Blog Posts

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.

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Trust your gut

4/10/2025

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Spring in the world of K–12 education technology is a season of transition—budgets, staffing, systems planning, project wrap-ups, and the ever-present question: What’s next?

For technology leaders, this season brings not only a long to-do list but also subtle pressure to make the right decisions, often with limited time and evolving information. Even in chaos, some leaders seem to move with confidence and clarity. They weigh the facts and take input from their teams, and then they just know what to do.

Many of those “quick” and effective decisions are guided by something that doesn’t appear in a strategy document. They’re listening to their gut instinct.

Gut Instinct Doesn't Just Happen

Let’s be clear: gut instinct isn’t some superpower only the lucky possess, nor is it blind guesswork. It’s the product of experience, observation, and pattern identification that lives just beneath our conscious awareness. It’s your internal decision-making assistant who’s been quietly keeping score while you’ve been solving problems, responding to crises, leading teams, and navigating complexity.

In fact, neuroscience supports the idea of the gut being a “second brain.” Our instincts are shaped by how we’ve processed past situations and outcomes. When something feels “off,” or a new idea pop into your head that feels right, your brain connects the dots at lightning speed, using a network of past experiences and data.

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Future-Proofing Your Organization: Leading with Intentionality

4/7/2025

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Edtech leaders today face unprecedented uncertainty, yet this very uncertainty can become your strongest ally.

Future-proofing your organization involves more than responding reactively; it's about anticipating challenges and proactively equipping your team with the tools, skills, and mindset needed to excel in shifting landscapes.

"Future-proofing isn't just preparing to weather storms —it's learning to harness uncertainty as a catalyst for innovation, resilience, and lasting growth." – Sheryl Abshire

The recent global disruptions underscored a crucial truth: adaptability is no longer optional. Leaders must foster environments where change is welcomed, innovation is encouraged, and continuous learning is normalized. This means redefining traditional success metrics and understanding that only a few roles drive the most organizational impact. Invest strategically in these roles and ensure your teams consistently build skills critical to future success.

Consider leveraging technology and people analytics to identify essential competencies for tomorrow's workforce. Prioritize internal growth—it's often more cost-effective and impactful to reskill existing talent rather than constantly hiring new staff. And remember, tomorrow's top employees crave more than good pay; they seek alignment with meaningful missions, inclusive cultures, and purposeful roles.

Leaders who embrace these strategies—prioritizing resilience, inclusion, continuous learning, and innovative thinking—will survive the future and shape it.

How is your organization intentionally cultivating adaptability and innovation among your leaders and teams today?

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Why Networking Matters for EdTech Leaders

3/24/2025

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"Networking isn't about collecting contacts; it's about cultivating connections that unlock opportunities, insights, and support—transforming challenges into successes."

— Dr. Sheryl Abshire

When I first became a Chief Technology Officer, networking seemed like an unnecessary distraction. I thought building my network was something I'd tackle after addressing urgent needs: infrastructure, staffing, and budgets. Yet, I quickly learned that my initial hesitation about networking as "exchanging favors with strangers" was limiting my potential.
Harvard Business Review emphasizes that successful leadership transitions demand leaders to rethink their roles, placing networking at the heart of their professional growth. Effective networking connects people to opportunities, ideas, and each other, making it essential rather than optional.

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Persist with Consistency: Run consistent meetings

3/14/2025

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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:

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Multiplying Leadership: Elevating Others to Lead

3/12/2025

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"True leadership isn't measured by the number of followers you have; it's defined by how many leaders you create." — Sheryl Abshire

Great leaders don't just guide; they inspire, mentor, and elevate others to lead. They understand that their actual impact isn't limited to their direct influence but is magnified through the leaders they develop. By transforming followers into leaders, they cultivate a culture of growth, innovation, and sustainability within their organizations.

Why Multiplying Leadership Matters

An organization's growth is tied to its members' leadership capacity. A leader focusing solely on guiding followers will always be constrained by their personal reach. However, a leader who prioritizes developing leadership skills in others creates an exponential impact. Multiplying leaders don't just direct change, they empower others to drive it.

Research from Wharton Executive Education highlights the importance of leadership development, particularly in challenging times. Leaders who anticipate needs, take decisive action, and continuously learn to ensure long-term success for themselves and their teams. The ability to lead through others distinguishes great leaders from good ones.

Strategies to Multiply Leadership

Identify Potential Leaders – Look for individuals with a positive attitude, loyalty, a drive for self-improvement, and a desire to support and uplift others.
Provide Leadership Development Opportunities – Create training programs, mentorship structures, and real-world experiences that allow emerging leaders to grow.
Foster a Leadership-Oriented Culture – Encourage responsibility, decision-making, and collaboration, ensuring that leadership is not just a title but a mindset.
Exemplify Key Leadership Traits – Be a role model in accountability, gratitude, mission-driven action, kindness, clarity, mentoring, and problem-solving.
Commit to Continuous Growth – Leadership multiplication is an ongoing process. Provide regular feedback, adjust strategies, and embrace innovation to maintain momentum.

