Across the globe, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence is filling our news feeds and conversations, stirring a mix of excitement, curiosity, and understandable concern. Amid the projections about which pathways and professions will be most affected, and the frequent talk of “AI‑proof” jobs, I believe a more profound and deeply human question is surfacing, In an age of algorithms, automation and intelligent systems, will I still matter?

Bestselling author, award-winning journalist, and our upcoming PTF Parent Up Speaker, Jennifer Breheny Wallace, defines mattering as “the feeling that we are valued and have value to add to the world… the meaningful way we fit into each other’s lives and the wider world, like essential pieces of the puzzle.”

At its core, mattering is how we understand our worth and contributions in relationship to others. It occurs in community and is essential to being human. This idea sits at the heart of St. Margaret’s mission to “educate the hearts and minds of young people for lives of learning, leadership, and service.” In a moment when technology can do more and more of the “thinking work,” our deep commitment to the heart of our mission is ensuring that every student at St. Margaret’s knows they are seen, loved, needed and matter deeply.

Generative AI tools can now write, code and create art or music in seconds. Visionaries like entrepreneur Matt Shumer describe this era as an inflection point in humans; something truly new in how we create and connect.

Our students are growing up inside this transformation, not outside it. They hear adults debating whether AI will replace jobs, reshape college admissions, or redefine creativity. Beneath those conversations, children often sense a quieter fear: Will I still have a place? Do my unique gifts still matter if a machine can do so much?

That is why at St. Margaret’s, our conversations about AI always begin with people, not tools. AI may change what our children do, but it can never replace the relationships that shape their identity, their purpose, and their belief that they matter.

At this technological crossroads, we stand on the timeless foundation of a vigorous liberal arts education. The liberal arts uniquely prepare students to navigate rapid change with ethical insight and human perspective. Through the study of humanities, sciences, mathematics and the arts, students cultivate moral discernment and critical thinking, skills that empower them to steer technology rather than be driven by it. We are preparing them not merely to use new systems, but to lead with wisdom and integrity in an evolving world.

In an age when generative AI can synthesize information in seconds, the true value of a liberal arts education has never been clearer. Core knowledge is not a list of facts to memorize but the foundation on which critical thinking and innovation are built. We cannot ask students to evaluate the ethics of an algorithm or the complexities of a global conflict without a deep internal map of history, literature, science and, of course, the empathy and value system to discern right from wrong. Foundational knowledge that is wide-ranging in discipline is critical to thriving in the future and we will not stray from our commitment to a vigorous liberal arts curriculum. 

Additionally, social scientists are increasingly seeing the need for a quintessential human skill with a newly coined name, relational intelligence. In her article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Isabelle Hau posits that IQ and EQ may no longer be “sufficient markers of human intelligence.”  She believes the next stage in human evolution is RQ – “the capacity to build trust, navigate difference, repair ruptures, and create meaning together.”  This kind of relational intelligence is something we directly cultivate in our St. Margaret’s community every day.

 

St. Margaret’s 2025 Strategic Plan was designed for precisely this moment. It affirms that we will prepare students for a rapidly changing world while remaining rooted in the mission and values that define us as an Episcopal school. Our work with AI is not a race to adopt the latest technology, but a thoughtful, ethical integration that keeps students’ dignity, purpose and well-being at the center.

Several pillars of the Strategic Plan directly reinforce the themes of purpose and mattering while leaning into emerging technologies and deepening our vigorous curriculum:

From this foundation, our emerging AI framework teaches students to think with technology, not be defined by it; to question it, not be replaced by it; and to create responsibly, rather than consume passively. When students see AI as something they can shape and steward, they also hear a powerful message: You matter more than the tools you use. And importantly, as Shumer observes, “the thing that will matter most for the next generation is learning how to work with these tools and pursue things they’re genuinely passionate about.”  He goes on to encourage parents to teach their kids to be “builders and learners.”  That is exactly what we are doing at St. Margaret’s.

Our Episcopal identity gives us a clear compass in this new landscape. Episcopal schools honor the worth and dignity of every person, welcoming students of all faiths and perspectives while grounding our work in the belief that each child is created in the image of God.

This shapes how we answer the question “Do I matter?” for our students:

As Jennifer Breheny Wallace notes, “Children who experience mattering are buffered against anxiety and burnout and are more resilient in the face of pressure.” When students engage with emerging technologies within a community that continually affirms, You are seen, you are needed, you belong, they approach the future not with fear, but with confidence and purpose. I invite you to join us for Jennifer’s PTF Parent Up presentation to the St. Margaret’s community on Friday, March 13, to explore this important topic.

“Something big is happening,” writes Matt Shumer—but at St. Margaret’s, we believe the greatest force shaping your child’s future is not technology, but the loving community that surrounds them. In a world increasingly mediated by algorithms, we must double down on the sacred work of ensuring every student feels a profound sense of mattering.

AI will continue to evolve rapidly and our commitment to your children’s hearts, minds, and spirits will be steadfast. As we bring our Strategic Plan to life and deepen our Episcopal identity, our promise is simple and enduring: every student will be known and loved, challenged to grow, and reminded—again and again—that they matter.

In gratitude,

Jeneen Graham