How to Go From “Talking About Students” to Changing School Systems (with Kurtis Hewson)

In this episode of DeFacto Leaders, host Dr. Karen interviews Kurtis Hewson, co-founder of Jigsaw Learning and co-author of 'Collaborative Response,' about transforming school systems through structured, proactive team meetings. Hewson introduces the Collaborative Team Meeting (CTM) framework—a structured, recurring meeting that shifts focus from reactive, individual student discussions to proactive, strategy-based conversations about universal challenges like literacy or student engagement. By using a clear agenda, defined roles, norms, and a focus on 'key issues' rather than individual students, schools can build collective capacity, reduce burnout, and prevent students from falling through the cracks. The framework emphasizes psychological safety, innovation, and the 'stacking' of interventions, where each layer of support builds on the last, freeing up time and energy for deeper, more sustainable change. Hewson and Dr. Karen also discuss how small structural changes—like assigning a timekeeper or interrupter—can dramatically improve meeting effectiveness and foster a culture of shared ownership and continuous improvement. The episode highlights the transformative power of simple, intentional structures in education. Rather than waiting for crises to prompt intervention, schools can use the CTM to anticipate challenges, share best practices, and scale effective strategies across classrooms. Dr. Karen emphasizes the relevance of these principles for clinicians and related service providers, encouraging them to 'stack' their direct interventions with systemic changes that amplify their impact. The conversation concludes with a strong call to action: start small, implement one change at a time, and trust that progress builds momentum. With free resources, a new book release, and real-world examples, the episode offers a practical roadmap for educators and leaders ready to move beyond talk and into action.