The Lasting Legacy of a Multiplying Leader

The most influential leaders don't just leave behind successful teams; they create a leadership pipeline that sustains growth and transformation long after they move on. By multiplying leadership, you ensure that your impact extends far beyond your immediate circle, fostering an organization that thrives on collective strength and shared vision.
Authentic leadership isn't about power, it's about empowerment.

The question is, how many leaders are you creating today?

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It's Lonely at the Top: The Solitude of the K-12 EdTech Leader

2/26/2025

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"It’s lonely at the top. That’s why a leader needs to keep good company."
– John C. Maxwell

In K-12 education, leadership can be isolating—but for those at the helm of technology, that isolation is even more profound. As the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), or Technology Director in a school district, you operate in a space where few truly understand your daily challenges. You are the translator between the world of technology and the world of education, expected to be fluent in both while navigating budget constraints, cybersecurity threats, and ever-evolving instructional demands.

While superintendents have their leadership networks and curriculum leaders can collaborate with their peers, the technology leader often stands alone in the rarified air of edtech decision-making. Your team may support your vision, but ultimately, the weight of responsibility falls squarely on your shoulders.

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Transitioning from Peer to Authentic Leader

2/25/2025

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The Shift. Once in a leadership role, you will quickly notice a shift in your relationship with your former colleagues or individuals with a role like your previous position. You are very comfortable with their responsibilities because they were once your responsibilities. Sometimes, it is difficult to let go of tasks that we are comfortable doing even though they are no longer a part of our new leadership role. Your team members are no longer peers; you now must manage, support, and sometimes make difficult decisions that affect them.

I remember when I first became the CTO in my last district. I would go to lunch with the school tech coordinator across the street at one of the elementary schools. I enjoyed our conversations since we were similar in age and had similar outside interests. I enjoyed the company of the other school coordinators; however, she was conveniently located across the street, and we could walk to lunch.

Little did I know that regularly having lunch with one team member could cause so much friction. I soon learned that I could drive and have lunch with each team member individually, with different groups of team members, or lunch with the entire team, but I should not consistently single out one team member for lunch, no matter how convenient it was!

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Leadership and Governance: Navigating An Award-Winning Goal Standard

2/23/2025

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Leadership in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Performance Excellence System is recognized as the gold standard because it is a structured, holistic approach that fosters organizational success, continuous improvement, and long-term sustainability.

This blog proposes a design for creating a leadership system that promotes peak performance by eliminating distractions and prioritizing the essential leadership processes and key performance indicators (KPIs) that truly drive results. This is blog post #3 of a 10-part blog series, "Unlock Performance Excellence."

As an EdTech leader, how would you describe your leadership and governance structure? Can you define it? Is it based on a framework, or is it your experience from the school of hard knocks? Here’s the real question: Is your leadership built to last? Are you continuously improving and actively developing the next generation of leaders?

What if you cut out all the noise and, as the highest priority, focused on these SIX performance excellence leadership processes and key performance indicators (KPIs) that drive results?

Let's give it everything we got! The next generation of Savvy EdTech Leaders deserve a robust leadership playbook.

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The Importance of Influence in EdTech Leadership

2/21/2025

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Why is it essential for a leader to cultivate influence rather than merely wield it?

People decide each day how much effort and dedication they bring to their work. True leadership provides only a limited level of influence on its own. The most effective leaders understand that they cannot rely solely on authority and directives. The outdated command-and-control approach is rarely successful and often breeds resistance.

As Ken Blanchard wisely stated, "The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority."

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How to Minimize Distractions and Maintain Focus

2/21/2025

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In the fast-paced world of EdTech Leadership, staying focused amidst countless responsibilities can be a real challenge. Whether managing teams, handling technology initiatives, or juggling meetings, finding the time to do it all can be overwhelming.

Regardless of what we call it, the ability to avoid being consumed by the vast responsibilities of today’s Edtech Leader is a common goal for most, and it can be challenging to accomplish.

No matter how hard we work, how many hours we commit, how organized we are, or how capable we are, there are often simply not enough hours in the day. I believe using strategies to be more efficient, minimize distractions, and maintain focus can lead to a less stressful and productive work life. A less stressful work-life WILL directly affect our personal life. For strategies for balancing home life and work, check out Chapter 7’s section, Achieve Work-Life Balance Without Guilt, in The Savvy EdTech Leader.

