Beneath the Water is a leadership podcast hosted by Diane Doersch, a longtime education technology leader, former district technology executive, and community builder who is now in her "rewirement."
In each episode, Diane sits down with education technology leaders for the kind of conversation we do not hear often enough. These are not polished success stories or quick leadership tips. They are honest conversations about what is happening beneath the surface: the moments that shaped her guests, the challenges they had to work through, the lessons they carry, and the parts of leadership that are not always visible from the outside.
This podcast is for leaders who want to feel seen in their work and reminded that they are not alone.
Being In the "Northern Pike" Moment with Chad Stevens
Send us Fan Mail Chad and Diane's career pathways have criss-crossed for years in the education technology space. They first met on the CoSN Board. In this episode, Chad breaks down how he experiences joy in his life, and how being in your "northern pike moment" right now is very "in." He talks about being in a mission-aligned environment, as shares what it means to be betting on yourself. Chad shares his leadership learnings and tells us what it's like to build a legacy by creating bet...
20 Oct 2026
Asking "What If?" with Suzan Brandt
Send us Fan Mail Suzan Brandt, CTO of Mountain Brook Schools, has lived her life with curiosity - and that's reflected in her teaching, her CTO-ing, her conference planning, and her TedEd organizing. Diane and Suzan sit down to talk about Suzan's journey to becoming CTO, taking up the mantle from former podcast guest Donna Williamson. And during the pandemic, nonetheless! They reminisce about their meeting through the "savvy sisters," and they connect over their love of employing a "meeting c...
13 Oct 2026
Embracing the Mess with Berj Akian
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Beneath the Water, Diane sits down with Berj Akian, founder and CEO of ClassLink, to break down the experiences that shaped his journey— being lovingly nudged from the biochemistry program in college into the accounting program, then journeying from venture capital into education technology. We learn about how a chance conversation at an arts fair opened the doors to working with schools and their technology. The successful career that followed grew by payi...
6 Oct 2026
Becoming the Techie Principal with Dr. Kip Glazer
Send us Fan Mail Diane and Dr. Kip Glazer chat about their quick friendship through Linking Leaders, falling into teaching and loving it, and making the big switch to the administrative side. She shares how her challenges have propelled her to new places, and how none of these things are really challenges compared to her first years in the US, learning a new language and making a life for herself. If you, dear listener, come away with anything, let it be this: Dr. Kip Glazer is getting things...
29 Sept 2026
Opening Doors with Jamie Saponaro
Send us Fan Mail Jamie Saponaro is one of the best when it comes to building environments for collaboration and community. She's the author of the new book "Transforming Classrooms: Building a Culture of Collaboration." Jamie and Diane discuss how volunteering can be a stepping stone to getting great jobs, and they highlight Jamie's rise through the ranks from classroom teacher to where she is now. Finding your passions, failing forward, and taking risks are all part of Jamie's secret sauce. ...
22 Sept 2026
Interoperability with Dr. Tim Clark
Send us Fan Mail Dr. Tim Clark started as a classroom teacher and ended up shaping interoperability at a global level. What stood out most was this: every move he made was still grounded in the classroom: English teacher, Techie teacher, District leader, Global connector. Dr. Tim Clark never stopped seeing himself as a teacher, even when his title changed. That’s why his work lands. He doesn’t talk about systems like a solution provider. He talks about them like someone who has lived the prob...
15 Sept 2026
Lifelong Leadership with Chantell Manahan
Send us Fan Mail Diane speaks with Dr. Chantell Manahan this week as she shares her journey and the pivotal role education played in shaping her life. She reflects on the struggles of being the "new weird girl" in school and how supportive teachers made a lasting impact. "Public education saved me. It was a place where I was seen, and it was a safe place," she says, highlighting the importance of nurturing environments for young minds. Chantell shares how she became the leader she would have ...
8 Sept 2026
Caring for Yourself as Leader with Sandra Paul
Send us Fan Mail Sandra and Diane talk about not only being early women in technology, but also the intersectionality of coming from another country. Sandra talks about the importance of a support system, what happened when her district was hit with a cyber attack, and how she cares for her team and herself. This episode was recorded on June 9, 2026, at Mountain Brook High School in Alabama during the Engage conference. Special thanks to Suzan Brandt for hosting us! Find Sandra o...
