Jigsaw Learning Blogs

Navigating the Implementation Dip in School Change - Ep 87

Mon, 04 May 2026 18:13:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna explore what is an implementation dip and how to attend to them when leading change in your organization.

Building Collaborative Cultures That Drive Literacy Success with Mark Onuscheck & Jeanne Spiller - Ep 86

Mon, 04 May 2026 18:06:00 +0000

Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Jeanne Spiller and Mark Onuscheck, two educational leaders, authors and consultants and co-editors of a number of PLC at Work titles. They discuss how to build a highly intentional and focused culture of collaboration, with a direct emphasis on how that culture can have a significant impact on literacy success for learners!

Slow and Steady is the Secret to Successful School Collaboration with Weledeh School - Ep 107

Mon, 04 May 2026 17:54:00 +0000

Discover how Principal Paul Kelly of Weledeh School transformed staff meetings into impactful collaboration through strategic pre-planning, protected professional time, and a sustainable rollout of the Collaborative Response framework.

Maximize Impact Through Structured Reflection Time - Ep 106

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:58:00 +0000

Discover how Kurtis and Lorna are reimagining collaborative team meetings by prioritizing processing and reflection time, while sharing innovative strategies schools use to spark deeper thinking and meaningful collaboration.

Your School’s Success Hinges on Its Lead Team - Ep 85

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:47:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna discuss why every school leader should be establishing lead teams to distribute leadership, move forward with key school priorities, and provide continuous feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement.

Turning Elements into Impact: The Alchemy of Leadership with Tyler Comeau - Encore Episode - Ep 84

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:31:00 +0000

Alberta principal Tyler Comeau and Kurtis Hewson unpack practical strategies to build and sustain a collaborative school culture aligned to the Elemental Educator framework of earth, water, wind, and fire.

Is the Purpose of Your Meetings Actually Clear? - Ep 83

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 20:07:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna discuss why making the purpose of your meetings crystal clear within your organization. Want to ensure your team meetings are having optimal impact? It needs to start with why are we meeting!

Leading Organizations That Attract and Retain Great Educators with Danny Bauer - Ep 82

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 19:56:00 +0000

Kurtis connects with leadership expert Danny Bauer to explore ruckus-making, reciprocity, and building a collaborative school culture rooted in purpose and people.

2026 Collaborative Response Retreat Presenter Playlist

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:29:00 +0000

Meet the Presenters and their stories for the 2026 Collaborative Response Retreat.

Great Leaders Don’t Wing It - They Systemize - Ep 81

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:44:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna reflect on a trip to Disneyland which prompted their thinking about the importance of systems in any organization. Effective organizations need clearly documented systems for ongoing focus and success and in this message, Lorna and Kurtis share some reasons why, as well as some considerations for school leaders of areas to implement system-thinking.

Lead from the Balcony: Gaining Perspective for Better Team Leadership with Darrin Peppard - Encore Episode - Ep 80

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:37:00 +0000

Lorna and Kurtis are joined by Darrin Peppard, President of Road to Awesome. Darrin is a leadership speaker, coach, host of the Leaning into Leadership podcast and a best selling author, including Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader. In this episode, Darrin shares his thoughts on leadership, team development and what it means to “lead from the balcony”.

Developing Instructional Playbooks Through Collaborative Team Meetings - Ep 105

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:28:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna dive into what are instructional playbooks and how they can align with a school's work in not only their collaborative team meetings but also with their continuum of supports. Transform consistency and clarity across your classrooms through this powerful work!

Leadership Moves and Solution-Focused Conversations with Percy Baxter School - Ep 104

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:08:00 +0000

Leaders at Percy Baxter Middle School bring Collaborative Response to life through intentional structures, trust-building leadership, and solution-focused team conversations that drive real results for students and staff.

Fun Ways to Reinforce Team Norms - Ep 79

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna share some ideas to consider when wanting to bring some fun to your team norms. Many of the ideas shared are about ensuring high impact collaboration, while allowing opportunities for your team to have a little fun along the way!

Courage as a Pre-Requisite: Empowerment & Collaboration in Middle Schools with Katie Powell - Ep 78

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:52:00 +0000

Katie Powell shares research-backed strategies to break down silos, empower staff, and build a courageous, collaborative school culture that drives student success.

Beyond the Poster: Making Team Norms Real - Ep 77

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:34:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna share the value of unpacking norms to determine the why, what they look like in practice (as well as what they do not look like) and how teams can determine what they agree to be the response if a norm is broken.

Surviving to Thriving: Building Long-Term Collaborative Cultures with Andrew Marotta - Ep 76

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:05:00 +0000

Discover how Andrew Marotta helps school leaders move from surviving to thriving by building trust, presence, and a lasting culture of collaboration through practical, real-world leadership strategies.

Don’t Skip the Roles: The Key to Effective Team Meetings - Ep 103

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:12:00 +0000

Boost student success and team effectiveness with proven strategies for facilitating collaborative team meetings, and learn how structured roles and the Collaborative Response framework drive impactful school leadership.

How do high-impact goals facilitate team success?

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 19:24:00 +0000

Learn how to set and refine data-driven collaborative team goals that align with school priorities, maximize planning time, and drive measurable student achievement without micromanagement.

Building a Culture of Response Across Diverse Communities w/ Northland School Division - Ep 102

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:05:00 +0000

Learn how Northland School Division leaders implemented Collaborative Response to drive system-wide improvement, strengthen attendance, and boost staff and student success through a coordinated, sustainable framework.