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 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
Connect with France Hoang and BoodleBox
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.