Leading Collaborative Response
Leading organizations with intentionality and purpose is complex work, and dedicated leaders work tirelessly each and every day to build impactful cultures of collaboration!
But effective collaboration is difficult and messy.
The good news is you don’t have to do it alone!
Join the Jigsaw Learni...
Recent Episodes
122
Oct. 27, 2026
Connecting the Dots: Data, Planning, and Team Meetings - Ep122
📊 Get Your Data Organized and work for YOU!! FREE Webinar→ bit.ly/5mistakesdata In this week podcast, Kurtis and Lorna break down how data and evidence can be used to inform your collaborative planning and collaborative team meeting efforts to truly take your school's MTSS efforts to the next level, through aligning data with your intentional collaborative structures and processes. Connected Resources: FREE webinar - Layering Team Meetings - https://bit.ly/layeringteams FREE webinar - 5 Mistak
47
Oct. 24, 2026
SUNDAY REWIND - Connecting Tiers of Support to Layers of Team
See What's Possible 🚀 Build Momentum - bit.ly/layeringteams In episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis and Lorna share the integral understanding of the connection between the tiers of support on the continuum and the layers of teams providing those supports. Connected Resources: Blog post - Reduce the Number of Student Meetings by Adding One More - https://corwin-connect.com/2022/04/reduce-the-number-of-student-meetingsby-adding-one-more/ Blog post - Scaffolding Our Collaborative
5
Oct. 21, 2026
SUMMIT Bonus #5 - Growing as a Team to Impact Collective Efficacy w/ Griffiths-Scott School
🎓 Join Educators From Across the Field → jigsawlearning.ca/summit - FREE to Register In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis is joined by Trevor VanSomeren and Michelle Micklich, the administrative team at Griffiths-Scott School. Trevor and Michelle share how their school has fostered an inclusive and collaborative learning environment through their Collaborative Response efforts. Explore four mistakes we see leaders make when planning for their first collaborative team meeti
4
Oct. 20, 2026
SUMMIT Bonus #4 - The Value of System-Wide Implementation with Scott Brandt and Brita Goldie
🎓 Join Educators From Across the Field → jigsawlearning.ca/summit - FREE to Register Access the FREE webinar “5 Mistakes Leaders Make When Organizing Data” - https://bit.ly/5mistakesdata In episode 30 of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by the Superintendent of Grasslands School Division, Scott Brandt, and the principal of Bassano School, Brita Goldie. In the conversation, we explore how the division has implemented a Collaborative Response journey across all of its s
121
Oct. 20, 2026
Collaboration grows through a Ecosystem of Support - Ep 121
🎓 Join Educators From Across the Field → jigsawlearning.ca/summit - FREE to Register In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna reflect on why Collaborative Response is an ecosystem, not a series of isolated initiatives. In this video, we explore how successful schools are creating a complex network of interconnected systems to ensure every student and staff member is supported. Discover the foundational components of Collaborative Response and see how they are deeply linked to one another. We'll
3
Oct. 19, 2026
SUMMIT Bonus #3 - Leadership Moves and Solution-Focused Conversations with Percy Baxter School
🎓 Join Educators From Across the Field → jigsawlearning.ca/summit - FREE to Register Are you a school leader looking for a framework that drives real results? Learn from fellow leaders who are creating a highly coordinated approach to student and staff success. Join US! 👉 https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/events/retreat How do the structures of Collaborative Response—the meetings, tiers, and data—actually "breathe" in a middle school? In this episode, Kurtis and Lorna Hewson are joined by Jennifer
2
Oct. 18, 2026
SUMMIT Bonus #2 - Intentional Introduction of Collaborative Response to Access Staff Voice with Saint John High School
🎓 Join Educators From Across the Field → jigsawlearning.ca/summit - FREE to Register Did you know EVERY school needs four layers of teams to not only respond to the needs of students but build instructional capacity with intentionality and focus? Learn more in a FREE webinar at https://bit.ly/layeringteams In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by principal Christina Barrington and head of Education Support Services Jillian Wilton from Saint John High Sc
