Beneath the Water

Diane Doersch
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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.

  1. 1 day ago

    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 better leaders behind him. Together, they discuss the meaning of sponsorship and the importance of allies. They talk about building a larger table for others on the CoSN Board and changing its membership trajectory. General conclusion of this episode? Chad is creating the reality he wants to live in, and he will continue to gravitate towards what brings him joy. Keep up with Chad here: LinkedIn: Chad Stevens Blog: Halcyon Headwinds 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 Friends of Friends Recording: Instagram

  2. 20 Oct

    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 cadence" with their tech teams. They talk about rounding out their more technical knowledge and pairing it with their teaching backgrounds so they can view their work from multiple perspectives. Last, Suzan tells us a little more about her organizing the Engage Conference and TEDxYouth@MBJH, both venues that continue to support students and teachers in both their work and their lives. Overall, this conversation is filled with wonder and care, and we hope you can take that into your week after listening. This episode was recorded during the ISTELive 2026 conference in Orlando, Florida, on June 30. Keep up with Suzan here: LinkedIn: Suzan Brandt Website: Mountain Brook Schools 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 Friends of Friends Recording: Instagram

  3. 13 Oct

    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 paying attention to the problems students and teachers needed to solve. This conversation is for you if you’ve ever looked at someone else’s accomplishments and wondered why your own path feels so messy. Berj reminds us that we don’t always recognize growth while we’re in the middle of it. Sometimes, we’re simply doing our best to find the next step. Berj Akian: Solving Real Problems, Finding Your Way, and Embracing the Mess Find Berj on Linkedin and with Classlink. 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 Friends of Friends Recording: Instagram

  4. 6 Oct

    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 done. Dr. Kip Glazer, Ed.D., brings AI leadership from the Silicon Valley classroom to the global stage. Principal of Mountain View High School and author of "Ready to Lead with AI," she helps school leaders put AI to work safely and ethically. A Google Innovator, she helped shape the U.S. Department of Education’s landmark AI report. Her proudest accomplishment? Her two sons, West Point graduates serving in the Army. Keep in touch with Dr. Kip Glazer through: Her Website: Kip Glazer Her Book: Ready to Lead with AI by Dr. Kip Glazer Linkedin: Kip Glazer 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 Friends of Friends Recording: Instagram

  5. 29 Sept

    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. Jamie Saponaro is the Senior Director of Community and Professional Learning at ClassLink, and the author of the new book, "Transforming Classrooms: Building a Culture of Collaboration." Follow Jamie's endeavors here:  Website: Transformingclassrooms.com Linkedin: Jamie Saponaro 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 Friends of Friends Recording: Instagram

  6. 22 Sept

    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 problem. Maybe that’s the real leadership lesson: stay close to the work, stay curious, and keep making room for the next reroute. Find Dr. Clark in the real world on: LinkedIn: Dr. Tim Clark His Blog: byotnetwork.com  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 Friends of Friends Recording: Instagram

  7. 15 Sept

    Lifelong Leadership with Dr. 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 needed earlier in her career. Chantell serves as the Director of K12 Strategy and Solutions. She has a consultancy called Leading, Laughing, & Learning. She wrote Capes Optional, Communication Essential: Leading Out Loud in the Era of School Choice. Listen to her podcast, Leading Out Loud with Dr. Chantell Manahan. Connect with Chantell on Linkedin. This episode was recorded on May 07at the Indiana CTO Council Clinic. 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 Friends of Friends Recording: Instagram

  8. 8 Sept

    Caring for Yourself as a 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 on Linkedin: Sandra Paul Twitter: @Spaul6414 Bluesky: @Spaul6414 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 Friends of Friends Recording: Instagram

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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Diane Doersch
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beneath the Water
  • Show Website
    Beneath the Water

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