A leader in education preparing tomorrow’s leaders
By Laura Pohl, Contributing Writer
An alum of Governors State University (GovState), Dr. David Conrad knows firsthand the importance of preparing leaders for their roles in education. He works on partnerships and new ideas to improve GovState’s educator preparation programs as Associate Professor of Educational Administration and Assistant Dean in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).
Conrad has also become a recognized leader in educational policies and is serving on a national task force of the American Federation of Teachers to study generative artificial intelligence (AI) policies in higher education. “This appointment reflects my expertise in this important area,” he said. “I also presented on AI at the Education Law Association Conference.”
Technology in the classroom has always been important to Conrad. “As a middle school principal, I helped my school adopt 1:1 technology with student Chromebooks and effectively managed the challenges that came with it,” he said.
Today, Conrad’s experiences as an educational leader serve him well, as he teaches GovState graduate courses for aspiring school leaders. “Our candidates are preparing for roles such as principal, superintendent, or curriculum director,” he said. “My classes focus on leadership, ethics, and school law. Additionally, I support our aspiring teachers by organizing a biannual job fair and providing job search mentoring.”
In addition to completing his M.A. in Educational Administration (EDAD) at GovState, Conrad earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Organization and Leadership from the University of Illinois, a B.S. in Music Education also from the University of Illinois, and M.M.Ed. in Music Education from Illinois State University. Conrad taught music for 10 years and was known as a master teacher of beginning bands.
At GovState, Conrad earned tenure in 2024 after six years of teaching, service, and scholarship. Previously, his colleagues have recognized him with two Faculty Connection, Collaboration, and Celebration Awards for dedication to collaboration and excellence within the GovState academic community. Statewide, he’s serving as president of the Illinois Council of Professors of Educational Administration, a coalition of professors and universities that prepare future school leaders in Illinois.
GovState Newsroom: What are some of the most interesting topics of study you have researched and presented in the classroom, and how are they relevant to what’s happening in the world today?
Conrad: My scholarship focuses on education policy and leadership preparation. I wrote an article about the teacher career pipeline, exploring what motivates educators to stay in the profession. Scholars have documented issues ranging from salary to workload, but once educators are employed, what keeps them in the field?
One significant problem is the lack of promotion and career advancement opportunities. Current leadership promotion pathways require educators to shift into leadership roles and leave the classroom, exacerbating the teacher shortage, as most teachers want to remain in the classroom. I propose that education adopt the individual contributor model from private industry, creating two career pathways: one for leadership and another for individual contributors who can earn promotions while continuing to teach.
GovState Newsroom: What motivates you as a faculty member?
Conrad: In my principal leadership courses, our candidates are practicing educators, who start our program with the perspective of a classroom teacher but finish with the broader perspective of a principal after six semesters. It is exciting to lead this transformation!
GovState Newsroom: What is your favorite book or streaming show?
Conrad: My wife and I enjoy following several vlogs about narrowboats and the reestablished canal network throughout the United Kingdom. In July 2024, my family took a bucket-list trip to southern Wales, where we explored the Abergavenny area and the Brecon Beacons National Park. We piloted a narrowboat along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal for seven days. Our narrowboat was 52 feet long and only 6 feet, 10 inches wide, equipped like a houseboat with showers, hot water, electricity, and a full kitchen. During our journey, we navigated five locks at Llangynidr and passed through the 1,125-foot-long Ashford Tunnel near Talybont-on-Usk.
My favorite professional book is “Tinkering Toward Utopia: A Century of Public School Reform” by David Tyack and Larry Cuban. Published in 1997, this book explores the conflict between the public goals of education and the challenges of enacting changes within the education system.
GovState Newsroom: What do you love most about GovState?
Conrad: GovState has provided me with a wealth of experiences, from serving on the budget committee to helping plan commencement. Our work culture truly values faculty input and voice.