“We are moved by ritual, by music, by story, by ceremony, by unique perspectives,

by grace, and by each other.”

-- Panthea Lee  

There is a lot of talk in the media now - and maybe in your living rooms, too - about the role of technology and AI in classrooms. I thought a lot about this topic over the summer and was especially compelled by the above quote from Panthea Lee. She also noted that humans, and -I would add- especially our students, do not live and thrive by information and evidence alone. This is especially worth noting in an age where technology has provided a surplus of information and evidence (albeit often fragmented and incomplete), and those enduring dimensions of human experience noted above are sometimes easily dominated by technology’s rising and widespread presence.  

If technology continues its exponential growth, then our investment in the human dimensions of learning must grow alongside it or surpass it. The tools, information, and data insights that tech provides to kids yield limited meaning or application in the absence of the relationships, curiosity, critical thinking, dialogue, and empathy that are still best taught via human connection.  

There are many discussions to be had about tech and tech tools in our schools and classrooms this year. And we do not have to be anti-tech to question the implications of its outputs or the addictive nature of some of its tools. We started those conversations last year when we launched an AI Committee to begin fleshing out the issues in and best practices for this rapidly emerging technology in our classrooms. 

It’s been said that the best schools and classrooms are designed with human connection and technology both integrated and advancing together -- classrooms where technology’s ability to customize leaves ample room for collectivism that still allows students to matter to one another and their communities.  

Schools and classrooms where, as Lee writes, our want of spaces, in our case learning spaces, “that make generosity ordinary,” is attainable and sustainable.  

The work of education is in fact an act of generosity: generously offering our time, creativity, patience, and care so that young people can come to know themselves, make sense of the world around them, and gain the confidence and character to improve it. 

We look forward to the school year ahead, and to a year of discovery, creativity, and growth for all of our students. 

 Welcome back. 

Pasquale Scuderi

Superintendent of Schools