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
|
| Large Urban School District - Proposal Sample #2
|
| Rural School District - Proposal Sample #3
|
| Rural School District - Proposal Sample #4
|
| Rural / Remote School District - Proposal Sample #5
|
| Rural School District - Proposal Sample #6
|
| Rural School District - Proposal Sample #7
|
| Rural School District - Proposal Sample #8
|
Scott Brandt on Collaborative Response Across a System...
Current Partnership Announcements
| Edmonton Catholic Schools - Edmonton Catholic Schools Partners with Jigsaw Learning to Deepen Collaborative Practices |
| Elk Island Public Schools - Elk Island Public Schools Continues Partnership with Jigsaw Learning to Deepen Collaborative Response |
| Grasslands Public Schools - Grasslands School Division Expands Commitment to Collaborative Response with Jigsaw Learning |
| Holy Family Catholic Regional Division - Holy Family Catholic Regional Division Strengthens Collaborative Response Across All Schools |
| Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education - Medicine Hat Catholic Schools Deepen Collaborative Response to Support All Learners |
| Northern Gateway Public Schools |
| Northland School Division - Northland School Division Expands Collaborative Response to Strengthen Student Success Across All Schools |
| Peace River School Division - Peace River School Division Continues to Deepen and Sustain Their Collaborative Response Practices |
| South East Cornerstone Public School Division - South East Cornerstone Public School Division Strengthens Commitment to Collaborative Response with Jigsaw Learning Partnership |
| St. Paul Education - St. Paul Education Strengthens Collaborative Response to Support Students and Staff |
| Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools - Jigsaw Learning Continues Partnership with Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools to Deepen Collaborative Response |
| Wild Rose School Division - Jigsaw Learning Partners with Wild Rose School Division to Strengthen Collaborative Response Practices |
| Yellowknife Catholic Schools - Jigsaw Learning Partners with Yellowknife Catholic Schools to Launch Collaborative Response |
