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AI At NA 

At Newark Academy, we see artificial intelligence (AI) as an opportunity — one that expands human potential, sparks curiosity and deepens the ways students learn and create. Guided by our mission and values, we approach AI not as a shortcut for thinking, but as a powerful tool that invites reflection, creativity and discernment.

“NA students engage with AI in ways that deepen their thinking, strengthen their character, and prepare them to lead with purpose and integrity.” 

— Stephanie Hammond, Director of Digital Learning and Literacy and Member of the Faculty AI Committee

The thoughtful integration of AI into teaching and learning is an institutional priority at NA. From classroom instruction to assignments and assessments, students learn to engage with AI responsibly, ethically and purposefully. Our approach is anchored in four guiding commitments:

1. Preparing Students For The Future

We equip students with the skills and habits of mind needed to navigate an AI-shaped world. Students learn how to question outputs, evaluate credibility and consider the ethical dimensions of emerging technologies.

Above: Matthew Herbert ’25 presents LLMs in Healthcare: Automating Radiological Image Labeling at the first Student AI Summit by Newark Academy, held on January 11, 2025.

Above: NA 7th grade students are challenged with identifying and distinguishing objects that use AI versus those that do not. 

2. Ensuring Equitable Access To Learning

AI tools allow teachers to broaden access to learning through differentiated materials, personalized feedback and targeted scaffolding, thereby supporting neurodivergent learners and helping every student engage meaningfully with coursework.

3. Fueling Innovation in Teaching and Learning

Faculty integrate AI to enhance lesson design, spark curiosity and open new pathways for inquiry. Students are encouraged to experiment, critique and create, developing a balanced understanding of both the power and the limitations of AI.

Above: NA Faculty engage in a full-day professional development session on artificial intelligence.

Above: Durga Srivatsan '18 returns to NA to discuss the future of AI at the first Student AI Summit, held on January 11, 2025.

4. Connecting Learning To The World Beyond NA

Students hear directly from alumni who use AI in fields such as science, medicine, engineering, entrepreneurship and the arts, helping them envision the real-world impact of the tools they are learning today.