Jigsaw Learning Blogs

How School Leaders Can Plan an EFFECTIVE Annual Calendar - Ep 91

Tue, 19 May 2026 21:22:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna reflect upon the need to establish an annual calendar in your school, reflecting key assessment dates, team meetings, PD days and more, to ensure intentionality, alignment and predictability for your collaborative efforts.

3 Fundamental Elements of High-Performing Teams with David Burkus - Ep 90

Tue, 19 May 2026 21:07:00 +0000

Kurtis is joined by David Burkus, a former business school professor turned full-time writer and speaker. Kurtis and David talk about his book Best Team Ever and learn more about the three fundamental elements all high-performing team cultures share.

Disrupting Grade Teams for Better Collaboration with Woodlands School - Ep 109

Tue, 19 May 2026 20:57:00 +0000

Discover how Calgary Board of Education educators at Woodlands School are transforming Collaborative Team Meetings into high-impact, teacher-led spaces focused on instructional action, student support, and meaningful Tier 1 and 2 solutions.

How Locus of Control Impacts Teacher Efficacy and Student Success - Ep 89

Mon, 11 May 2026 18:14:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna discuss what is the locus of control and why keeping our primary focus on what is in our locus of control can have substantial impact on an organization's culture.

Why Principals Matter in Building High-Impact Teams with William D Parker - Ep 88

Mon, 11 May 2026 18:08:00 +0000

In this replay episode, Kurtis has the opportunity to connect with Will Parker, founder and CEO of Principal Matters, LLC. and host of the podcast Principal Matters. Will and Kurtis discuss the often dual nature we need to consider when it comes to leading and why trying to “fly solo” is a recipe for burnout, a lesson learned that almost ended Will’s educational career!

Upgrade Your Collaborative Team Meetings with these Smarter Pre-Meeting Organizers - Ep 108

Mon, 11 May 2026 17:52:00 +0000

Kurtis and Lorna discuss the purpose of pre-meeting organizers for the collaborative team meeting and how variations and enhancements to the pre-meeting organizer should be an aspiration for every school over time.

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!