Episodes

Access the Collaborative Response Introductory Chapter for FREE - https://bit.ly/CR-intro In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis connect with Sean Beaton and Nicole Short, district leaders for Grasslands Public Schools. Sean (Associate Superintendent) shares how they are using the collaborative team meeting process to support schools, enhance their instructional leadership and create collaborative teams with leaders across schools. Nicole (Director of Student Servic...

In episode 52 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 Response: Purposeful Layering of Team Meetings - https://ww...

Access the FREE guide Top Ten Considerations For Introducing Collaborative Response - https://bit.ly/top10-cr 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 lau...

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/edit?usp=sharing Podcast - So We've Established Our Continuum of Supports...Now What? Ep 18 -...

Access the Introducing Collaborative Response guide for leaders for FREE - https://bit.ly/top10-cr 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 middle school level and what they consider to be the thing that has had the greatest...

In this weekly reflection, 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 School Support Teams - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OAhkR30BJTGNplzK_QRULueFNRimN0GCZ0cmq...

Access the FREE Leader’s Guide to Designing Spaces to Enhance Collaboration - https://bit.ly/spacechecklist 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 wellness. --------- Connect with...

In episode 46 of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis and Lorna preview the Collaborative Response Retreat, happening May 2-3, 2025 in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. They not only share the unique format for the Retreat to engage in learning, networking and team planning, but also share how to sign up for notification when an early and exclusive registration window opens on January 27, with a bonus gift for anyone who registers during this early registration window! Connected Resources: Collaborat...

Access the FREE Overview of Collaborative Response article - https://bit.ly/CR-overview 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 plays in leading the w...

In episode 44 of the Leading Collaborative Response PODCAST, Kurtis and Lorna share the collaborative team meeting a unique and critical structure in Collaborative Response that provides an avenue for supporting students and growing staff capacity.Below are LINKS to mentioned resources. Collaborative team meeting facilitation planning template https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aOoiaHsV14NzxKqCqMlZ4z3eKEkjfIj9bAOCOrOeuAw/edit?usp=sharing CTM YouTube playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?l...

Check out the FREE leadership guide to developing and refining team norms - http://bit.ly/teamnormsguide In episode 43 of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Chris Zottl, principal of Sunrise School in Grasslands Public Schools, an alternative school for junior and senior high students. Chris and his team have established an exemplary culture of response and collaboration, which requires rethinking what it may mean when we define success for all learners. --------- ...

In Episode 42 of the Leading Collaborative Response PODCAST, Kurtis and Lorna discuss the importance of a proactively designed school support team that functions as the hub of decision making for supporting students and staff. Connected Resources: Blog - Layering Teams: Processes that Guide the School Support Team - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publications/blog-posts/layering-teams-processes-guide-school-support-team Template - School Support Team Agenda Template - https://docs.google.com/do...

Check out the FREE leadership guide Five Planning Considerations to Transform Your Team Meetings - https://bit.ly/5planningteams In episode 41 of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis is joined by Zoe Serediuk and Ankush Garg, the administrative team at Ron Southern School with the Calgary Board of Education, to explore one element of Collaborative Response, the collaborative team meeting, and how Ron Southern has introduced this specific structure specifically into their school with a high de...

Access an Overview of Collaborative Response article to learn more - https://bit.ly/CR-overview 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. Joane shares insights related to leading Collaborative Response in a complex and dynamic system, ensuring high degrees of clarity, intentionality and purpose. -------...

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 school-wide literacy su...

In this replay, episode 22 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 opportunity that presents itself when new eyes can be shown the value of collaboration and be invited to contribute. --------- Connect with Kurtis Hewson Email kurtis.hewson@ji...

Access the FREE Team Meeting Space Checklist https://bit.ly/spacechecklist Workshop: Supporting CR Workshop Planning for Fall Start Up: Re-Engaging Collaborative Response https://bit.ly/fallstartcr In this replay, episode 33 of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer has an opportunity to engage in a conversation with Kurtis regarding what facilitators can do to ensure highly impactful team meetings. As leaders, we are constantly refining and growing our practice when it comes to leading team...

In this replay, episode 25 of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer and Kurtis ask the question. “Are you aligning your school goals to make the biggest impact?” --------- Connect with Kurtis Hewson Email kurtis.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca Twitter @hewsonk27 LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kurtishewson Connect with Jennifer Ferguson Email jennifer.ferguson@jigsawlearning.ca Twitter @_MrsFerguson_ Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-dickson-ferguson/ --------- Related Resources ...

In this replay, episode 23 of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer and Kurtis explore five mistakes leaders make when planning team meetings (and how to overcome them!). Kurtis continues to talk about his favourite words: clarity and predictability. Considerations in this conversation may be leveraged in order to level up already high-functioning teams! --------- Connect with Kurtis Hewson Email kurtis.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca Twitter @hewsonk27 LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kurtishe...

In this replay, episode 17 of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer and Kurtis discuss big rocks as they pertain to the Continuum of Supports: narrowing the focus of universal instructional practices to a handful of high impact strategies that can be agreed upon as non-negotiable across all classrooms in a school or district. Connect with Kurtis Hewson Email kurtis.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca Twitter @hewsonk27 LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kurtishewson Connect with Jennifer Ferguson Ema...

Check out the FREE guide - Top Ten Considerations when Introducing Collaborative Response - https://bit.ly/top10-cr In episode 38 of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis is joined by Chris Good, principal of Lindsay Thurber High School in Red Deer, Alberta, discuss why collaboration is so critical for student and staff success and how Chris went from not thinking Collaborative Response could be implemented effectively at a high school to seeing it have success in their large high sc...

Interested in learning more about our 2024-2025 Collaborative Response Leadership Academy? Sign up to get more information at https://bit.ly/24CRacademy In 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 pati...

Interested in learning more about our 2024-2025 Collaborative Response Leadership Academy? Sign up to get more information at https://bit.ly/24CRacademy In episode 36 of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis discuss why focusing primarily on your high needs students can actually have a negative impact on building a culture of Collaborative Response within your school. They discuss why layers of team are critical in schools, the collaborative team meeting should not focus on students ...

Check out the FREE guide for leaders - Top 10 Considerations When Introducing Collaborative Response - https://bit.ly/top10-cr In episode 35 of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis tackle a question often posed by leaders - how to follow-up on actions from collaborative team meetings? They review the process that generates actions in the CTM and then offer considerations to ensure follow-up on actions from those meetings that are critical to Collaborative Response. --------- Conne...