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Google and NCEA Launch AI Training for Catholic School Teachers
Across the United States, Catholic teachers are set to receive a new AI toolkit that promises to reshape classroom practice. In a partnership announced on April 24 2026, Google for Education and the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) will provide nationwide training on how to use Google’s artificial‑intelligence tools safely and effectively.
At the heart of the initiative are 13 founding members of the NCEA’s Google Educator Group for Catholic Educators, including Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education (OCE) associate director of educational technology, Annabel Dotzman. The group will convene in person at Google’s free, two‑day AI Educator Series this summer. The series is a train‑the‑trainer program that covers core AI concepts, critical‑thinking skills, and responsible use through hands‑on experience with tools such as Gemini for Education and Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM). According to Google for Education’s website, the program is open to more than six million K‑12 and higher‑education teachers across the United States and is offered in several languages.
After completing the training, the 13 founding members will lead professional‑development sessions in each of the six NCEA regions. Their mission is to invite teachers to learn how to incorporate AI tools safely and thoughtfully into their lessons and to collaborate with colleagues through the NCEA network. "(Dotzman’s) ability to translate cutting‑edge educational tools into practical, impactful skills for teachers is exactly what makes this partnership between NCEA and Google Educators so vital for the future of education," said Aaron Heintz, director of technology for PreK‑12 in the OCE.
Dotzman joined the OCE technology team in 2017 as a Technology Integration Coach after eight years of teaching in archdiocesan elementary schools. She is a Google Certified Trainer, holds Level 1 and Level 2 educator credentials, is a Google Workspace Super Administrator, and is ISTE Certified. She earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in elementary education from Holy Family University, followed by postgraduate studies in special education at Holy Family.
In her new role, Dotzman will help lead professional development for Catholic educators throughout the Mideast Region of the NCEA while guiding the organization’s work. As a founding member of the Google group, she will support teachers as they integrate new technology and artificial intelligence into Catholic education.
The NCEA, which represents more than 150,000 educators in Catholic schools, universities and religious‑education programs, outlined the expansion of its collaboration with Google on April 24 2026. The partnership aims to train 140,000 U.S. educators who will serve 1.6 million students nationwide. The initiative plugs Catholic schools into the broader Google AI Educator Series and adds a separate training track for Catholic educators.
Gemini for Education is a free standalone app that provides premium AI models with enhanced data‑protection features. Gemini Notebook, the successor to NotebookLM, is an online research and note‑taking tool that uses Gemini to help users summarize, organize and interact with documents. Both tools are part of Google’s effort to bring generative AI into everyday classroom workflows.
The collaboration reflects a growing trend of faith‑based educational organizations adopting AI tools to support teaching and learning. By providing structured, responsible training, the partnership aims to equip teachers with the skills needed to use AI safely while maintaining the values and standards of Catholic education.
The first wave of the Google AI Educator Series began on May 13 2026, with sessions co‑produced by ISTE and ASCD. Catholic educators who participate in the NCEA‑Google program will receive the same training and will be positioned to share their expertise with peers across the country. The initiative is expected to roll out over the next several months, with additional sessions scheduled for the fall and winter semesters.
The partnership is a concrete step toward integrating AI into K‑12 classrooms while ensuring that teachers receive the support and guidance needed to use these technologies responsibly. As the program expands, the NCEA and Google will monitor how AI tools are adopted in Catholic schools and will adjust training materials to address emerging challenges and best practices.
At the heart of the initiative are 13 founding members of the NCEA’s Google Educator Group for Catholic Educators, including Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Catholic Education (OCE) associate director of educational technology, Annabel Dotzman. The group will convene in person at Google’s free, two‑day AI Educator Series this summer. The series is a train‑the‑trainer program that covers core AI concepts, critical‑thinking skills, and responsible use through hands‑on experience with tools such as Gemini for Education and Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM). According to Google for Education’s website, the program is open to more than six million K‑12 and higher‑education teachers across the United States and is offered in several languages.
After completing the training, the 13 founding members will lead professional‑development sessions in each of the six NCEA regions. Their mission is to invite teachers to learn how to incorporate AI tools safely and thoughtfully into their lessons and to collaborate with colleagues through the NCEA network. "(Dotzman’s) ability to translate cutting‑edge educational tools into practical, impactful skills for teachers is exactly what makes this partnership between NCEA and Google Educators so vital for the future of education," said Aaron Heintz, director of technology for PreK‑12 in the OCE.
Dotzman joined the OCE technology team in 2017 as a Technology Integration Coach after eight years of teaching in archdiocesan elementary schools. She is a Google Certified Trainer, holds Level 1 and Level 2 educator credentials, is a Google Workspace Super Administrator, and is ISTE Certified. She earned a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Pennsylvania State University and a master’s degree in elementary education from Holy Family University, followed by postgraduate studies in special education at Holy Family.
In her new role, Dotzman will help lead professional development for Catholic educators throughout the Mideast Region of the NCEA while guiding the organization’s work. As a founding member of the Google group, she will support teachers as they integrate new technology and artificial intelligence into Catholic education.
The NCEA, which represents more than 150,000 educators in Catholic schools, universities and religious‑education programs, outlined the expansion of its collaboration with Google on April 24 2026. The partnership aims to train 140,000 U.S. educators who will serve 1.6 million students nationwide. The initiative plugs Catholic schools into the broader Google AI Educator Series and adds a separate training track for Catholic educators.
Gemini for Education is a free standalone app that provides premium AI models with enhanced data‑protection features. Gemini Notebook, the successor to NotebookLM, is an online research and note‑taking tool that uses Gemini to help users summarize, organize and interact with documents. Both tools are part of Google’s effort to bring generative AI into everyday classroom workflows.
The collaboration reflects a growing trend of faith‑based educational organizations adopting AI tools to support teaching and learning. By providing structured, responsible training, the partnership aims to equip teachers with the skills needed to use AI safely while maintaining the values and standards of Catholic education.
The first wave of the Google AI Educator Series began on May 13 2026, with sessions co‑produced by ISTE and ASCD. Catholic educators who participate in the NCEA‑Google program will receive the same training and will be positioned to share their expertise with peers across the country. The initiative is expected to roll out over the next several months, with additional sessions scheduled for the fall and winter semesters.
The partnership is a concrete step toward integrating AI into K‑12 classrooms while ensuring that teachers receive the support and guidance needed to use these technologies responsibly. As the program expands, the NCEA and Google will monitor how AI tools are adopted in Catholic schools and will adjust training materials to address emerging challenges and best practices.
