Zafer Unal, education professor at the University of South Florida, has been researching teacher attitudes toward AI use in creating classroom materials. He found that educators are concerned about data privacy and tools that meet grade standards.

The TeacherServer AI tool, developed by Zafer Unal for educators, has been named the 2025 Top Innovation Award winner by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The Tampa Bay Innovation Awards recognize and celebrate individuals, organizations, and initiatives that are driving innovation across the region.

AI is here to stay — and its influence will only grow. What does this actually mean for our community? On Wednesday, Sept. 24, Spotlight Tampa Bay explored how AI can improve access to jobs, transportation, education and health care while strengthening our neighborhoods. We examined how local businesses and governments can use AI to enhance services, tackle challenges like inequality and isolation and involve residents in shaping the future. Ignoring AI may be the biggest risk of all. 

The Tampa Bay Times hosted a free community conversation around AI, in partnership with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.

On day two, the focus shifted to available platforms, ethical implications, and the future of AI in schools. Zafer Unal, a professor in the College of Education, presented on TeacherServer.com, a free AI platform he developed specifically for teachers to support instructional planning and classroom efficiency.

Zafer Unal, a professor in USF’s College of Education, created TeacherServer, an online platform with more than 1,000 free AI tools for teachers. Since the launch of the platform in 2024, its users have skyrocketed. Now nearly 1.25 million teachers are using the tools in their classroom to help with a variety of tasks, including lesson planning, assessments and presentations.

The SunCoast Area Teacher Training leadership program at the USF College of Education welcomed Zafer Unal, an education professor at USF St. Petersburg, to their January meeting for a riveting conversation about using artificial intelligence in the classroom. Unal introduced students to TeacherServer, a platform he created that provides over 800 cost-free AI tools designed and tested by educators. These tools can enhance K-12 learning by assisting teachers with planning, assessment, preparation, research, and more.

TeacherServer features more than 850 too s to help educators incorporate Al into the classroom to enhance learning. It provides free Al toos to ass st planning, assessment, preparat on, research and more. The p atform is the brainchild of USF Education Professor later Unal, who was surprised by survey responses showing how much 24 I INNOVATIONS MAGAZINE teachers were using Al to improve the r teaching methods and streamline work. 

USF St. Petersburg Education Professor Unal Zafer, who participated in the Fall 2022 USF I-Corps program, was recognized with the Tech Project of the Year for his TeacherServer AI tool for educators. The Tech Project of the Year Award recognizes a groundbreaking technology project developed and led by an in-house team within the greater Tampa Bay area. This award honors the ingenuity, dedication, and collaborative effort of the team that spearheaded a project, resulting in substantial advancements and setting new benchmarks in the technology landscape.

The Tech Project of the Year Award recognizes a groundbreaking technology project developed and led by an in-house team within the greater Tampa Bay area. This award honors the ingenuity, dedication, and collaborative effort of the team that spearheaded a project, resulting in substantial advancements and setting new benchmarks in the technology landscape.