Category: Diane Doersch's Blogs - THE SAVVY EDTECH LEADER

The Wisdom AI Can't Give You

10/5/2026

It’s been a minute since we’ve written The Savvy EdTech Leader. Published in 2024, it came out before GenAI tools like Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude was widely accessible.

As I reflect on what Sheryl, Frankie, Donna, and I wanted to include in the book, we set out to take all our institutional knowledge (over 120 years!) and condense it into a book that would transcend time and AI. We wanted to help aspiring educational technology leaders grow in the skills and attitudes that you cannot get from Generative AI.

As I reread the chapters of our book, it’s even more evident than before that it's chock-full not of how to write RFPs or Technology Plans, but of the durable skills leaders need to build relationships with people.

Write to Invite: The Art of Inclusive Job Descriptions

10/12/2025

RETHINK YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION

I recently assisted a company in revising a job description to incorporate more inclusive language. Job descriptions are a key component in attracting top technology staff. Unfortunately, organizations often overlook opportunities to refine job descriptions and instead focus on filling the position as soon as it becomes available.

As a former Chief Technology and Information Officer of a large school district, I wholeheartedly know the temptation to just go to the electronic file folder, pull out the old job description, update the deadlines and dates, and hastily post it so that you can begin reviewing the resumes that you anticipate receiving. Sometimes your need to fill a position outweighs the time you have to rethink the job posting.

I encourage you to pause at this crucial first step in the hiring process. There’s no rule that the role must be refilled exactly as it was, with the same skills and dispositions as the person who just left our team. Each vacancy is an opportunity for continuous improvement and even reinvention for your team. Why not take advantage of it?

When Leaders Learn: Lessons from the Dance Floor

8/4/2025

Back in 2021, while the world was still navigating the pandemic, I decided to challenge myself to learn something new.

Growing up, I was a classical ballet dancer from ages 7 to 12. As an only child, my mother enrolled me in various activities to keep me active and engaged, and I especially loved dance. It was where I felt most alive. But when we moved to a rural area, continuing those lessons meant long drives to the nearest city, and eventually, I had to let it go.

Fast forward to the pandemic.

Like so many things, dance instruction evolved, and suddenly, virtual classes became possible. I found myself signing up for online jazz and hip hop lessons at the same studio where my daughter and granddaughter danced. The moment I hit “register,” I reopened a chapter I’d closed decades ago.

Let me be clear, going back to dance class wasn’t easy. What once felt natural was now frustrating. Remembering choreography in my head and training my muscles to follow took real effort. I felt like a beginner all over again.

Executive Presence for EdTech: Leading with Intention, Growth, and Purpose

6/13/2025

In my May 2025 blog, I discussed executive presence: What it is and why that type of presence makes savvy leaders stand out. My first five tips included creating and running clear meetings, providing timely feedback, gracefully course correcting, recognizing hidden agendas, and displaying emotional intelligence. Impactful leaders seem to effortlessly do those things and more that help people feel that they’re part of the team, walk away energized, and know that their leader has their back.

Here are some additional strategies that can help you take your presence to the next level:

Executive Presence for EdTech Leaders: It’s More Than How You Show Up

5/12/2025

In a world of EdTech Leadership, a person’s innovation and strategy often get the attention and accolades of our peers. Underneath every impactful leader is something more hidden, but needs just as much or more attention, and that is Executive Presence. That hidden factor allows the leader to build trust, command attention, inspire, and call others to action – even if the leader says very little. Executive presence isn’t just for the person at the organization's top; it’s for anyone who wants to lead with purpose and influence others without overpowering.

Some people think that executive presence comes naturally and can’t be learned. I disagree and tell you that it can most definitely be learned. We all need to have the growth mindset that, with intention, we can reflect upon and grow our executive functioning skills.

In this blog, I list some of the overlooked soft skills you can use to create impact and stand out. I cannot say I am an expert in these, but I know good presence when I see it. In my next few blog posts, I will expand upon strategies to build your executive presence.

