Robot Teacher Helps Students Learn in New York School

A new robot named Sally will sit in classrooms across the Salamanca City Central School District this fall. It is not meant to replace teachers, but to support them and help students practice skills on their laptops. The district plans to buy the robot from Realbotix, a company that builds humanoid machines. Sally looks like a person with soft skin and long brown hair. She will stay in one place but can show many facial expressions and move her upper body. Each student will use a special ID number to log in. The robot can remember past conversations and adjust its help based on a student’s learning history. For example, if a child asked about fractions in a previous class, Sally can pick up the topic later.

The superintendent of Salamanca says schools should teach how to use technology safely instead of banning it outright. He believes that students will find ways around rules, so learning proper use is important. Realbotix’s CEO says this partnership marks a new era for AI and robots in STEM classes. He emphasizes that the robot will operate under teacher control and that no student data will be shared with the company. The goal is to give students hands‑on experience with robotics and coding while keeping safety and privacy high. This project shows how artificial intelligence can be integrated into everyday learning, giving students a chance to work with advanced tools in a safe environment.

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