Allen ISD families picked up tips on artificial intelligence, online safety and budget-friendly cooking at the district's Community Engagement Night on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the STEAM Center on Ridgeview Drive.

The free evening drew parents and students to the 1680 Ridgeview Drive campus for a conference-style format.

Attendees chose two breakout sessions from a lineup of eight, with most sessions offered in two time slots running from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m.

A complimentary pizza dinner started at 5:30 p.m., and limited childcare was available for children ages 3 to 12.

Dr. Ryan Smith led a session called "AI and Kids: What Every Parent Should Know." The district's recap described his presentation as covering artificial intelligence and children, though specific takeaways were not detailed publicly.

Dr. Nelson Orta, Allen ISD's executive director of technology services, covered cybersecurity, passwords and internet safety. According to the district's recap, Orta shared strategies for keeping families safe online.

Allen ISD Chef Anna Reynolds demonstrated healthy, budget-friendly cooking and shared recipes aimed at busy households. The district promoted her session on Threads beforehand, joking that while healthy eating was on the agenda, free pizza was on the menu.

Other sessions covered e-bike safety from the City of Allen, sports injury prevention from Children's Health, a "Stop the Bleed" training from district nurses, and boundaries and healthy peer relationships from the Grant Halliburton Foundation. STEAM Center students also led guided tours of the campus.

The district did not release attendance figures.

Allen ISD's next family-facing event, according to the district's event calendar, is Course Expo Night at Allen High School on Monday, Oct. 5, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., open to students in grades 7 through 11 and their parents.