March 30, 2026

Surviving to Thriving: Building Long-Term Collaborative Cultures with Andrew Marotta - Ep 76

Surviving to Thriving: Building Long-Term Collaborative Cultures with Andrew Marotta - Ep 76
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Looking to learn more and get started with a powerful meeting structure that will transform your school’s MTSS efforts? Access the Collaborative Team Meeting Starter Kit at https://bit.ly/ctmstarter


Access the FREE Guide for Leaders to Develop and Reinforce Team Norms - http://bit.ly/teamnormsguide


How do you move from simply surviving the chaos of leadership to building a team that truly thrives together?


In this episode of Building a Culture of Collaboration, Lorna and Kurtis sit down with Andrew Marotta, a veteran school leader with 25 years of experience and a former Division 1 men’s basketball official. Andrew shares how the high-pressure world of sports officiating mirrors the complexities of school leadership and why "presence" is the key to unlocking a culture of collaboration.


We dive into the "Long Game" of leadership, exploring what to do—and more importantly, what NOT to do—when trying to build trust within your organization. Whether you are a building principal, a district leader, or an aspiring administrator, Andrew’s "Surviving & Thriving" philosophy offers practical, heartfelt strategies to #IMPACT your school culture today.


Key Takeaways:


  • The "Referees' Secret" to maintaining team alignment under pressure.
  • Why storytelling and authentic presence are more effective than compliance-driven management.
  • The most common "culture killers" that leaders should avoid.
  • Strategies for sustaining a collaborative spirit over a 25-year career.

Learn more about Andrew Marotta at https://andrewmarotta.com/


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Connect with Andrew Marotta

Email: andrewmarottallc@gmail.com

X: @andrewmarotta21

Facebook: andrew marotta


Connect with Kurtis Hewson

Email: kurtis.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca

X: @hewsonk27

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hewsonk27

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kurtishewson


Connect with Lorna Hewson

Email: lorna.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca

X: @LornaHewson

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-hewson-713a59104


#collaboration #norms #teamspirit #leadership #systems

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Music: “Culture of Collaboration” has been composed, recorded, and produced by Trent Ferguson for Building a Culture of Collaboration.


Images: Visuals included in this video not generated under agreement with Jigsaw Learning Inc. have been carefully selected under Creative Commons for their permissions.