1
Oct. 17, 2026
SUMMIT Bonus #1 - Culture of Collaboration: Supporting Growth Across a School Division with Kristien Holtby
🎓 Join Educators From Across the Field → jigsawlearning.ca/summit - FREE to Register In this episode of Putting the Pieces Together, Jennifer, Lorna, and Kurtis engage in a conversation with Kristien Holtby, Director of Educational Services with Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools. The conversation starts and ends with hockey (GO OILERS!); however the focus is on how, at the division level, leaders can intentionally leverage the strengths and talents while focusing on achieving the collective p
46
Oct. 17, 2026
SUNDAY REWIND - No Such Thing as a Bad Kid: Impacting Behaviour Through Collaborative Response w/ Laura Elliott
🎓 Join Educators From Across the Field → jigsawlearning.ca/summit - FREE to Register In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis Hewson engage in a conversation with Behaviour Consultant Laura Elliott, who shares why there is no such thing as a bad kid and how the intentional development of a behaviour continuum of supports can have a tremendous impact on staff mindsets regarding student behaviour. --------- Connect with Laura Elliott Email laura.elliott@horizon.ab.ca
120
Oct. 13, 2026
From Data to Action: Planning School-Wide Interventions - Ep120
Turn Ideas Into Action 💡Get the Crafting Team Goals Toolkit - bit.ly/jlgoals In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna discuss the power of school-wide interventions and some lessons learned when implementing a school-wide intervention block. Connected Resources: - Literacy Intervention Lesson Template - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XiJa1KSaGn19piQX_-0EDPooLw6RyVPLaJkcOuMAM4o/edit?usp=sharing - Interventions, Strategies and Accommodations blog - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publications/
45
Oct. 10, 2026
SUNDAY REWIND - Master the Continuum of Supports: Strategies for Success!
🎓 Join Educators From Across the Field → jigsawlearning.ca/summit Kurtis and Lorna discuss in this episode of Leading Collaborative Response the utilization of a continuum of supports. Without clear strategies for using the continuum, it becomes 'a document that was created that one PD day'. Connected Resources: Resource - Strategies for Refining and Utilizing your Continuums of Support - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YVwdhSC-yo0tesiu_eywpzX2RSEVwy87wSL4dx_dEus/view Podcast - So We've
119
Oct. 6, 2026
How Collaborative Response Drives School Improvement - Ep 119
Create Alignment, School-Wide Data and Evidence Plan 🛠️ Find Out How - bit.ly/dataevidenceplan In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna share how Collaborative Response is more than just a way to organize meetings - it is a multi-tiered system that can really help move your school improvement efforts forward with intentionality and purpose! They share what that looks like as well as some key considerations for leaders when making that connection explicit for their team. Connected Resources: Con
44
Oct. 3, 2026
SUNDAY REWIND - Establishing Collaborative Response for Middle School Success at Sir Wilfrid Laurier School
WeCollab: 📈 Take Your Practice to the Next Level → Start Your FREE Trial https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/wecollab 🎓 Join Educators From Across the Field → jigsawlearning.ca/summit In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis and Lorna are joined by Andrea Petroni and Tanya Dann, the administrative team at Sir Wilfrid Laurier School with the Calgary Board of Education. They unpack how they have structured their Collaborative Response efforts with a high degree of fidelity at the midd
118
Sept. 29, 2026
Why Every Learner Needs a Profile - History of WeCollab - Ep118
Access a FREE trial of WeCollab TODAY! https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/wecollab In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna discuss the WeCollab software, how it came to be and how it can be a powerful support system for a school and division's Collaborative Response efforts. Connected Resources: - WeCollab homepage - https://jigsawlearning.ca/wecollab - Overview of WeCollab booklet - https://jigsawlearningonline.com/overview-wecollab - Free Webinar - Conducting a Collaborative Team Meeting in WeC