What is Executive Presence?

CoSN 2025 Reflections

4/14/2025

Winning the CoSN Volunteer of the Year award in 2017.

Here we are, a few days past the CoSN 2025 conference, which took place March 28 - April 01, 2025. My head is swimming with lots of new content, contacts, and reflections.

In our book, The Savvy EdTech Leader, I discuss reflection. I’ve been able to discipline myself to reflect throughout my career. I have always felt that reflecting on my past will help my future.

If you know me, you also know that I take photos at every opportunity. Good memories come with great images. It’s always fun to look back at the old photo albums of my past and the special people in them.

This year, CoSN was filled with many emotions for me. My two-year Chairpersonship came to an end at this CoSN Conference. While I have one more year left on the board, where I now serve as Past Chair, this conference was bittersweet.

I remember coming to my first CoSN conference in 2015 and feeling that this was the conference for me and these were my people. As a new Chief Technology and Information Officer at Green Bay Public Schools, I had many issues to solve. I got to know CoSN and Keith Krueger through my service on the digital equity and data privacy committees. CoSN was the perfect organization for me to plug into resources and people who were in the know and got stuff done. As I became more active in committees and the organization, I eventually earned the volunteer of the year award for my service to CoSN.

Persist with Consistency: Run consistent meetings

3/14/2025

In my last blog, I discussed the importance of building a cadence of essential meetings so collaboration and decision-making can occur promptly. How often have you said, “We should meet about that,” and it takes two weeks to finally have that meeting because everybody’s schedule was full and that was the soonest you could fit in the proposed meeting in?

By building a cadence of meetings and putting all non-negotiable dates on your key players’ calendars, you reserve that meeting time and must treat it as sacred ground. That’s the first part about getting things done.

To make the most of everybody’s time, it is essential to structure your meeting (persisting with consistency) to build efficiency and thoughtful decision-making. Here are some tips that can help create a structured meeting:

Persist with Consistency #2

12/20/2024

In Chapter 1 of The Savvy EdTech Leader, I wrote the section “Persist with Consistency.” I discuss the importance of consistency in leadership.

When you are consistent in leadership, you keep doing the right things you know will work. It is an action that your team knows they can continuously expect and doesn’t leave them guessing as to how you will react. - Diane Doersch

Build a cadence of essential meetings

As the school district's CTIO, I fostered consistency by establishing a schedule of key meetings with our department's essential voices. This approach ensured the right people were at the table, enabling collaboration, feedback, and innovation. The regular cadence of meetings created clear communication channels from classrooms to the Board of Education and back, aligning efforts across all levels.

Persist with consistency

11/23/2024

In Chapter 1 of The Savvy EdTech Leader, I wrote the section “Persist with Consistency.” I discuss the importance of consistency in leadership. I say, “When you are consistent in leadership, you keep doing the right things you know will work. It is an action that your team knows they can continuously expect and doesn’t leave them guessing as to how you will react.”

In the blog entries I will be contributing bi-weekly here on our website, I plan to share some techniques and examples for establishing consistency with your staff. It’s easier than you think and has proven to be an investment in time for the reward you will get from it. Early in my teaching career, I learned that when students knew and understood the routines of their day, they could build those habits for success because they knew what to expect. However, we were not rigid in our daily schedule because we all know schedules change and must be flexible. Bottom line - I found that when students established routines, they could practically run the classroom without me.

Diane Doersch's Book Release Reflection

10/24/2024

Is your mic working?
Do you want me to get everybody’s attention for you now?
You are a great leader; I know you’ll do a fabulous job.

Those are the things I said to our then Northeast Wisconsin Women in Technology President, Adrienne Hartman before she went onto the stage at one of our breakfast series presentations. In 2020, right before the global pandemic hit, the room was filled with over 100 women eager to network and engage in professional learning.

I felt proud to see the room full of participants, most younger than me, and to see Adrienne do a fantastic job on stage, guiding and leading the group.