with Microsoft has provided the Quest Academy AI Curriculum Team with a solid foundation of concepts upon which we are designing our program,” said Jacque Negus, Quest Academy’s Head of School. “Our knowledge of the gifted child and gifted curricula, coupled with Microsoft’s research on Artificial Intelligence, affords us a perfect opportunity to develop an AI curricula for twenty first century learners.”

On Tuesday, May 14th Quest Academy hosted an all-school assembly to welcome Ernesto Chavarin, Director of AI Strategy and AI Country Plan Lead with Microsoft, where he presented a generous gift of financial support to launch the AI program. This unique relationship with Microsoft and Quest Academy is essential to support the scope and caliber of curriculum that Quest students will have available to them throughout their years on campus.

“Quest Academy is an outstanding institution and this collaboration accelerates the way new generations define artificial intelligence in the future,” said Ernesto Chavarin. “

Quest Academy is a leading, non-profit private independent school for gifted students in grades Pre-K - 8 located in Palatine, IL outside of Chicago. The mission of Quest Academy is to provide gifted children with a challenging curriculum and a nurturing environment, emphasizing sound character, along with scholarship and creativity in both the academics and the arts. The Quest Academy community values the individuality of each child and encourages each to strive for personal excellence. To learn more about Quest Academy, visit www.questacademy.org or call 847-202-8035.