Episodes

#collaboration #norms #teamspirit #leadership Access the FREE Transform Your Team Meetings guide, including a meeting agenda template to copy and begin using today - https://bit.ly/5planningteams In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis engage in a conversation with members of the senior leadership team at Elk Island Public Schools to discuss how their division has prioritized collaboration by embedding time for it into the school calendar for 2025–2026, and what it ...

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis Hewson, Lead Learner and Co-Founder of Jigsaw Learning, shares insight into aligning Collaborative Response with school improvement plans and how putting faces on the data can have a significant impact on success for those plans. #collaboration #norms #teamspirit #leadership _______________ Interested in learning MORE about a framework that can transform your PLC and MTSS efforts? Access the FREE Overview of Collaborative Response Articl...

#collaboration #norms #teamspirit #leadership In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna review the value of co-creating a continuum of supports with your staff team and how to, over time, refine tier 1 practices to reflect research-based practices to impact all students across all classrooms. Looking for an affordable and effective data system that can suggest, organize, and track supports for all students across the entire organization? Look No Further!! Designed By Educators For Educators weco...

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis Hewson, Lead Learner and Co-Founder of Jigsaw Learning, offers considerations and advice for leaders looking to establish Collaborative Response in their school. #collaboration #norms #teamspirit #leadership _______________ Interested in learning MORE about a framework that can transform your PLC and MTSS efforts? Access the FREE Overview of Collaborative Response Article https://bit.ly/CR-overview Explore the book Collaborative Respons...

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, Kurtis is joined by Dr. Melissa Sperry, principal of Wetaskiwin Outreach School. They discuss Melissa’s insights into building collaborative practices that support all learners in an outreach setting. Wetaskiwin Outreach Tea...

Access an Overview of Collaborative Response article to learn more - https://bit.ly/CR-overview Summer Replay #1 - In episode 40 of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis Hewson are joined by Joanne Pitman, Chief Superintendent of Schools with the Calgary Board of Education, serving more than 138,000 students across more than 250 schools. Joanne shares insights related to leading Collaborative Response in a complex and dynamic system, ensuring high degrees of clarity, intentionality a...

Access the FREE Overview of Collaborative Response article - https://bit.ly/CR-overview Summer Replay #2 - In episode 45 of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Thérèse deChamplain-Good, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Excellence with Elk Island Catholic School Division. Thérèse, Lorna and Kurtis explore how Collaborative Response has been sustained throughout Elk Island Catholic School Division over a number of years and the critical role Senior Leadership pla...

Summer Replay #3 - This episode is part of the 2024 “National Literacy Month with RIF” campaign, a partnership between the BE Podcast Network and Reading Is Fundamental. In episode 39 of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Nancy MacLellan, a retired teacher and current educational consultant who has formed her company - Nancy Mac Consulting. We dive into the importance of responsive literacy interventions and share a number of tips and reminders when establishing scho...

Summer Replay #4 - We are excited to announce the Leadership Team from Wild Rose School Division will be presenting at the 2025 Collaborative Response Retreat. For more information visit: https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/events/retreat In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Keri Card-Esau and Kim Wedman. Keri and Kim unpack the incredible work they are doing within Wild Rose School Division and specifically at HW Pickup Middle School, sharing the ways in ...

Summer Replay #5 Download the FREE guide “Five Planning Considerations to Transform Your Team Meetings” - https://bit.ly/5planningteams In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Chris Adamson, principal of Innisfail High School, part of Chinook’s Edge School Division in central Alberta. Chris shares how the school’s Collaborative Response work has grown by intentional “dosing” for staff and his learning that has evolved through implementation in two schoo...

Summer Replay #6 - This podcast features one of the educators scheduled to present at the 2025 Collaborative Response Retreat, happening May 1-3 in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. Find out more about this amazing professional learning event at http://jigsawlearning.ca/events/retreat In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis is joined by John Braga, a member of the Collaborative Response Leadership Team at FG Miller Jr/Sr High School. John shares the work being done in relation to Coll...

This podcast features one of the educators scheduled to present at the 2025 Collaborative Response Retreat, happening May 1-3 in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. Find out more about this amazing professional learning event at http://jigsawlearning.ca/events/retreat Summer Replay #7 - In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Darrin DeForge, principal of Joan Carr Catholic Elementary/Junior High in Edmonton, Alberta. This episode explores his perspectives on fost...

