Building a Culture of Collaboration

Plan to join Jeff and Kurtis for FREE at the EDUpreneur Launch Summit - December 6, 2025 - https://www.edupreneurcommunity.com/edupreneursummit-jigsaw

In this episode of Building a Culture of Collaboration, we sit down with Jeff Gargas, COO and Co-Founder of the Teach Better Team and co-author of Teach Better. Jeff shares his insights on how school leaders can strengthen collaboration, build trust, and create a culture where teamwork happens naturally—not just because it’s required.
You’ll learn how to:
Engage in real conversations with your team to strengthen relationships.
- Foster trust and open communication in your school or district.
- Make collaboration the expectation, not the exception.
- Apply strategies from Jeff’s experience leading high-performing teams in education.

Whether you’re a principal, instructional coach, or school leader, this episode is packed with practical ideas to help you create stronger, more collaborative school cultures.

#SchoolLeadership #EducationLeadership #TeachBetter #ProfessionalLearning #SchoolCulture

Learn more about Jeff Gargas at www.teachbetter.com
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Connect with Jeff Gargas
Email: jeff@teachbetter.com
X: @jeffgargas
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgargas/
Facebook: @teachbetterteam

Connect with Kurtis Hewson 
Email: kurtis.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca 
X: @hewsonk27
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hewsonk27 
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kurtishewson 

Connect with Lorna Hewson 
Email: lorna.hewson@jigsawlearning.ca 
X: @LornaHewson 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorna-hewson-713a59104
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Toolkits
Does your school team function as a group or team? In this workshop guide, you will clearly define the impact of working as a team and the conditions necessary to establish effective teams. 
https://bit.ly/JLgroupteam

Don’t let ineffective norms hold your team back. Download the Unpacking Team Norms guide today
https://bit.ly/jlnorms

Learn more about Collaborative Response https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tbgetTdAiA&t=0s 

Access the FREE Overview of Collaborative Response Article 
https://bit.ly/CR-overview 

Explore the book Collaborative Response by downloading the introduction for FREE 
https://bit.ly/CR-intro - if interested in ordering the book, use the code JLPodcast10 to receive 10% off!

Learn more about WeCollab and access a FREE three month trial
https://jigsawlearning.ca/wecollab.ca 

Become a JL Insider to receive access to newly added resources and video content, advance notice for sessions/workshops, discounts for learning events and resources, plus so much more! 
https://bit.ly/JLinsider 

Join the Facebook Group “The Collaborative Leader”, to engage in further conversations and resource sharing with others dedicated to ensuring effective teams and collaborative structures - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecollaborativeleader

🔔 Don't forget to subscribe and click the little bell icon to be notified when @jigsaw_learning posts a new video! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3U_RKp7yxQhckpKaQur7ow

Website https://jigsawlearning.ca
Email questions@jigsawlearning.ca
X https://www.twitter.com/Jigsaw_Learning
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JigsawLearningAB/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jigsawlearningab/ 
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/jigsaw-learning-inc

Music: “Culture of Collaboration” has been composed, recorded, and produced by Trent Ferguson for Building a Culture of Collaboration.

Images: Visuals included in this video not generated under agreement with Jigsaw Learning Inc. have been carefully selected under Creative Commons for their permissions.

Creators and Guests

Host
Kurtis Hewson
Author/presenter with @jigsaw_learning, learner, teacher, father, husband, son, friend. He/him. Honoured to reside on Treaty 6 territory
Host
Lorna Hewson
Lead Learner and Co-Founder, Jigsaw Learning

What is Building a Culture of Collaboration?

Are you an educational leader or administrator searching for actionable strategies to build effective teams? In the Building a Culture of Collaboration podcast, Jigsaw Learning co-founders Kurtis and Lorna Hewson provide simple, purposeful tips to help you tackle meeting frustration, disengagement, and unproductive teamwork. This is your essential resource for advancing school improvement and collective efficacy.

You will find practical ideas for mastering effective meetings, where you learn the structures, roles, and agendas required to ensure your team meetings (PLCs, staff, student support) are focused and drive action. You'll discover how to shift your organization's mindset from isolated practice to powerful, shared responsibility for ALL students—this is key to teamwork and collaboration. Finally, you'll gain the leadership strategies needed to intentionally build a robust and sustainable culture that maximizes collective capacity and student success. We also talk with thought leaders outside of education, to grow our understanding of effective collaboration and teamwork.

Subscribe today to master the art of intentional collaboration and take your leadership to the next level!