43
Sept. 28, 2026
SUNDAY REWIND - Examining the Impact of Collaborative Response on Instructional Leadership w/ Principal Alyson Archibald
See How It Works 🛠️ Try This Strategy - bit.ly/CR-overview Discover What's Missing: 🔎 Grab your Introductory chapter - bit.ly/CR-intro In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis connects with Alyson Archibald, principal of Dr. Hamman Elementary School in Horizon School Division. Alyson and Kurtis discuss how Collaborative Response has evolved for Alyson over the years and how Collaborative Response impacts elements such as instructional leadership, collective efficacy and wellne
117
Sept. 22, 2026
Your First Collaborative Team Meeting Sets the Tone! - Ep 117
In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna break down the collaborative team meeting (CTM) and discuss how it can radically change MTSS or RTI efforts in any school to ensure a purposeful and aligned Collaborative Response. In addition to clarifying its purpose and structure, they share some suggestions to consider when getting started Connected Resources: Simplify Your Next Steps 🧰 Grab the CTM Starter Kit - bit.ly/ctmstarter Observing a CTM webpage - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/observing-coll
42
Sept. 19, 2026
SUNDAY REWIND - Maximize Your Success: How to Schedule Your School Support Team Like a Pro!
Unlock the Strategies 💡 Build Momentum - bit.ly/5sstmeetings Join the movement 📩 bit.ly/JLinsider In this episode, Kurtis and Lorna discuss the importance of scheduling a regular school support team weekly or bi-weekly and the impact that this routine meeting has on the culture of the school. Connected Resources: Blog - School Support Team: The Hub of Decision-Making - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publications/blog-posts/school-support-team-hub-decision-making Resource - Reflecting on Scho
116
Sept. 15, 2026
What Happens When You Mix Up Your Collaborative Teams? - Ep 116
See What's Possible 🚀 Build Momentum - bit.ly/layeringteams In this weekly reflection, Kurtis and Lorna share why creating diversity in the collaborative team meeting can help add another layer of collaboration in your school, in addition to teacher teams that already exist. Connected Resources: Facilitating Effective Collaborative Team Meetings online course - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publications/courses/facilitating-effective-collaborative-team-meetings Blog Series - Examining Collabo
41
Sept. 12, 2026
SUNDAY REWIND - Welcoming New Admin to a School with a Culture of Collaboration
Simplify Your Next Steps 🧰 Grab the CTM Starter Kit - bit.ly/ctmstarter Discover What's Missing: 🔎 Grab your Introductory chapter - bit.ly/CR-intro Join the movement 📩 bit.ly/JLinsider In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer, Lorna, and Kurtis discuss how, internally, teachers and staff can plan to welcome a new administrator into their collaborative culture. Of particular note is the idea of shifting the mindset away from the fear of losing Collaborative Response to the o
Sept. 10, 2026
Why Every Child Deserves a Team: Building Impactful Collective Efficacy in Our Schools!
Wondering how to move beyond champions to teams? Find out more at https://bit.ly/CR-overview Inspired by Rita Pierson’s TED Talk "Every Child Deserves a Champion"? Discover why being a champion isn't enough and how a "Team" approach prevents teacher burnout and drives student success. More than a decade ago, Dr. Rita Pierson delivered one of the most powerful messages in education: “Every child deserves a champion.” While her 2013 TED Talk has inspired millions, it also highlights a challengin
115
Sept. 8, 2026
How Schools Build Dedicated Time and Voice into Collaborative Response w/ St. Theresa - Ep 115
Get Started Today - Unpacking Norms 👥 bit.ly/jlnorms Simplify Your Next Steps 🧰 Grab the CTM Starter Kit - bit.ly/ctmstarter In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis and Lorna Hewson sits down with Shelley Stevenson and Taryn Wellsman, the administration team from St. Theresa School in Northland School Division. Together, they explore how a dedicated leadership team can intentionally build collaboration structures directly into the school schedule, ensure every staff member ha
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