Access a workshop guide to ensure you are truly engaging as a team - https://bit.ly/JLgroupteam Register for the Collaborative Response Retreat - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/events/retreat Register for the Facilitating Effective Collaborative Team Meetings course - bit.ly/facilitatectm Summer Replay #8 - In episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by by Jaret Hofer, principal of Brooks Junior High School, exploring how they have seen the evolution of Collaborat...

Summer Replay #9 is episode 55, Kurtis and Lorna share several ideas and strategies from schools when trying to use the continuum of supports as evidence of expertise in the building. Connected Resources: Podcast - So We've Established our Continuum of Supports...Now What? - https://youtu.be/JUlrpWaCOVo Podcast - Good News! Your Continuum of Supports is Never Done - https://youtu.be/eAI04nFcDrE Slides for Development of a Continuum of Supports - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1baY39_8p...

Summer Replay #10 is episode 37 of Leading Collaborative Response. Kurtis is joined by Peter Barron, superintendent of St. Paul Education Regional school division. Peter has led the introduction of Collaborative Response now in three school divisions in Alberta and shares insights connected to leading with intentionality, vulnerability and the importance of patience! --------- Connect with Kurtis Hewson Email kurtis.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca Twitter @hewsonk27 LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.co...

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 5 considerations for every school trying to take their school support teams to the next level because the School Support Team is critical and how that team is organized. The workshop that will help you coordinate and optimize support beyond the classroom bit.ly/5sstmeetings In this episode of Leadi...

In this week's podcast,, Kurtis and Lorna discuss why educational assistants are a critical voice to consider being included in collaborative team meetings and share some strategies that schools are employing to have their support staff involved. Connected Resources: Educational Assistant Involvement in the Collaborative Team Meeting blog - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publications/blog-posts/role-educational-assistants-collaborative-team-meeting Observing a Collaborative Team Meeting resourc...

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 10 Considerations When Refining and Utilizing Your Continuums of Support In this on-demand workshop, Lorna will reveal 5 strategies for refining your continuums of supports and 5 strategies for utilizing your continuums of supports bit.ly/10refinecontinuum Why collaborative planning an essential l...

In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna engage in a discussion about why all voices need to be accessed in the collaborative team meeting and provide some practical strategies for how to bring forth all voices to increase engagement and develop high levels of psychological safety for teams. Connected Resources: Building a Culture of Collaboration podcast - How to Bring in EVERY VOICE in Your Team Meetings - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publications/blog-posts/how-bring-every-voice-your-team-m...

STOP TIERING YOUR STUDENTS!! Transform your organization by tiering your supports, not your students. Learn how in a FREE webinar at https://bit.ly/stoptieringstudents Planning for Fall Start Up! Create a foundation for your school’s Collaborative Response by reflecting on the past year and planning for the year to come. Learn how in this workshop. Part of our Supporting Collaborative Response workshop series ! https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publications/workshops In this episode of Leading ...

In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna discuss the key shift needed when looking to co-create continuums of support related specifically to behaviour and attendance, to ensure we are getting to "root causes" when articulating and tiering our responses. Connected Resources: Four Tier Support Overview - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZeiaY_XB8zmoPpi1L90C2qXY5XuToPDX00WCMW-h2r8/edit?usp=sharing Overview of Continuum of Supports video - https://youtu.be/9_3gK7-3TZc?si=rhcJV9io0p2k9kZr Seei...

Access the FREE Guide for Leaders to Develop and Reinforce Team Norms - http://bit.ly/teamnormsguide In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis sit down with Melissa Rogers and Karen Weidner, two members of the leadership team at James S McCormick School. They explore how the school is embedding Tier 1 and Tier 2 supports into daily practices, deepening their team’s understanding of executive functioning, and building a true village mindset to support every student’s su...

In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna encourage leaders to stop tiering adults in their continuum of supports...and rather reflect upon what are the supports those adults are providing. Connected Resources: Four Tier Support Overview - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZeiaY_XB8zmoPpi1L90C2qXY5XuToPDX00WCMW-h2r8/edit?usp=sharing Overview of Continuum of Supports video - https://youtu.be/9_3gK7-3TZc?si=rhcJV9io0p2k9kZr Strategies for Refining and Utilizing Your Continuum of Supports - htt...

Effective facilitation is essential when driving powerful instructional change through the collaborative team meeting! Facilitating Effective CTMs - https://bit.ly/facilitatectm In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna further explore the key issue process and provide some advice when endeavouring to establish more effective and succinct key issues for students to drive the collaborative team meeting. Connected Resources: Blog - Shifting to Key Issues - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publicatio...