Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D., is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading experts on P-12 school leadership, deeper learning, technology, and innovation. He is the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the only university center in the U.S. dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators, and is the co-creator of the wildly popular video series, Did You Know? (Shift Happens). He also is the co-creator of the 4 Shifts Protocol for lesson/unit redesign and the founder of both the annual Iowa 1:1 Institute and EdCampIowa, one of the largest EdCamp events in the United States. Dr. McLeod has worked with hundreds of schools, districts, universities, and other organizations and has received numerous awards for his technology leadership work, including the 2016 Award for Outstanding Leadership from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Dr. McLeod blogs about leadership and innovation at Dangerously Irrelevant and is a frequent keynote speaker and workshop facilitator at regional, state, national, and international conferences. He has written or edited 4 books and 170 articles and other publications, and is one of the most visible education professors in the United States.
Areas of Expertise
- Deeper learning
- School leadership and innovation
- School technology
- Instructional redesign
- Leadership development
Education, Licensure & Certifications
- 2000, Ph.D., University of Iowa
- 1998, J.D., University of Iowa
- 1992, M.Ed., College of William & Mary
- 1990, B.A., College of William & Mary
- Equity Certificate, University of Colorado Denver, 2021
- Microcredential in Creating an Inclusive and Supportive Online Learning Environment, Association of College and University Educators / American Council on Education, 2021
- Microcredential in Promoting Active Learning Online, Association of College and University Educators / American Council on Education, 2020
- Certificate in Effective College Instruction, Association of College and University Educators / American Council on Education, 2019
Awards
- Digital Pedagogy Faculty Fellow, ThinqStudio, University of Colorado Denver, 2017-2018
- Award for Outstanding Leadership, International Society for Technology Leadership in Education, 2016
- Friend of the Association Award, School Administrators of Iowa, 2016
- State Technology Leadership Award, Iowa Technology and Education Connection, 2013
- Hanne Mawhinney Distinguished Service Award, University Council for Educational Administration, 2012
- Visiting Canterbury Fellow, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, 2011
- Education Innovator, Center for Digital Education / Converge, 2011
- Emerging Leader Award, Phi Delta Kappa International, 2007
- 20 to Watch, National School Boards Association, 2007
Affiliations
- American Educational Research Association
- Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
- Colorado Association of School Executives
- Consortium for School Networking
- International Society for Technology in Education
- National Association of Secondary School Principals
- Phi Delta Kappa Education Honor Society
Research
Dr. McLeod's research focuses on leadership behaviors, organizational support structures, and instructional designs that enable equitable, 'future-ready' learning experiences for P-12 students. His work with schools and educators around deeper learning, greater student agency, more authentic work, and rich technology infusion helps foster school environments that are more relevant to students' life success needs.
Publications and Presentations
- Richardson, J. W., Bathon, J. M., & McLeod, S. (2021). Leadership for deeper learning: Facilitating school innovation and transformation. New York, NY: Routledge.
- McLeod, S., & Graber, J. (2019). Harnessing technology for deeper learning. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.
- McLeod, S. (2019). Technology, ethics, and school leadership. In G. Ivory & D. Christman (Eds.), Technologies to lead schools: Key concepts to enhance student success, pp. 91-110. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield.
- McLeod, S., & Shareski, D. (2018). Different schools for a different world. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.
- McLeod, S. (2015, Winter). The challenges of digital leadership. Independent School, 74(2) 38-41.
- McLeod, S., & Richardson, J. W. (2013). Supporting effective technology integration and implementation. In M. Militello and J. Friend (Eds.), Principal 2.0: Technology and educational leadership (pp. 249-272). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.