This course examines the theories, practices, and leadership strategies that shape the adoption, integration, and diffusion of technology within organizations. The course explores how to evaluate emerging technologies, implement digital innovations, and respond to shifting expectations around teaching, learning, and organizational operations. Students analyze models of technology diffusion, assess organizational readiness, and consider the cultural, structural, and ethical factors that influence successful implementation.

This course examines the ethical foundations, analytical frameworks, and leadership practices essential for guiding complex organizations and institutions. The course emphasizes how leaders use data-informed decision-making, moral reasoning, and reflective judgment to navigate organizational challenges, promote equity, and uphold trust. Students explore ethical theories, governance structures, and accountability systems that shape institutional behavior, as well as the role of transparency, integrity, and stewardship in effective leadership. The course prepares emerging and current leaders to cultivate ethical cultures, lead with clarity and compassion, and apply analytical tools to advance mission-driven, performance outcomes. Students will examine the use of AI within their organization through an ethical lens. This course aligns with the Florida Educational Leadership Standard 1 Professional and Ethical Norms and Standard 2 Vision and Mission.

This course examines the ways in which diversity and leadership shape the culture and climate of organizations. Emphasis is placed on understanding how inclusive leadership practices contribute to the development of innovative teams and collaborative stakeholder relationships. Students will analyze approaches for creating healthy, safe, and supportive organizational structures in which individual differences are acknowledged, respected, and leveraged to promote collective success. Students will also explore strategies for fostering environments where diverse individuals feel valued, empowered, and able to realize their full potential. Additionally, the course addresses how leaders can cultivate and sustain productive partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including families and community members to enhance mutual understanding, strengthen appreciation for diversity, and align organizational practices with the cultural, social, and intellectual assets of the broader community.

This course focuses on politics and policy issues that leaders face. Included in the course are ways to navigate, follow and challenge the status quo as needed related to policy issues. Federal and state policy development, implementation and process of change impacts leadership and policy development. Leaders’ role in governance and political navigation in dealing with various stakeholders, management and operations are covered topics. The course addresses Florida Educational Leadership standard 3: School operations, management and safety

In this course, doctoral students will dig into the essentials of action research design by using a strategic plan to identify a problem of practice, use research from literature review to support the problem identification, and develop a plan for determining a solution to the identified problem by creating an organizational process that is sustainable and actionable. AI tools that can facilitate this process will be explored and evaluated.