School Leaders' Think Tank

Joshua L. Yeager | School Leaders’ Think Tank

In the ever-evolving world of education, innovation is often celebrated as the answer to all our challenges. But from where I stand—as a school administrator deeply invested in student growth—I’m beginning to see a troubling trend: technology is slowly chipping away at the core skills our students need most.

While artificial intelligence and digital tools hold undeniable promise in professional settings, their influence on adolescent learning is far less beneficial than some may think. In fact, I believe it’s creating a widening gap in foundational competencies—especially in reading, writing, and critical thinking.

Too many of our students now rely on shortcuts. AI-generated summaries replace reading comprehension. Predictive text substitutes for original thought. Search engines become a crutch rather than a guide. The ability to sit with a complex passage, wrestle with an idea, or articulate a meaningful argument is slowly becoming rare.

At School Leaders’ Think Tank, we challenge each other to lead where others don’t look. And right now, we must look closely at how we’re balancing innovation with intention. It’s time to ask: Are we equipping students with tools, or are we allowing tools to replace the work of learning?

Let’s return to the basics that have always elevated student success—strong literacy, deep comprehension, and the ability to think for oneself. Technology should support these skills, not supplant them.

The future belongs to those who can think, reason, and express. As school leaders, let’s be bold enough to slow down the digital rush and reinforce what truly matters.

Because in the end, literacy is legacy, and critical thinking is our students’ greatest asset.