Bright Ideas, Bold Voices

This summer, Chatham Hall’s own Frankie Beyer, Assistant Director of Student and Community Life, joined educators from around the world at the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) Annual Conference in Philadelphia to kick off her participation in the Global Action Research Collaborative (GARC).

Selected as a fellow for this highly competitive 18-month program, Frankie is one of a global cohort of educators committed to advancing girls’ education through research, collaboration, and innovation. While she will present her original research at next year’s ICGS conference, this summer’s gathering marked the beginning of her action research journey—three full days of immersive workshops designed to prepare fellows for the work ahead.

Over the coming academic year, Frankie will lead a classroom-based research project at Chatham Hall that explores how emotional intelligence and self-regulation can be taught more intentionally through the use of student-tracked data, analyzed with the support of artificial intelligence. Her research will examine how these tools can foster deeper self-awareness and more purposeful personal growth in adolescent girls. The findings will not only inform her presentation next year but will also contribute to the continued evolution of Chatham Hall’s wellness curriculum as we prepare our students to lead lives of impact.

The GARC program includes intensive virtual and in-person training, small-group mentorship, and multiple stages of writing and peer feedback, culminating in a public presentation of research findings. As a fellow, Frankie will help contribute to a growing body of knowledge that strengthens girls’ schools worldwide.

Looking ahead, the 2025–2026 GARC theme, Navigating the AI Frontier in Girls’ Schools, directly aligns with Frankie’s research focus. As AI tools become more integrated into classrooms, her work will offer timely insights into how these technologies can support, not replace, meaningful student growth and human connection.

We are incredibly proud to support Frankie in this exciting and important endeavor. Her curiosity, compassion, and bold thinking reflect the best of Chatham Hall, and we look forward to sharing her findings in the year to come.