Jigsaw Learning to Continue Collaboration with the Calgary Board of Education

Jigsaw Learning is excited to share it will once again be engaging with the leaders of the Calgary Board of Education for the 2023-2024 school year. This partnership marks the third year of ongoing divisional partnership, aimed at enhancing and deepening Collaborative Response across all schools in the division to ensure success for students, staff and the greater educational community.

As part of the engagement, our Jigsaw Learning team will be providing the following supports:

  • A diverse plan of School Leadership sessions for First, Second and Third Year schools, including on-site and online learning opportunities
  • Access to overview session recordings for all staff
  • Two half day sessions for high schools, focused on understanding layers of team and facilitating collaborative team meetings
  • Overview sessions for Education Directors and Inclusive Education staff
  • Opportunities for Area Directors to employ a School Collaborative Response Formative Feedback and a Collaborative Team Meeting Feedback to use to deepen implementation for schools, as well as support Ed Directors assuming this work moving forward

Kurtis Hewson, Lead Learner and Co-Founder of Jigsaw Learning, expressed enthusiasm about the remarkable progress of Collaborative Response initiatives within CBE.

“The focus placed on system adoption through a multi-layered and phased approach has really allowed all leaders in the division to develop their understanding of Collaborative Response and how it connects to the great work already happening in the Calgary Board of Education. I have really appreciated working alongside leaders trying to build system-wide capacity for long-term sustainability!”

David Dyck, Calgary Board of Education Director, Area 7/Well-Being stated

"We continue to look at our leadership roles and responsibilities through the lens of Collaborative Response, both as we support the instructional leadership of our principals in schools and in our central portfolio work across the district. By integrating structures and processes in our daily work, continuing to examine the data reflective of this work, and developing a continuum of supports in each of our three school development plan (SDP) goals (Literacy, Mathematics and Well-Being), each of our schools continues to be supported in their progress to achieving their SDP goals. Our approach to offer these leadership tools to our principals provides them with practical supports to improve student learning as they consider their context, priorities and next best steps in their school."

For the past three years, our team has worked with the Calgary Board of Education to implement and refine Collaborative Response across the system. This support has engaged divisional staff at all levels, including several divisional days dedicated specifically to understanding and sustaining Collaborative Response for all staff in the organization.

To learn more about how Jigsaw Learning could help your organization introduce, implement and deepen Collaborative Response efforts to have a substantial impact on student success and staff collective efficacy, access the Collaborative Response Across a System - Implementation Overview document. If you have any questions, please contact us at questions(at)jigsawlearning.ca.

The Calgary Board of Education is the largest school district in Western Canada, educating more than 138,000 students in over 250 schools. To manage the needs of this large school system and efficiently support their schools, the CBE has divided their school district into seven administrative areas in Calgary. Each area is led by two education directors who provide leadership support to principals in 17-20 schools.


Author: Nadine Wood