In this episode of The Dr. Will Show, host Dr. Will engages in a deep conversation with Dr. Scott McLeod about the intricacies of higher education, teaching, and career development. They explore the journey into academia, the differences between teaching in K-12 and higher education, the importance of networking, and the various paths to becoming a faculty member. Dr. McLeod shares insights on tenure, the value of experience versus credentials, and how to carve out a niche in the academic world. The discussion also touches on the significance of publishing and research, as well as the role of academic conferences in building relationships within the field.
A Professor of Educational Leadership, Scott McLeod, J.D., Ph.D., received the 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award for the entire University of Colorado Denver campus.
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, including the 2016 global 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 occasional podcasts, LeaderTalk and Redesigning for Deeper Learning.
Scott currently serves as a Distinguished Educator Fellow for PDK International, a Fellow for the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership, and an ISTE+ASCD Community Leader. He also recently served as a Senior Fellow for Getting Smart. Scott 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.