BoodleBox

In this episode of The BoodleBox Podcast, host France Hoang, CEO and Co-founder of BoodleBox, sits down with Dana Addis, Superintendent of Hudson City Schools.

With over three decades in education, Dana shares his journey from aspiring sports broadcaster to veteran educator and district leader, offering a deeply practical perspective on how schools can navigate the rise of AI. Drawing on his experience across teaching, coaching, and system leadership, he explains why engagement remains the foundation of learning and how AI can unlock new levels of personalization, mastery, and student ownership.

France and Dana explore the shift from traditional instruction toward student-driven pathways, where AI helps learners see what success looks like and empowers them to reach it. They also discuss the balance between innovation and responsibility, including student privacy, ethical use, and the importance of teaching both with AI and about AI. Through real examples like district-wide AI councils, student hackathons, and service learning projects, Dana paints a compelling picture of what future-ready school systems can look like.

Key Moments

02:16 Inside Hudson City Schools and its culture of commitment
03:52 First reactions to AI and its impact on education
05:09 The shift toward student choice and personalized learning
07:04 Using AI to support struggling learners and build understanding
10:01 Why collaboration is becoming central to learning
11:09 Learning with AI vs. learning about AI
13:10 Building an AI council and leading system-wide change
14:48 What AI literacy should look like for graduating students
16:07 Balancing innovation with student privacy and safety
17:38 The 'Portrait of an Explorer' and durable skills
20:14 Real-world AI applications through service learning

Why You'll Love This Episode
This episode offers a clear and optimistic vision for how AI can transform learning without losing what matters most. Dana brings a systems-level perspective, showing how districts can move thoughtfully by building structures, aligning to values, and focusing on student outcomes rather than chasing trends.
You'll also hear practical, real-world examples of AI in action from hackathons to service learning to classroom instruction. If you are a district leader or educator trying to balance innovation with responsibility, this conversation will give you both clarity and confidence on where to start and how to move forward.

Connect with Dana Addis | Superintendent, Hudson City Schools
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daddis6
Website: https://www.hudson.k12.oh.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.

What is BoodleBox ?

We stand alongside educators, students, and professionals—partnering to create the world's leading platform for collaborative AI. Our mission is to empower lifelong learning about AI and work with AI, developing domain expertise, AI enablement, and human excellence throughout the journey from classroom to career.