PMP411: Collaborative Response with Kurtis Hewson

Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

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Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker answered another listener question in a 5-minute response.

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Kurtis Hewson is an award-winning former administrator and teacher, as well as teaching faculty at the post-secondary level. He is the co-founder of Jigsaw Learning, a co-author of the text Collaborative Response: Three Foundational Components That Transform How We Respond to the Needs of Learners (Corwin, 2022), and currently works with districts and schools nationally and internationally establishing Collaborative Response frameworks and interacting with thousands of educators annually.

Joining us from Lacombe, Alberta, Canada, Kurtis shared insights from his journey in education, starting from his early days as a teacher to stepping into an administrative role just 1.5 years into his career.

Key Takeaways from Kurtis Hewson:

Leverage Team Expertise:

Kurtis emphasized the importance of utilizing the collective expertise of team members. He advises leaders to recognize their role in capacity building and to understand that “the room is the smartest person.”

Building Structures for Success:

The conversation highlighted the necessity of creating supportive structures within educational institutions. Kurtis believes in the power of collaborative capacity building, gathering data and evidence, and developing continuous support systems.

Responsive Professional Learning Communities (PLCs):

Kurtis pointed out that PLCs are not always responsive to student needs, citing examples where the focus on one area (like writing) might overlook more critical needs (like executive functioning skills). He stressed the importance of reevaluating collaborative processes to better meet student needs.

Strategic Collaboration:

He shared his learning that effective results come from restructuring processes through collaborative planning, team meetings, school support teams, and case consults. Kurtis advocates for “tiering supports, not kids” to facilitate meaningful discussions and identify best teaching practices.

Practical Strategies for Leaders:

For new leaders, Kurtis suggests adopting a mindset of setting broad directions (the banks of the river) and allowing flexibility within those bounds. He encourages embracing a ‘ready, fire, aim’ approach to action and adjustment, starting with pilot projects among willing champions to test and expand ideas.

Embrace the Journey:

In his parting words, Kurtis reminds leaders to give themselves grace, expect challenges, gather feedback, and continuously adjust to improve.

Finding More About Kurtis Hewson:

Listen to the entire episode with Kurtis Hewson for a deep dive into the philosophy and practice of collaborative response in education, and find valuable lessons for educators and leaders alike in building more responsive and supportive learning environments.

• Explore the book Collaborative Response by downloading the introduction for FREE
• Access the FREE Overview of Collaborative Response Article
• Access Jigsaw Learning

For those interested in learning more about Kurtis Hewson’s work on collaborative response in education, visit jigsawlearning.ca. Connect with via email at [e-mail].

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