Whether during a CoSN K-12 CTO Academy session, at an EdTech conference, or over a beverage or food with colleagues, minimizing distractions at work and finding time to focus on the “Big Work” is always a topic of discussion. With input from colleagues and friends, I have compiled my Top 30 Strategies to Minimize Distractions and Maintain Focus at Work.

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Organization Description: Examining EdTech Organizations with Clarity and Transparency

1/27/2025

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The organization description in the NIST Performance Excellence system provides a structured framework for understanding our EdTech organization's nuances. This blog will offer a methodology for crafting a detailed organization description that will provide critical insights into key factors that shape your leadership.

These critical insights include our organization's vision, mission (purpose), culture, requirements, strategic challenges, threats, opportunities, and many others that help us better understand the context in which we lead.

Without understanding these factors, whether initially or continuously, how will we make decisions and lead our team(s) effectively?

"Leadership without insight is like navigating the open sea without a compass; you might be moving, but are you truly heading toward your destination?" - Frankie Jackson

You probably think, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm already doing this, or I already know." And you might. And yet, there might be more that we can explore.

Using strategies in our Savvy EdTech Leader book, this blog is dedicated to deepening our understanding of our EdTech organization by offering clarity and transparency. Its purpose is to help us fully grasp our mission, structure, and the value we bring while fostering trust and empowering better decision-making. After all, isn’t this what great leaders aspire to achieve? Who wouldn’t want to be part of that vision?

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Why Use the NIST Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework as an EdTech Leadership PLaybook?

1/2/2025

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"The NIST Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework establishes a national standard of performance excellence, driving measurable outcomes and guiding Education Technology (EdTech) Leadership to create transformative systems that build organizational success."

- Frankie Jackson

This blog post will discuss why any Savvy EdTech Leader might consider using the NIST Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework as their EdTech Leadership playbook to drive organizational success and propel growth.

Ride The Horse That Brung Ya

On a personal note, my heart races as I write this blog. In this post, I aim to share why I am so faithful to the NIST Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework, a framework that has been instrumental in my professional journey.

In Texas, the idiom "Ride the Horse That Brung Ya" is colloquial slang for staying loyal to the methods, people, and practices that have helped you succeed. The NIST Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework has a long history in our nation and with me in my career journey. You can read about that here.

What I can say in a sentence or two is that when I started my career in public education as a Chief Technology Officer (CTO), the hiring Superintendent of Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District (GCCISD) said, we don't want you to change a thing about your leadership strategy. We are hiring you so you can bring innovative leadership and quality principles to our education technology program.

And with the NIST Baldrige Performance Excellence Framework, I started my 30+ career in public education serving as an EdTech Leader and Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

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UnlockING Performance Excellence (Blog Series)

12/31/2024

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Our Savvy Education Technology (EdTech) blogs are dedicated to delivering fresh, insightful content centered on EdTech leadership. Drawing from key chapters of The Savvy EdTech Leader, we explore strategies for crafting impactful and innovative systems that drive success. This series introduces a dynamic approach to measuring organizational success, leveraging a performance excellence maturity-level framework to guide continuous improvement and inspire growth.

Why is measuring organizational success important? Now is the time in your career journey to amplify your impact and measure your leadership success like never before! Team members need to know where the organization stands to break higher barriers and continually make adjustments to improve themselves and the organization.

Savvy EdTech Leadership focuses on what truly matters: your organization's success. Success is about the collective achievement of the entire organization under your leadership. It is measured by how well you guide and empower the whole organization, ensuring every part thrives together.

To get started, consider these two questions.

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Persist with Consistency #2

12/20/2024

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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.

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Empowering Others: A Leader’s Legacy

12/17/2024

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“Leadership isn’t about being in charge; it’s about making others feel they are. True leaders empower others to see beyond their perceived limitations and step into greatness.” - – Sheryl Abshire

Leadership is a legacy, not a title. It’s about creating a ripple effect of positive change that empowers others to grow, thrive, and lead. As Bill Gates aptly stated, "Leaders will be those who empower others." This truth lies at the heart of authentic leadership: enabling others to see their own potential and equipping them with the tools to surpass it.

Empowerment doesn’t diminish your strength; it multiplies it. By fostering collaboration, embracing optimism, and investing in the personal and professional growth of those around you, you ignite a flame that burns brighter with every life it touches.

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Embrace Innovation

12/3/2024

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"Innovation is more than imagining possibilities; it’s the courage to bring them to life, one step at a time."

In the world of educational technology, innovation is built on action. While a creative idea might start the process, true innovation lies in bringing that idea to life. It’s about identifying solutions that engage and inspire and stepping forward to implement them. Edtech leaders who innovate see connections others may miss and transform challenges into opportunities that impact students, teachers, and administrators alike.

