NEWARK - Automation is rapidly increasing its prevalence in education, as more and more students are using ChatGPT to complete schoolwork, according to a Pew Research Center study, and AI-first models like Alpha Schools are expanding nationally this fall.

But at St. Benedict’s Prep – a Catholic college preparatory school in Newark – the approach to technology usage looks very different, especially as the school is reverting to minimal use of devices and laptops. Instead of racing to adopt the latest tools, the school has turned its focus on identity-building and student voice.

Trevor Shaw, a former director of technology who now teaches middle school English at St. Benedict’s Prep, is helping students navigate the AI era by prioritizing accountability, curiosity, and writing as a proce

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