May 26, 2026
Most schools are collaborating.
But very few are collaborating in a way that systematically elevates instruction for every teacher and every student.
In this episode, guest Kurtis Hewson breaks down the Collaborative Team Meeting (CTM)—a deceptively simple structure that becomes the engine of a school’s entire support system. You’ll learn how CTMs sit inside a larger four-layer collaboration model, why focusing on “yellow” students (not red) is a game-changer, and how a tight, repeatable meeting structure builds collective efficacy, distributive coaching, and real instructional growth.
If you’ve ever felt like your school is “playing whack-a-mole” with student needs or drowning in meetings about individual students, this episode offers a practical, proven alternative.
What You’ll Learn
- The four layers of collaboration every school needs
- Why adding one meeting can actually reduce meetings overall
- The critical mindset shift: tier the supports, not the kids
- Why CTMs focus on yellow students (and how that prevents future red)
- The pre-work, norms, roles, and timing that make CTMs effective
- How celebrations turn into organic strategy sharing
- The Key Issue protocol that keeps conversations about practice, not personalities
- How CTMs create distributive coaching across a staff
- The biggest mistake schools make when trying to collaborate
Timestamps
- 00:00 Why CTMs are different from typical collaboration
- 02:30 The four layers of collaboration explained
- 06:45 Kurtis’s “every child deserves a team” vision
- 09:00 Three mindset shifts schools must make
- 14:00 What happens before a CTM starts (pre-work & norms)
- 18:00 Why celebrations matter more than you think
- 20:30 The Key Issue protocol explained
- 24:30 How teachers commit to trying new strategies
- 26:30 Distributive coaching and capacity building
- 29:30 The biggest challenge: sticking to the structure
- 33:30 The free CTM Starter Kit and new book announcement
Get Your Episode Freebie & More Resources On My Website: https://www.lindsaybethlyons.com/blog/259
Connect with guest Kurtis Hewson
- Website: jigsawlearning.ca