Episodes

Access the Facilitating Effective CTMs course to help make your collaborative team meetings more productive, engaging, and impactful https://bit.ly/facilitatectm In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Terri Peterson, Superintendent of Learning Services with Edmonton Catholic Schools, the fourth largest metro board in the province of Alberta. Terri has been a passionate advocate for collaboration throughout her journey, and she shares how the division c...

In this episode 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 Email jennifer...

In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna discuss considerations when establishing a school wide intervention block. A significant amount of planning and decision making needs to be explored prior to getting started. Timetabling for the intervention block, data and evidence used to inform student groupings, grouping students in small intervention group and lesson planning just to name a few. Join us to hear more. Connected Resources: Establishing Student Entry Criteria blog - https://www.jigsawle...

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer and Kurtis discuss the initial process of articulating a continuum of supports and the subsequent, ongoing, iterative process of continually refining this menu as we engage as lifelong learners. 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...

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lead Learner and Co-Founder of Jigsaw Learning Kurtis Hewson addresses the contradictory statement "support the student by not focusing on them during the Collaborative Team Meeting" as well as a number of collaborative structures and processes that are implemented intentionally to create psychological safety for staff as they build their collective efficacy. Connected Resources Establishing the Agenda blog - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publ...

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 In this 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 Collaborative Response i...

Register NOW!!! JLsummit.ca In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Trevor Van Someren, who has been a dedicated educator since 2001. For the past 13 years, Trevor has served as a K–8 principal, leading learning and fostering strong, collaborative school cultures. He has deeply engaged in understanding and implementing Collaborative Response and now also works as a WeCollab Lead for Jigsaw Learning, engaging with schools and divisions in connecting the ...

Access an Overview of Collaborative Response article to learn more - https://bit.ly/CR-overview In this episode 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 and purpose. ----...

We are excited to announce that Darrin will be presenting at the 2025 Collaborative Response Virtual Summit. For more information visit: https://www.JLsummit.ca 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 fostering school culture and how the school integrates research-driven strategies with Collaborative Response to drive me...

We are excited to announce the Leadership Team from HW Pickup Middle School will be presenting at the 2025 Collaborative Response Virtual Summit. For more information visit: https://www.JLsummit.ca 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 which they have fostered collaborat...

We are excited to announce Bev will be presenting at the 2025 Collaborative Response Virtual Summit. For more information visit: https://www.JLsummit.ca In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Bev Cotton, Director of Learning Supports in Northern Gateway Public Schools. They discuss how Bev has championed Collaborative Response by supporting Inclusive Education Facilitators in every school and we dig into her insights, successes, and advice for creating...

We are excited to announce that Leadership Team at JS McCormick will be presenting at the 2025 Collaborative Response Virtual Summit. For more information visit: https://www.JLsummit.ca 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 ...

The Facilitating Effective Collaborative Team Meetings course gives you the tools, strategies, and structures to transform your team meetings from routine discussions into powerful problem-solving sessions. Access the course: bit.ly/facilitatectm In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Katie Graham, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services with Grasslands Public Schools. Her deep roots and leadership journey make her the perfect person to share ins...

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer and Kurtis explore four mistakes leaders make when first setting up collaborative team meetings in schools, as well as ideas to consider to avoid and/or overcome these mistakes. Reach out to connect with Kurtis Hewson Email kurtis.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca Twitter @hewsonk27 LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kurtishewson --------- Related Resources Looking to learn more about collaborative team meetings? Access a number of samples a...

In this weeks episode, Kurtis and Lorna share the impact of using data-informed pre-meeting organizers. We discuss the simple adjustments needed to include the data and the impact it has on bringing forward the right students for the Collaborative Team Meeting. Connected Resources: Five Mistakes Leaders Make When Organizing Data for Teams FREE webinar - https://bit.ly/5mistakesdata Establishing a School-Wide Data and Evidence Plan Workshop - https://bit.ly/dataevidenceplan Purposeful Layerin...

In this episode Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer and Lorna explore the contradiction of reducing the number of meetings by adding one more through an in depth discussion of the various layers of team meetings that align with the continuum of supports as part of Collaborative Response. Related Resources Blogs Adding One More Meeting https://corwin-connect.com/2022/04/reduce-the-number-of-student-meetingsby-adding-one-more/ Shifting to Key Issues https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publications...

Register NOW!!! JLsummit.ca In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Trevor Van Someren, who has been a dedicated educator since 2001. For the past 13 years, Trevor has served as a K–8 principal, leading learning and fostering strong, collaborative school cultures. He has deeply engaged in understanding and implementing Collaborative Response and now also works as a WeCollab Lead for Jigsaw Learning, engaging with schools and divisions in connecting the ...

In this Episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lead Learner and Co-Founder of Jigsaw Learning Kurtis Hewson addresses the contradictory statement "support the student by not focusing on them during the Collaborative Team Meeting" as well as a number of collaborative structures and processes that are implemented intentionally to create psychological safety for staff as they build their collective efficacy. Resources referenced in this episode: Establishing the Agenda blog - https://www.jigsa...

In this weeks episode, Kurtis and Lorna discuss various ways to ensure your are well prepared for your Collaborative Team Meetings. The small investment of time up front can lead to greater engagement and impact for students. Connected Resources: Observing a CTM resources - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/observing-collaborative-team-meeting CTM Facilitation Guide - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1v5Auo1Y0cnqvsKDYlTtVPrlCjptBsuUx5Y90KHa0ikA/edit?usp=sharing Psychology Behind CTM podcast - h...

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna Hewson, Lead Learner and Co-Founder of Jigsaw Learning, shares how districts can leverage a parallel Collaborative Response in responding to the needs of schools in the same way that schools respond to the needs of students. She speaks to the notion of being able to provide assurance that growth is taking place in schools through the way that support is provided from the district level. _______________ #collaboration #norms #teamspirit #le...

Register for the FREE Collaborative Response Virtual Summit https://bit.ly/25CRsummit 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 S...

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lead Learner and Co-Founder of Jigsaw Learning Kurtis Hewson, shares best practices and challenges when supporting Collaborative Response implementation across schools in a system. _______________ #collaboration #norms #teamspirit #leadership #systems 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 ...

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, we share a recording from the March 25, 2025 Thrive Summit, where Kurtis Hewson shares a concise overview of the foundational components of Collaborative Response and how something known as the collaborative team meeting can ...

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Jigsaw Learning's Lead Learner and Co-Founder Kurtis Hewson speaks to considerations and implications for leaders as they take on the responsibility of introducing and refining structures and processes with staff. _______________ #collaboration #norms #teamspirit #leadership #systems 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....