Collaborative Response is a framework that values collaborative, action focused responses, data-informed discussions, and timely support to ensure all students can experience success while building the collective capacity of the team. Through the infusion of intentional structures and processes, Collaborative Response is simple in design but complex in execution, ensuring truly inclusive and collaborative learning environments are established and refined over time.
Over the past decade, we have seen Collaborative Response have the greatest impact in schools when school divisions or educational authorities adopt a systemic approach across all schools. Although there is no single formula for implementation, a multi-layered, contextually designed approach with integrated networking opportunities results in the most meaningful shifts in school and division-wide practices with long-standing effects (for more on networking for system impact, see Rincón-Gallardo & Fullan).
Every district and education authority designs their own model of professional learning dependent on their context, background and unique communities of schools and learners. The following approaches illustrate components of various district plans that have had significant implications for implementation and sustainability over time.
Jigsaw Learning can help to develop a customized plan for your organization, that may include any number of the following implementation and refining structures in face-to-face, online or blended learning designs.
Access Implementation Overview
Divisional Implementation Stories
| Grasslands District Collaborative Response: Multi-Layered Approach w/ Nicole Short and Sean Beaton 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 Services) has also revamped her department to ensure equity for all students and support for all schools. |
| The Vital Role of Sr. Leadership in Leading Collaborative Response with Thérèse deChamplain-Good 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 work. |
| Collaboratively Responding Across a System with CBE Chief Superintendent Joanne Pitman 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. |
| Leading with Intentionality, Vulnerability and Patience - Implementing CR with Peter Barron 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! |
| The Value of System-Wide Implementation with Scott Brandt and Brita Goldie 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 schools, the impact the work is having on students and staff, what it looks like in a K-12 within the division and how the structures and processes have been utilized at the divisional level. |
 | Collaborative Response: A Journey, Not an Event Jeff Thompson, Deputy Superintendent of Peace River School Division, shares his experience in modeling Collaborative Response at the district level, his understanding of Collaborative Response as a framework on which to hang all other practices and priorities on, and his belief that Collaborative Response is a journey, not an event (and one that needs time to be played out in context). |
| System Mindset for Collaboration: Attending to Division Priorities with Holy Spirit School Division Division Directors from Holy Spirit Catholic Schools share their journey of not only supporting schools in implementing Collaborative Response, but leveraging parallel structures and processes to provide systemic support to schools and students while addressing Board priorities. With a clear understanding of the need for patience in trusting the process, this team reflects on how they model, elbow-to-elbow with their schools, while aligning their work with the mindset of Collaborative Response. |
| Culture of Collaboration: Supporting Growth Across a School Division Kristien Holtby, Director of Educational Services with Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools, discusses how, at the division level, leaders can intentionally leverage the strengths and talents while focusing on achieving the collective priorities. Kristien highlights the need for productive struggle, the ability to close feedback loops by having a guiding coalition, the credibility and integrity that is fortified by working as a team of schools, and most importantly, how the work is framed to support the success of students because every child deserves a team. |
Meet Chris Zottl, principal of Sunrise School in Grasslands Public Schools, an alternative setting for junior and senior high students. Chris and his team have established an exemplary culture of response and collaboration, which requires rethinking what it means when we define success for all learners.
In this snippet Chris responds to the question “What have you seen as a result of implementing Collaborative Response?”.
