Salamanca (NY) School Deploys Humanoid Robot “Sally” as Classroom Assistant

The Salamanca City Central School District in upstate New York has approved the purchase of a humanoid robot named “Sally” from Realbotix for a pilot program in its high‑school AI and robotics classes. The robot, cost about $57,000, features silicone skin, long brown hair, facial expressions and movable arms, and will remain seated at the front of the classroom. Students will log in with their school credentials, allowing Sally to remember prior interactions and provide personalized support in coding, robotics and artificial‑intelligence lessons. District officials stress that Sally is designed to assist teachers, not replace them; superintendent Dr. Mark Beehler said the robot will “never replace teachers, staff members, or meaningful human interaction.” The system operates on a closed network with encrypted conversations and safeguards against inappropriate content. Realbotix, known for AI‑powered companion robots, notes this is its first major pilot in a U.S. public school and plans to use district feedback for future classroom applications. Sally is scheduled to begin work with 11th‑ and 12th‑grade students in September, with the possibility of expanding to other classes if the trial proves successful.