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 Moments

00:42 Brett’s leadership journey from classroom to superintendency

02:15 The role of trust and transparency in district leadership

04:37 How superintendents evaluate new technology amid constant change

06:58 Moving from AI fear to purposeful adoption

09:41 Where AI can meaningfully support educators and administrators

13:12 Guardrails, ethics, and responsible system-level use of AI

17:26 Balancing innovation with community expectations

21:04 Preparing leaders and teams for continuous change

25:18 What human-centered leadership looks like in an AI era

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This 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 District

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-geithman-509580355
Website: https://lcmschools.org/en-US 

Connect with France Hoang and BoodleBox

France Hoang
CEO & Co-founder, BoodleBox
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franceqhoang/

BoodleBox
Website: https://boodlebox.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boodleboxai/

About The BoodleBox Podcast

The 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.

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 Moments

00:36 David’s path from almost-lawyer to charter school teacher

02:21 Founding Albert Einstein Academies and growing a TK–12 continuum

04:01 Why France sees charter leaders as entrepreneurs in education

05:23 From library stacks to early classroom computers and web 2.0

07:00 What Chromebook adoption got right and what we missed on screen time

08:48 The “Ferrari” analogy for students and unfettered AI access

11:55 How AI can supercharge feedback and support writing when used well

16:03 Environmental costs, guardrails, and teaching students to cite AI

20:27 Rethinking assessment in an AI world and why nostalgia holds schools back

26:40 Chronic absenteeism, relevance, and connecting learning to real careers

32:22 What graduates should understand about how AI works and its limits

35:41 Preparing educators across generations to teach with and about AI

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This 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 Academies

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-david-v-sciarretta-5b540810/
Website: https://www.aeacs.org/

Connect with France Hoang and BoodleBox

France Hoang
CEO & Co-founder, BoodleBox
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franceqhoang/

BoodleBox
Website: https://boodlebox.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boodleboxai/

About The BoodleBox Podcast

The 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.