Divisional Implementation Articles
| Magazine article sharing the journey of Lakeland Catholic Schools as they implemented Collaborative Response over a multi-year implementation plan to align with divisional priorities. Guilbault, P., & Hewson, K. (Spring 2023). Identifying the "Big Rocks. The CASS Connection, 16-17. |
| Magazine article sharing the journey of Holy Spirit Catholic Schools implementing Collaborative Response across all schools in the division, as well as adopting Collaborative Response as a divisional approach for coordinating the supports for schools in relation to key district priorities. Larsen, C., Lothian, C., Skretting, A., & Hewson, K. (Fall 2022). Knowing, Being, and Doing. The CASS Connection, 20-21. |
Divisional Proposal Samples
The following samples show how various districts have established plans with Jigsaw Learning to introduce or sustain their Collaborative Response efforts within their system.
| Large Urban School District - Proposal Sample #1
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| Large Urban School District - Proposal Sample #2
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| Rural School District - Proposal Sample #3
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| Rural School District - Proposal Sample #4
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| Rural / Remote School District - Proposal Sample #5
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| Rural School District - Proposal Sample #6
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| Rural School District - Proposal Sample #7
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| Rural School District - Proposal Sample #8
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As a result of Collaborative Response we have seen...
Current Partnership Announcements
| Calgary Board of Education - Jigsaw Learning has expanded its partnership with the Calgary Board of Education to deepen the implementation of Collaborative Response, focusing on onboarding resources, sustained support, resource development, and formative feedback to enhance collaborative practices across the school system. |
 | Edmonton Catholic Schools - Jigsaw Learning partners with Edmonton Catholic Schools for the 2024-2025 school year, providing comprehensive support to enhance inclusive education through system-wide Collaborative Response implementation, benefiting both students and staff. |
 | Elk Island Public Schools - Elk Island Public Schools continues its multi-year commitment to expanding the Collaborative Response framework, enhancing leadership and staff understanding to ensure inclusive and structured support for every student. |
 | Grasslands Public Schools - Grasslands School Division enters Year 4 of its multi-year support plan to strengthen Collaborative Response practices, focusing on enhancing leadership, formative feedback, and district-wide implementation. |
 | Holy Family Catholic Regional Division - Jigsaw Learning partners with Holy Family Catholic Regional Division to enhance and refine Collaborative Response practices through a comprehensive support plan, focusing on leadership development, personalized consultation, and continuous improvement across all schools. |
 | Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education - Jigsaw Learning continues its partnership with Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education in Year Two, deepening Collaborative Response practices to strengthen school leadership, district-wide planning, and system-level student support. |
| Northern Gateway Public Schools - Jigsaw Learning continues its collaboration with Northern Gateway Public Schools, enhancing Quality Learning Environment and Collaborative Response practices to strengthen school support, inclusive education, and system-wide improvements. |
| Northland School Division - Jigsaw Learning partners with Northland School Division to implement Collaborative Response system-wide, providing leadership training, consultation, and resources to enhance student support and school collaboration. |
| Peace River School Division - Jigsaw Learning continues its partnership with Peace River School Division to enhance and deepen Collaborative Response practices, providing multi-layered support, leadership development, and resources to strengthen educational outcomes across the division. |
 | Peace Wapiti Public School Division - Peace Wapiti Public School Division expands Collaborative Response implementation, providing targeted support, leadership training, and resources to strengthen system-wide collaboration and student success. |
 | Seine River School Division - Jigsaw Learning continues to provide comprehensive, multi-layered support for the ongoing implementation of Collaborative Response across all schools in Seine River School Division, offering leadership sessions, consultations, and strategic planning to enhance practices and drive system-wide improvements. |
| South East Cornerstone Public School Division - Jigsaw Learning continues its partnership with South East Cornerstone Public School Division, providing comprehensive support for the ongoing system-wide implementation of Collaborative Response to enhance school leadership and student success. |
 | St. Paul Education - St. Paul Education continues its partnership with Jigsaw Learning in year two of the Collaborative Response support plan, enhancing implementation and ongoing improvements across all schools. |
 | Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools - Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools advances Collaborative Response implementation in Year 4 with comprehensive support from Jigsaw Learning, aimed at deepening practices and providing district-wide benefits for all schools. |
| Wild Rose School Division - Jigsaw Learning partners with Wild Rose School Division to enhance school and division-wide support systems through Collaborative Response, focusing on leadership development, systemic planning, and ongoing professional learning for educators and students. |
