A rural New York school district will become one of the first in the nation to introduce a humanoid robot into the classroom this fall.
The Salamanca City Central School District, located on Seneca Nation territory in Western New York, has purchased a $57,000 AI-powered humanoid robot named Sally from Realbotix. Starting in September, Sally will assist as a teaching tool in 11th- and 12th-grade coding, robotics, and artificial intelligence classes at Salamanca High School.
Sally features a lifelike silicone skin appearance with long brown hair and can move her arms, head, and facial expressions while seated. She will not walk around the classroom. Students can log in to interact with Sally and an accompanying digital avatar on their laptops. The system operates on a closed school network with strict safety measures, including no internet access, facial recognition, or recording capabilities, and is programmed exclusively with the district’s curriculum.
New York school district to become one of the first in the United States to introduce a humanoid robot in the classroom.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 19, 2026
'Sally' will have a Western New York accent and will teach 11th and 12th-grade students at Salamanca High School.
Sally costs less than the average teacher's… pic.twitter.com/gYqAL19QK0
Superintendent Mark Beehler described the pilot as both exciting and challenging, noting it aims to enhance STEM education without replacing human teachers. “The Realbotix educational robot will never replace teachers, staff members, or meaningful human interaction,” the district emphasized.
Realbotix CEO Andrew Kiguel called the deployment a landmark moment for AI and humanoid robotics in education. The company also produces companion robots, but Sally is customized for classroom use.
The initiative reflects growing interest in AI tools to support learning in under-resourced rural districts. Officials plan to evaluate the pilot before potentially expanding it. Salamanca joins a small number of schools worldwide experimenting with humanoid robots in education.
This pilot comes as educators nationwide explore technology to prepare students for future careers in AI and robotics.
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