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Building Personal Accountability in Ourselves and Others We Lead

11/26/2024

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How often have we worked for someone or been part of a team where we cared so much that we would go to the earth's ends to ensure we did what we said we would do? Or, come hell or high water (my mother says), we will do whatever it takes to deliver results on a specific goal or deadline.

Here's the savvy part: As a Savvy EdTech leader, how do we influence others to feel the same way about us? How do we lead those we are responsible for, so they follow us on their own accord? That's savvy! We either get things done and deliver, or we don't.

How do we create personal accountability in others, so they follow us, not because of our title or because they have to, but because of who we are? Have you ever said or heard something like this when talking about your team or those you lead?

My senior engineer for network infrastructure needs to pull his weight. His lack of action is affecting our school district’s network and Internet availability. Teachers, students, and parents are complaining.
I don't trust my administrative secretary to do her work correctly. She makes too many mistakes, which is causing me undue stress. And she doesn't seem to care.
My student information management team needs to take ownership of their work. When I ask them for a status about our new product implementation, they don't feel a sense of urgency. I feel like they aren't even listening to me.

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Modeling the Standard for Success

11/25/2024

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“True leaders don’t just achieve success; they set the standard for it, creating pathways for others to follow and thrive.”
– Sheryl Abshire

Horace Mann once described how those who lead by example pave highways for others to follow. This timeless insight captures the essence of "modeling” - a powerful form of learning where we grow by observing and adopting behaviors, skills, and mindsets from others. As EdTech leaders and educators, this concept isn’t just theoretical; it’s foundational.

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Persist with consistency

11/23/2024

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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.

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Casting Your Leadership Vision: Influential Leaders See More, Way Before

11/14/2024

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Suppose you land a new dream job leading a district's EdTech team. You worked many years to prepare yourself. You couldn't sleep the night before because your heart is pounding with anticipation. You have a well-crafted presentation, so you think you are ready. You arrive on your first day and stand at the head of the conference table, looking around at the faces of your new team.

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Invest in the Community

11/10/2024

"True leadership isn't about reaching the summit alone; it's about ensuring everyone can journey there together. The most enduring successes are forged through collaboration, understanding, and commitment to community."
- Dr. Sheryl Abshire

Building on the wisdom of the African proverb, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” …. effective community leadership is not a solo venture. The success of a community, particularly in education and technology, is a product of shared aspirations, diverse strengths, and a collective commitment to improvement. As ed tech leaders, we’re tasked with more than implementing innovative tools—we’re here to foster a culture of learning, empowerment, and sustainable success that benefits all members.

To be a leader in the ed tech community, start by crafting a vision that resonates not only with your ambitions but with the core needs and hopes of the people you serve. Vision without action is a dream; action without vision is directionless. When you create a clear and compelling vision aligned with your community's aspirations, you transform dreams into a shared journey.

Learn from Everyone in the Room, Even When You Disagree

11/10/2024

"Learn from everyone in the room; the best solutions come to light when we listen to new perspectives and let different ideas challenge our own."
- Donna Williamson

Imagine walking into a room filled with varied viewpoints and fresh ideas. This type of environment is where the best solutions are determined—where growth and insight flourish as ideas meet and challenge each other. Instead of viewing disagreements as obstacles, see them as windows of opportunity to hear new perspectives and refine your own. I get rejuvenated when I have the opportunity to learn from people who think independently and aren’t afraid to question my ideas respectfully!

My best ideas usually come from engaging with people who bring their unique perspectives, even when they challenge me. These situations have generally led to a good idea or plan becoming a great one! Building a team of independent thinkers was intentional on my part, and it taught me to approach every interaction with genuine curiosity and an open mind. I now see each conversation not as an opportunity to persuade but as a chance to listen, understand, and grow. Always be on the lookout for nuggets you can use to improve your thinking and find the best solutions.

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.

A Little Girl’s Dream Come True

9/22/2024

For as long as I can remember, my heart was set on one thing: becoming a teacher. In second grade, when Mrs. Thelma James asked me what I wanted to be, I proudly told her that I was going to be a second-grade teacher. It was more than just a fleeting childhood aspiration—it was my calling. Years later, as I stepped into the classroom for my student teaching, it was as a second-grade teacher. And when I signed my very first teaching contract in Augusta, Georgia, it was, once again, to teach second grade. It was as if my destiny had been etched into the fabric of my soul since the age of seven.

Gut Instinct Doesn't Just Happen

Why Multiplying Leadership Matters

Strategies to Multiply Leadership

The Lasting Legacy of a Multiplying Leader

Ride The Horse That Brung Ya

Build a cadence of essential meetings

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