We're proud to share that Merlyn for Education was featured on 6abc Action News this week, spotlighting a milestone moment: Gesu School in North Philadelphia has become the first school in the city to integrate Merlyn Origin into its classrooms.
This moment reflects what's possible when educators, innovators, and community leaders come together with a shared goal: giving teachers better tools so they can focus on what they do best.
How It Started: A Community Leader's Vision
The Merlyn devices at Gesu — and six other Philadelphia schools — were donated after Pennsylvania State Representative Amen Brown connected the schools with Merlyn for Education.
Rep. Brown's motivation is straightforward and powerful: equity.
"I strongly believe this is a step forward to leveling the playing field," he said.
Rep. Brown is now working with the Pennsylvania Legislature to expand Merlyn technology to every public school in Philadelphia — a citywide commitment to making sure every teacher has access to the same tools as schools with far greater resources.
Inside the Classroom at Gesu
Fifth-grade teacher Mike Talvacchia knows that in a busy classroom, every second counts.
"Bring up mixed fractions," he instructed during a recent lesson — demonstrating how Merlyn's voice-activated controls let him pull up materials instantly while he keeps his attention on his students. No trip to the computer. No breaking the flow of instruction.
His students noticed the difference immediately.
"The teacher can help you and teach the class at the same time," said Austin, a Gesu fifth-grader.
Principal Alana Lee has seen the impact ripple through the building in just weeks.
"It has helped our students and teachers in only a short few weeks! We've only had it a few weeks! It's amazing! It really is!"
Responsible AI — Built In From the Start
The conversation in Philadelphia isn't just about whether to use AI in schools — it's about how. The University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education, which has studied AI for a decade, recently launched a partnership with the School District of Philadelphia to guide responsible adoption.
"AI is definitely here. That genie is out of the bottle," said Betty Chandy, Director of AI Integration and Technologies at Penn GSE. "What we need to do with AI is use it as a coach and a tool. It cannot replace critical thinking."
School District Superintendent Tony Watlington Sr. echoed that, saying the district wants educators to learn how to integrate AI not just in the classroom, but across school operations.
Merlyn was designed with exactly this in mind. The system includes built-in guardrails — it won't allow expletives, sexual language, or anything inappropriate for a K–12 setting. Merlyn does not buy, sell, or trade student data. And Google's contract with the School District of Philadelphia keeps all data confidential.
As Merlyn for Education CEO Jason Mayland put it: "We can help teachers maximize time. We can help teachers engage with students. We can help teachers prepare lessons."
Teachers Are Irreplaceable — Technology Should Reflect That
Every researcher, educator, and administrator involved in Philadelphia's AI initiative agrees on one thing: technology cannot replace the human relationships at the heart of learning.
"Teachers are irreplaceable. The human connection in classrooms cannot be taken out," said Chandy.
Dean Katharine Strunk of Penn GSE added that learning is "an incredibly human-focused, relationship-focused endeavor."
That's the philosophy Merlyn was built on. Voice-controlled AI doesn't put technology between teachers and students — it gets technology out of the way so teachers can be fully present with the people in front of them.
What Comes Next
What started at Gesu School is now a blueprint for what responsible, community-driven EdTech adoption can look like. Rep. Brown's legislative push would bring Merlyn to every public school in Philadelphia — one of the largest school districts in the country.
We're grateful to Rep. Amen Brown for his vision and advocacy, to Principal Alana Lee and the Gesu community for welcoming us, to Jason Mayland for his leadership, and to 6abc Action News for bringing this story to Philadelphia families.
This is what it looks like when a community decides that every teacher — and every student — deserves better.
Watch the full 6abc Action News segment here.
