Presenter Bio

Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D.

A Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado Denver, 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 on a mission to make students’ day-to-day learning less boring and more meaningful and relevant. Scott 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 both the wildly popular video series, Did You Know? (Shift Happens), and the 4 Shifts Protocol for lesson and unit redesign.

Scott 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). Scott blogs about leadership and innovation at Dangerously Irrelevant and is a frequent keynote speaker and workshop facilitator at regional, state, national, and international conferences. Scott also hosts two podcasts, LeaderTalk and Redesigning for Deeper Learning.

Scott currently serves as a Senior Fellow for Getting Smart, a Fellow for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, an ISTE Community Leader, InnEdCO Ambassador, and on NAESP’s Professional Learning Advisory Council. 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. His most recent work focuses on what deeper learning looks like in elementary and middle schools.

Books

Leadership for Deeper Learning (2021)

Harnessing Technology for Deeper Learning (2018)

Different Schools for a Different World (2017)

What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologies and Social Media (2012)

Select honors and awards

Fellow, Center for Innovative Leadership, National Association of Elementary School Principals, 2023 – 2026

Senior Fellow, Getting Smart, 2023

Ambassador, International Society for Technology in Education, 2022

Community Leader, International Society for Technology in Education, 2021

InnEdCO Ambassador, Innovative Education Colorado, 2021

Digital Pedagogy Faculty Fellow, ThinqStudio, University of Colorado Denver, 2017 – 2018

Award for Outstanding Leadership, International Society for Technology in Education, 2016

Friend of the Association Award, School Administrators of Iowa, 2016

Honorable Mention, Power to the People Award, Digital Promise, 2014

State Technology Leadership Award, Iowa Technology and Education Connection, 2013

Geisler-Penquite Educational Excellence Endowed Lecture, Central College, Iowa, 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

Nancy O’Brian Endowed Lecture, University of Oklahoma, 2009

Emerging Leader Award, Phi Delta Kappa International, 2007

20 to Watch, National School Boards Association, 2007

General Excellence Award, Leaders in Learning, Cable in the Classroom, 2007

Finalist [CASTLE], TechFoundation TechGrants Award Program, 2004

Distinguished Teaching Award, College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2004

Education Policy and Fellowship Program, Institute for Educational Leadership, 2002 – 2003

Innovative Teaching and Technology Strategies Program, University of Minnesota Twin Cities / Archibald Bush Foundation, 2002 – 2003

William J. Davis Award, University Council for Educational Administration, 2002 [article of the year in Educational Administration Quarterly, the top educational leadership research journal]