BoodleBox

In this episode of The BoodleBox Podcast, host France Hoang, CEO and Co-founder of BoodleBox, sits down with Dr. Brett Geithman, Superintendent of Larkspur-Corte Madera School District.With a career spanning teaching, site leadership, and district administration, Brett brings a systems-level perspective to the conversation about AI, innovation, and what it really means to lead schools in a time of rapid change. He shares how his leadership philosophy has evolved alongside technology, and why clarity of purpose, trust, and human judgment matter more than any new tool.France and Brett explore how superintendents can move beyond fear or hype around AI, focusing instead on intentional use cases that save time, support educators, and strengthen learning outcomes. They discuss leadership decision-making in uncertain environments, the importance of community trust, and how districts can adopt AI in ways that align with values, equity, and long-term vision.Key Moments00:42 Brett’s leadership journey from classroom to superintendency02:15 The role of trust and transparency in district leadership04:37 How superintendents evaluate new technology amid constant change06:58 Moving from AI fear to purposeful adoption09:41 Where AI can meaningfully support educators and administrators13:12 Guardrails, ethics, and responsible system-level use of AI17:26 Balancing innovation with community expectations21:04 Preparing leaders and teams for continuous change25:18 What human-centered leadership looks like in an AI eraWhy You’ll Love This EpisodeThis episode offers a thoughtful, grounded look at AI through the lens of district leadership. Rather than focusing on tools alone, Brett emphasizes decision-making, trust, and alignment, reminding listeners that technology should serve people, not the other way around.You’ll hear practical insights for superintendents, principals, and system leaders navigating AI conversations with boards, staff, and communities. From setting guardrails to identifying high-impact use cases, this conversation provides a clear framework for leading responsibly in a fast-moving landscape.Connect with Dr. Brett Geithman | Superintendent, Larkspur-Corte Madera School DistrictLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-geithman-509580355 Website: https://lcmschools.org/en-US Connect with France Hoang and BoodleBoxFrance HoangCEO & Co-founder, BoodleBoxLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franceqhoang/BoodleBoxWebsite: https://boodlebox.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boodleboxai/About The BoodleBox PodcastThe BoodleBox Podcast features candid conversations with education leaders, innovators, and system builders on how AI and technology can deepen learning, sharpen critical thinking, and support the people who make schools work every day. Each episode blends real stories from classrooms and districts with practical perspectives on using new tools in ways that are ethical, sustainable, and student centered.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The BoodleBox Podcast for more conversations on AI, learning, and the future of education.

In this episode of The BoodleBox Podcast, host France Hoang, CEO and Co-founder of BoodleBox, talks with Dr. David Sciarretta, Superintendent of Albert Einstein Academies in San Diego. With more than three decades in education and a long track record in charter leadership, David shares how his journey from reluctant educator to founding principal and superintendent shapes the way he thinks about innovation, technology, and AI in K–12 schools.France and David trace the arc from library card catalogs and early Apple computers to Chromebooks, 1:1 devices, and now AI. They explore why discernment, relevance, and humanity matter more than any tool, and what it really takes to use AI responsibly for students, teachers, and system leaders. As Einstein said, “Learn from yesterday, Live for today, Hope for tomorrow.” David explains how that wisdom shows up in his vision for graduates who can both use AI well and understand how it works.Key Moments00:36 David’s path from almost-lawyer to charter school teacher02:21 Founding Albert Einstein Academies and growing a TK–12 continuum04:01 Why France sees charter leaders as entrepreneurs in education05:23 From library stacks to early classroom computers and web 2.007:00 What Chromebook adoption got right and what we missed on screen time08:48 The “Ferrari” analogy for students and unfettered AI access11:55 How AI can supercharge feedback and support writing when used well16:03 Environmental costs, guardrails, and teaching students to cite AI20:27 Rethinking assessment in an AI world and why nostalgia holds schools back26:40 Chronic absenteeism, relevance, and connecting learning to real careers32:22 What graduates should understand about how AI works and its limits35:41 Preparing educators across generations to teach with and about AIWhy You’ll Love This EpisodeThis conversation offers a clear, grounded look at how AI and edtech are reshaping schools, without losing sight of the humans at the center. David shares honest reflections on screen time, feedback, assessment, and why relevance is now the non-negotiable in curriculum and instruction.You will also hear practical ideas for district and school leaders who are trying to move beyond fear or hype. From using AI to save time on the right tasks, to redesigning assessments, to keeping students’ critical thinking and humanity front and center, this episode gives you language and examples you can bring back to your own context.Connect with Dr. David Sciarretta | Superintendent, Albert Einstein AcademiesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-david-v-sciarretta-5b540810/Website: https://www.aeacs.org/Connect with France Hoang and BoodleBoxFrance HoangCEO & Co-founder, BoodleBoxLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franceqhoang/BoodleBoxWebsite: https://boodlebox.ai/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boodleboxai/About The BoodleBox PodcastThe BoodleBox Podcast features candid conversations with education leaders, innovators, and system builders on how AI and technology can deepen learning, sharpen critical thinking, and support the people who make schools work every day. Each episode blends real stories from classrooms and districts with practical perspectives on using new tools in ways that are ethical, sustainable, and student centered.If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The BoodleBox Podcast for more conversations on AI, learning, and the future of education.