Menlo’s Human-Centered Approach to AI in Education
In an era of rapid innovation and profound possibility, Menlo is meeting this moment with curiosity and intention—encouraging exploration while being thoughtful about technology’s role in our lives and in our students’ learning.
With artificial intelligence opening new frontiers in how we learn, work, and create, we believe what makes us fundamentally human is what will distinguish both us as an institution and our graduates.
Our purpose as a school remains as clear as ever: helping students grow into thoughtful, creative, empathetic, high-character young people ready to positively contribute to the world they’ll inherit. This mission is grounded in what has always mattered most at Menlo: an engaging, relevant, values-driven program defined by joyful learning, meaningful challenge, and a supportive community. That was true at our founding, it is true today, and it will continue to guide us into the future.
We also know the technology in our children’s hands today is the weakest it will ever be. Intelligent machines are becoming more powerful, more personalized, and more embedded in daily life, and education must continue to evolve.
Students who learn to use these tools creatively and ethically will be well-positioned for what’s ahead. Therefore, AI literacy, experimentation, and responsible use are being intentionally woven into our curriculum, alongside the development of the distinctly human qualities that have long been at the heart of a Menlo education. Together, these skill sets will help our students not only navigate a changing world, but also lead it—and make it better.
What does this approach look like in practice?
We encourage students to ask questions, explore ideas, and experiment with new ways to solve problems, create, and innovate with emerging technologies. When learning is engaging and hands-on, students are more likely to take ownership and invest deeply in their growth.
In a world of immediate answers and increasing automation, we help students build a strong academic foundation by iterating, grappling with complex ideas, and tackling challenging questions across disciplines. Through this productive struggle, we aim for them to become resilient, adaptable learners who use technology to expand their capabilities rather than replace their thinking.
As AI lowers barriers to production and makes creation instantaneous, original thought matters more than ever. We help students develop authentic ideas and perspectives that are truly their own—ones they can clearly articulate, stand behind, and proudly carry with them into the world.
The future our children are growing into will require them to pair empathy and diverse perspectives with powerful technologies. We empower them to collaborate, communicate, and co-create with both people and intelligent tools to solve complex problems in thoughtful, human-centered ways.
Because AI can reflect bias, inequity, and inaccuracies, it raises important ethical questions that demand sound human judgment. We emphasize character and integrity in all we do, so students learn to think critically about outputs and use these technologies responsibly and with care.
The heart of a Menlo education has always been human connection—curious, kind students learning alongside dynamic, caring teachers. These relationships spark growth in ways no technology can replace. While students may increasingly rely less on teachers as primary sources of information, educators become even more important as mentors, guides, and coaches, readying students for their futures.
Watch this video to get a sense of how faculty and students are thinking about AI and education at Menlo:
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Values-Aligned Technology Best Practices in an Ambient World
Menlo is approaching this era of rapid innovation with curiosity and care—encouraging exploration while being thoughtful about technology’s role in our work and in our students’ learning. With tools evolving rapidly and new uses emerging every day, no single policy can anticipate every application. These values-aligned best practices serve as a compass, empowering employees to exercise wise, principled judgment in their use of technology.
Embrace Technology with Curiosity and Care
Explore technology thoughtfully—never at the expense of the relationships, empathy, critical thinking, and human insight that are at the heart of who we are as a school. Harness these tools to expand capacity and creativity while prioritizing the trust, dignity, connection, and well-being of our students and colleagues above all.
Use School-Vetted Systems and Share Data Thoughtfully
Safeguard our community’s privacy and trust by using School-approved platforms for school-related endeavors and sharing only what is necessary. Handle personally identifying information with great care—never enter it into unapproved tools, as they may store, train on, or expose it in compromising ways.
Keep Human Judgment at the Center
Rely on human integrity and professional discernment to make decisions and determine outcomes. Technology can enhance our work, especially as tools grow more sophisticated and integrated, but people remain responsible for verifying accuracy, reviewing outputs critically, making final calls, and upholding fairness—most especially in ethical, evaluative, and high-stakes contexts.
Model Digital Integrity, Clarity, and Accountability
Help prepare our students for the futures they will enter by modeling creative, thoughtful, and transparent use of technology—in our own work and in setting expectations for theirs. When technology substantially shapes analysis, writing, or other generative output, acknowledge its role, keeping in mind, we are each ultimately responsible for what we put out into the world.
What do these principles currently look like in practice?
While there are countless ways emerging technologies can support our daily work and the landscape is changing daily, here are some common use cases. In general, we place great trust in you to use these tools thoughtfully—keeping care for one another and the well-being of our community at the center.
Can I use AI to help with high-stakes writing, like letters of recommendation or report card comments?Technology can be a helpful partner in outlining, drafting, or polishing your prose. The true value of Menlo feedback comes from the personal insight only you can offer. While a tool can be helpful, it cannot replace your firsthand observations. You are the final editor; ensure the output reflects your unique voice and the specific growth you have observed.
Is it okay to use technology to analyze student work or identify themes in feedback?Technology is highly efficient at surfacing patterns and emerging themes across large sets of information. However, interpreting those patterns relies on your professional expertise. A tool can show you a trend, but your judgment and understanding of the nuances of each individual determine what matters most and what the next steps should be to support our students’ or colleagues’ well-being and growth.
I have a large set of data to organize—is there a limit to which tools I should use?Menlo’s trusted digital ecosystem provides a reliable, secure foundation for our work. Any task involving sensitive, personally identifying, or high-stakes information—such as student rosters, grades, or health info—must remain within Menlo-vetted systems. If you aren’t sure if a tool is approved, pause; and prioritize the privacy of our community members over the efficiency of the task.
Can I record my classes or meetings to generate summaries and next steps?Capturing and summarizing content can be a great way to help with organization and project management, provided everyone involved is aware and comfortable with being recorded. Remember that the care of the conversation rests with you. Review every summary to ensure context hasn’t been lost and that the trust behind what was shared is respected and protected.
How should I approach agentic tools that perform multi-step tasks for me?These tools can increase your capacity by automating low-stakes processes, but you must remain in the loop. As the steward of the workflow, you are responsible for shaping the process, confirming the accuracy of the result, and ensuring the final decision reflects Menlo’s professional standards and values.
6. What about using AI for creative projects, coding apps, or designing materials?Technology offers vast capacity for creative and technical exploration.As you build and share, know that you’re representing who we are as a school, and, as such, ensure that any generative output—be it code or art—is aligned with our values, expectations, and standards. You own the impact of what you create.
MENLO SCHOOL Since 1915
