AI and Educational Leadership: Building Capacity for a Transformative Future

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 3:45 pm - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Capacity and Infrastructure for Responsible AI in Education

Abstract

This study explores how district leaders are navigating AI policy implementation in K-12 education. Drawing on data from 30 school districts in the western U.S., it investigates how AI is being introduced, what challenges districts face, and what leadership practices support ethical and equitable integration. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model, Diffusion of Innovation Theory, and Educational Change Theory, adapted for AI contexts, the study identifies gaps in preparedness and policy coherence and surfaces promising strategies for inclusive, future-oriented leadership. Findings point to a need for AI literacy, ethical capacity-building, and collaboration across systems. The study contributes to the emerging field of AI and education leadership by linking implementation trends to theoretical models and implications for policy and practice.

Author

• Nancy Watkins, California State University - Fullerton