Leading Collaborative Response

In this SUNDAY REWIND of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer and Lorna discuss the adjustments that need to be made when developing a continuum of supports focused on behaviour or attendance needs of students.  A continuum of supports can become a powerful resource for school teams, but it is important to look below the surface regarding what is being communicated through behavior and attenda...

Watch episode HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXJgEh9U-rU The Emotional Truth of School Leadership: Why 'Caring' is Not Enough To every principal, teacher, and district leader who has ever felt overwhelmed: This video is for you. We take you inside two very different schools: Castaway Elementary, where dedicated teacher Mrs. Hart is battling student struggle alone, and Robinson Elementary, w...

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. Get your ticket today. Join US! 👉 https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/events/retreat In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis sits down with Kris Herbert and Deanna Sloan, members of the administrative team at R...

Access the FREE webinar “5 Mistakes Leaders Make When Organizing Data” - https://bit.ly/5mistakesdata  Locus of Control Activity: https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publications/blog-posts/so-what-can-we-control-articulating-our-locus-control In this SUNDAY REWIND of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis are joined by the Superintendent of Grasslands School Division, Scott Brandt, and the pr...

In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna share why pre-meeting organizers are critical for the collaborative team meeting to be focused and some strategies for ensuring they are completed in advance of the CTM. Connected Resources: Facilitating Effective Collaborative Team Meetings online course - https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/publications/courses/facilitating-effective-collaborative-team-meetings ...

Access the FREE webinar "10 Considerations To Transform Your Team Meetings" https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mDZC7jGCIgL4TA99MZbJDxReYGEU0pmq?usp=drive_link In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Kurtis has the opportunity to engage with Vice Principal Colin Desynoyers, currently part of the leadership team at St. Mary’s Junior High School in Medicine Hat, Alberta, discussing hi...

In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna preview the Collaborative Response Retreat, happening May 1-2, 2026 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 26, with a bonus gift for anyone who regist...

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Lorna and Kurtis have an opportunity to engage with Kari Huk, principal of Woodbridge Farms Elementary with Elk Island Public Schools.  Kari shares her Collaborative Response journey, what the work looks like specifically at her current school and some outstanding lessons learned along the way. --------- Connect with Kari Huk Email kari.huk@eips.c...

In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna discuss the key issue process, integral to the collaborative team meeting discussion, and share some ideas to help support the team in crafting effective key issues in relation to students, to be examined and responded to in the meeting. Connected Resources: CTM Agenda/Notes template - https://docs.google.com/document/d/18JRKvKdmpU4T08q2ignB_fANUgM92pNM3fJ67...

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer, Lorna and Kurtis engage in a conversation with Nancy Roy Halun, principal of Ecole Notre Dame, a francophone school of 445 Kindergarten to Grade 6 students.  Nancy shares some of the key lessons she has learned through implementing Collaborative Response in her school, including the value of being purposeful in planning and how intention...

Join US!! At the Annual Collaborative Response Retreat https://www.jigsawlearning.ca/events/retreat How can system leaders use Collaborative Response to better support schools, staff, and students? In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response , Kurtis and Lorna Hewson are joined by Kari Huk and Corey Kropp, Assistant Directors of Supports for Students with Elk Island Public Schools. Together,...

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer, Lorna and Kurtis have the opportunity to meet with Erin Norrish, Early Learning Coordinator with Grasslands School Division in southern Alberta, to discuss how her and her team have implemented Collaborative Response with their Early Learning team.  See below for resources mentioned in this episode and additional resources. --------- Con...

In this 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...

In this weeks podcast, Kurtis and Lorna discuss the message we send our team when we label the collaborative team meeting as a "collaborative response meeting".  Learn why, over time, we need to understand as an organization that Collaborative Response is bigger than just a single meeting. Join us to hear more. Connected Resources: Scaffolding our Collaborative Response blog posting - https://www....

In this episode of Leading Collaborative Response, Jennifer and Lorna explore ways to intentionally and meaningfully engage with the Continuum of Supports to enhance our educational practice and support our collaborative culture to best serve our students. --------- Connect with Lorna Hewson  Email lorna.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca  Twitter @LornaHewson LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-hews...

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 b...

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 @hewso...

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...

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 wit...

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 collecti...

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...

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 w...

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...

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 cul...

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...