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Luis A. Rodriguez

Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Administration, Leadership, and Technology

(212) 998-5144

Luis A. Rodriguez is Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at NYU, holding a primary appointment in the Department of Administration, Leadership, and Technology, with a secondary courtesy appointment in the Department of Applied Statistics, Social Sciences, and Humanities. Dr. Rodriguez's research focuses on the intersections of educator quality, retention, and diversity; school discipline; and school climate and working conditions, and seeks to identify and inform policies, programs, and practices capable of fostering more equitable and supportive learning and working environments for students and educators alike. More specifically, his research applies interdisciplinary perspectives to examine how school organizational conditions, education reform, and broader socio-political factors affect the P-12 education workforce and its ability to generate positive outcomes for students, particularly concerning students' access to high-quality teaching as well as their exposure to exclusionary school discipline.

In his previous and ongoing research projects, Dr. Rodriguez investigates factors affecting the recruitment and retention of educators of color as well as the influence of tenure, evaluation, and other human capital management reforms on educator turnover and performance. Moreover, his research explores the complex interplay of factors related to schools, families, and neighborhoods that collectively influence school discipline practices and outcomes, highlighting the pivotal role of social-ecological systems in shaping the overall educational landscape for students and schools. 

Dr. Rodriguez has received national recognition and support for his research, including awards and grants from prominent organizations such as the National Academy of Education, the Spencer Foundation, the William T. Grant Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Albert Shanker Institute, and the Association for Education Finance and Policy. In addition, he and his work have been cited by notable news outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Forbes and education-focused platforms such as Education Week, Chalkbeat, and Inside HigherEd.

Dr. Rodriguez is currently a Research Affiliate with the Research Alliance for New York City Schools (RANYCS), the Institute for Human Development and Social Change (IHDSC), and the NYU Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools. Additionally, he serves as an editorial board member for Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis (EEPA) and Education Finance and Policy (EFP). He received his doctorate in K-12 Education Leadership and Policy Studies with a specialization in Quantitative Methods from Vanderbilt University, and holds a bachelor’s in Economics from Swarthmore College.

Publications

Publications listed on Google Scholar page here.

Programs

Educational Leadership

Prepare for leadership positions in education and policy at the community, school, district, state, and national levels.

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Education Studies

Explore and understand the broader context of education and its link to social change, and the role you can play in making change possible.

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Education and Social Policy

Rooted in economics and sociology, this program has a strong emphasis on using quantitative methods to ascertain causal effects of programs and policies.

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Courses

Contemporary Politics and Policies of the K–12 Teacher Workforce

This course examines critical issues related to contemporary K–12 teacher policies and labor movements, focusing on factors affecting the equitable distribution of teachers, the fundamentals of modern teacher policy reforms, and the political and social conditions underlying recent teacher labor movements. Students leave this course with a strong overview of current teacher policy and labor market issues as well as an in-depth examination of a focus area they select.
Course #
EDLED-GE 2368
Credits
3
Department
Administration, Leadership, and Technology

Data- Inquiry- and Decision Making

Increasingly, data is a primary factor in every step of the decision making process in education administration—from informing lines of inquiry to determining courses of action. In this course, students acquire the skills necessary to work with and analyze administrative and survey data and, in the process, describe school-related inputs, outcomes, relationships, and trends.
Course #
EDLED-GE 2343
Credits
3
Department
Administration, Leadership, and Technology

Introduction to Educational Policy Analysis

Students will develop an understanding of the ways in which they may inquire about policy issues relevant in their academic & professional lives. By exploring in depth a substantial body of knowledge drawn from selected cases & current theoretical issues, students will study the development of policy, the instruments used to effect policy, & some analyses of implementation.
Course #
EDLED-UE 1005
Credits
3 - 4
Department
Administration, Leadership, and Technology

Quantitative Methods in Organizational and Administrative Studies I

The application of quantitative methods to organizational analysis, problem-solving, & research. Utilizes appropriate computer hardware & software technology for analyzing empirical data drawn from practical organizational & administrative settings.
Course #
AMLT-GE 3027
Credits
3
Department
Administration, Leadership, and Technology

Research Methods in Education Leadership and Policy Studies

Practical course designed to acquaint the student with research design & methodology in order to facilitate an understanding of research in the administration of educational organizations. Focuses on critical evaluation of research studies & comparative assessment of organizational analyses.
Course #
EDLED-GE 3001
Credits
3
Department
Administration, Leadership, and Technology