1 Sept 2026
Called Into Leadership with Nathan Davidson | Beneath the Water
Send us Fan Mail Diane is joined by Nathan Davidson, CoSN board member and Vice President of Partnerships at Five Star Technology Solutions. Nathan speaks about answering his calling, and we learn more about his leadership journey. He urges leaders to evaluate their own "why" and shows us why we can't let our egos get in the way of our leadership. Lifting others up is what Nathan does when he cares for people. What kind of leader are you? Where do you get your motivation? This episode was re...
25 Aug 2026
Finding Your Voice with Marlo Gaddis
Send us Fan Mail Diane has a heartfelt discussion with dear friend and fellow inclusion champion Marlo Gaddis. Marlo shares her journey into leadership and how experiences from her past have made her the leader she is today. It's a story of strife, hope, and a conscious effort to find her voice, leading her to serve as a supportive voice for others. This episode was recorded on June 10, 2026, at Mountain Brook High School in Alabama during the Engage conference. Special thanks to Suzan Bran...
18 Aug 2026
Donna Williamson & Sheryl Abshire | Beneath the Water
Send us Fan Mail Diane has discussions with friends Donna Williamson and Sheryl Abshire, the remaining two Savvy Sisters and co-authors of the book "The Savvy EdTech Leader." They both share sections of the book they authored and their leadership experiences that helped them form their values and the way they lead. Recorded on April 15, 2026 following the Chicago CoSN conference, Donna, Sheryl, and Frankie were the first to volunteer to be on our podcast, even before our concept was ful...
11 Aug 2026
Frankie Jackson & BTW Check-in | Beneath the Water
This is a two-part episode - the first section is a first-of-the-series check-in between Diane and her producer daughter, DeAnna. They discuss the WHY behind the podcast and share some of the victories and gaps they've experienced along the way as they've built a podcast ecosystem. The second part is a discussion with one of Diane's Savvy Sisters: Frankie Jackson. Along with Sheryl Abshire and Donna Williamson, they wrote a book together called The Savvy EdTech Leader. Frankie spent her ear...
4 Aug 2026
Amy Jaeckel | Beneath the Water
Diane is joined by her Green Bay Area School District CTIO successor, Amy Jaeckel. They reminisce over Amy's first interview and how Diane came to know her as her own leader. Be sure to follow Amy on LinkedIn: Amy Jaeckel Join BTW Slack Community: HERE Email us with any questions, comments, thoughts, or feedback: beneaththewaterpod@gmail.com Follow Beneath the Water on Instagram: @Beneaththewaterpod ------------------- Find Diane's latest adventures (podcasting, fishing, and beyond!): L...
28 Jul 2026
Victoria Thompson | Beneath the Water
Florida-based technologist and professional learning specialist Victoria Thompson joins us for a lively discussion about her views on equity and diversity, her experiences around it, and the way she uses data to teach students about social justice. This episode was recorded during ISTE 2026 in Orlando, Florida. Check her out on LinkedIn: Victoria Thompson Buy her book here: Elevate Equity in Edtech: Expanding Inclusive Leadership Through the ISTE Standards - Victoria Thompson Ple...
21 Jul 2026
Pete Just | Beneath the Water
Indiana's very own Pete Just (former CoSN chair and Executive Director of Indiana's CTO Council) joins us this week to talk about building trust, encouraging collaboration, and having integrity as a leader. Join BTW Slack Community: HERE Email us with any questions, comments, thoughts, or feedback: beneaththewaterpod@gmail.com Follow Beneath the Water on Instagram: @Beneaththewaterpod ------------------- Find Diane's latest adventures (podcasting, fishing, and beyond!): LinkedIn Follow Friend...
14 Jul 2026
Dr. Adam Phyall | Beneath the Water
Welcome to Beneath the Water's very first episode! This week, join host Diane Doersch for a lively conversation with Dr. Adam Phyall, Director of Professional Learning and Leadership for All4Ed. Adam shares his leadership journey, the lessons he carries from his past, and, of course, how he coordinates his shoes with his outfits. This episode was recorded on June 10, 2026, at Mountain Brook High School in Alabama during the Engage conference. Special thanks to Suzan Brandt for hosting us! Wa...
13 Jul 2026
Announcing Beneath the Water
Beneath the Water is a leadership podcast hosted by Diane Doersch, a longtime education technology leader, former district technology executive, and community builder who is now in her "rewirement." In each episode, Diane sits down with education technology leaders for the kind of conversation we do not hear often enough. These are not polished success stories or quick leadership tips. They are honest conversations about what is happening beneath the surface: the moments that shaped her guest...
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
15 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
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