For our fifth episode of Creating Thinking Systems, our OPSOA (Ontario Public Supervisory Officers’ Association) sponsored series, TC² Executive Director, Usha James, joins Toronto DSB Executive Superintendent, Nandy Palmer, and Hastings and Prince Edward DSB Superintendent, Ken Dostaler, in examining strategies and challenges in building and ensuring the capacity to not only support students with special education needs, but improve outcomes for all students.

Credits:

Host: Usha James
Guests:  Nandy Palmer (Executive Superintendent, Special Education Programs and Equitable Outcomes for Toronto District School Board) and Ken Dostaler (Superintendent, Student Services for Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board) 
Producer: Neil Bateman
Podcast administrator: Kara Zutz

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In our fourth instalment of our OPSOA (Ontario Public Supervisory Officers’ Association) sponsored series, Creating Thinking Systems, TC² Executive Director, Usha James, welcomes Director of Education, Wes Hahn, from the Trillium Lakelands District School Board.

Usha and Wes explore how TLDSB drives alignment — using inventive ways to spark authentic student feedback, and ensuring everyone from the director, to coaches and consultants, to I/T staff, spend time out in the schools, where real change happens.

Credits:

Host: Usha James
Guest: Wes Hahn, Director of Education (Trillium Lakelands District School Board)
Producer: Neil Bateman
Podcast administrator: Kara Zutz

Download a transcript of this podcast.

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How will you start the school year in a good way? 

In her back-to-school message, Usha James invites us to reflect on our shared purpose and reminds us that academic achievement and well-being are deeply connected.

She highlights our revitalized framework, dedicated to nurturing quality thinking that inspires action for a flourishing world, and focuses on one dimension that feels especially important at this time of year: growing communities of quality thinkers. 

In this message, Usha shares key elements for fostering this work and leaves us with three simple, powerful activities you can use right away to listen to learner voices, build trust, and create a positive environment that supports flourishing from the very first days of school.

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In the third episode of our OPSOA (Ontario Public Supervisory Officers’ Association) sponsored series, Creating Thinking Systems, TC² Executive Director, Usha James, welcomes Director of Education, Vicki Houston, and Superintendent of Education, Kari Bryant, from the Greater Essex County District School Board in Ontario.  

Having both recently embarked on new leadership roles, Vicki and Kari reflect on their experiences of intentionality while navigating significant system-wide change, all while improving data literacy, reconstituting the leadership team through fostering alignment and cohesion, and ultimately reuniting the district to a student achievement-driven footing.  Finally, Vicki, Kari, and Usha take a look forward to carrying on the work into to the upcoming school year. 

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Credits 
Host: Usha James
Guests: Vicki Houston (Director of Education, Greater Essex County District School Board) and Kari Bryant (Superintendent of Education - Elementary Staffing, Greater Essex County District School Board) 
Producer: Neil Bateman
Podcast administrator: Kara Zutz

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In this second episode of our series Creating Thinking Systems, sponsored by OPSOA (Ontario Public Supervisory Officers’ Association), Usha James, TC² Executive Director, welcomes two guests from the Bluewater District School Board in Ontario. Lori Wilder, Director of Education, and Wendy Louwerse, Superintendent of Education, describe their journeys in creating a district-wide thinking system and how the use of a critical inquiry question ("How can we continuously identify, plan for, and effectively respond to support the learners for whom our current practices are not working?") has led to increased alignment and a common language. They highlight the need for data literacy, instructional leadership, and a focus on student needs.

Download the transcript of this episode.

Credits
Host: Usha James
Guests: Lori Wilder (Director of Education, Bluewater District School Board) and Wendy Louwerse (Superintendent of Education, Bluewater District School Board)
Producer: Neil Bateman
Podcast administrator: Kara Zutz

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This is the first episode of Creating Thinking Systems, our OPSOA (Ontario Public Supervisory Officers’ Association) sponsored series. Usha James, TC² Executive Director, welcomes two guests from the Limestone District School Board in eastern Ontario. Krishna Burra, Director of Education, and Jess Silver, Superintendent of K-12 Curriculum and Program Services describe the district’s journey to think critically and collaboratively in a number of different ways. Three inquiry questions were developed that used data to guide system-wide planning with a focus on student achievement and professional learning.

Download the transcript of this episode.

Visit our website for more information about professional learning with TC².

Credits
Host: Usha James
Guests: Krishna Burra (Director of Education, Limestone District School Board) and Jessica Silver (Superintendent of Education, Limestone District School Board)
Producer: Neil Bateman
Podcast administrator: Kara Zutz

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As we begin the 2024-2025 school year, Usha James, Executive Director of TC², reflects on recent challenges in education, from mental health strains to the impacts of remote learning. She acknowledges that, while we are doing many good things, we may not be reaching everyone as effectively as we wish. Usha encourages educators to focus on one or two impactful practices that can make a significant difference, particularly for those learners hardest to reach. She highlights the importance of slowing down, truly getting to know our learners, and fostering meaningful, compassionate, and collaborative learning.

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What are the environments in school and outside of school that we hope to foster, and how might high-quality thinking help us advance our goals? What are the relationships between thinking, learning, and living a beautiful, fulfilling, and good life?

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In this  back to school message,  Usha James, Executive Director of The Critical Thinking Consortium, asks  the question, "How will we start the year in a good way?" 

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Season's Greetings from The Critical Thinking Consortium!

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