Small Fires

“We have a responsibility to learn and grow and to be aware of our privileges…and how we might use those for people who may not have the same access and opportunities that were afforded to us.” With pleasure, I bring you an interview with Dr. Phil Echols. We share a passion for Adaptive Schools approaches for effective collaborative groups and Cognitive Coaching through the organization Thinking Collaborative. https://www.thinkingcollaborative.com/  Dr. Phil Echols has been a former teacher, school counselor, and administrator of professional learning.  He is currently a Diversity Specialist for WakeMed Health and Hospitals in North Carolina. He's also a Global Consultant for Public, Private, and International Schools.  His expertise includes effective collaboration, coaching, diversity, and inclusion for education and healthcare. He has over two decades of experience in education, public speaking, facilitation, and international training and development. In this episode, Dr. Echols talks about his career journey and the connections between his work in education and now in healthcare. He highlights the influence of a personal mission statement that guides his choices, informed by his identity. Phil articulates the necessity of having courageous conversations about diversity, race and ethnicity and shares that the more we can elevate traditionally marginalized voices and experiences in our system the better off we'll be.   Instagram: @philechols  

This episonde is long overdue since John Clarke has been such a significant influence on me and on many others. John Clarke has been my mentor, coach and friend for nearly ten years. While John presents the Adaptive Schools Seminars, he also provides Cognitive Coaching seminars as well. I have benefitted from being on the receiving end of his cognitive coaching, leading me to sign up for the Cognitive Coaching training that John will be facilitating for BC principals starting in August 2023: (https://www.bcpvpa.org/professional-learning/workshops/cognitive-coaching John Clarke is a Training Associate for Thinking Collaborative (Maximizing Capacity in Individuals and Organizations). He has provided Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools Foundation and Advanced Seminars in Canada, the United States, Australia and South Korea. He works with Corporate and Health Care Organizations, and School Districts in the areas of Leadership Development, Change Management, Communication Skills and the creation and sustainability of effective professional communities. John has delivered keynote and motivational presentations at conferences and conventions across Canada and the United States for over 30 years. https://www.thinkingcollaborative.com/ta-info-bio/john-m.-clarke  https://www.thoughtarchitects.ca/copy-of-who-we-are  I continue to work on my developing podcasting skills and am seeking some encouraging reviews. If you would be inclined, I would be so grateful.

With pleasure, I bring you another Small Fires episode, highlighting a conversation with a cherished Thinking Collaborative leader, Carolyn McKanders. Carolyn's background includes 28 years of experience in Detroit Public Schools as a teacher, counsellor and staff development specialist. Currently she presents seminars internationally on developing Adaptive Schools and organizations, and Cognitive Coaching℠. She also provides polarity management training, which supports organizations in identifying and managing competing tensions inherent in social systems. Carolyn McKanders is the former Co-Director for Thinking Collaborative. With intention, Carolyn shares with us how she sees her leadership identity and her mission with both kids and adults. She shares the empowering mindsets for teachers, from the new book she coauthored with Robert Garmston.  For further information about the book, “It's Your Turn: Teachers as Facilitators - A Handbook,” please refer to these websites: https://teachersasfacilitators.com/ https://www.miravia.education/products/  A truly powerful interview to inspire increased consciousness for school and system leadership.

Carolee Hayes has had a long career as an educational leader in both Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools. She has also been a Co-Director for Thinking Collaborative. In this interview, Carolee shares her career journey and how when she was asked by Art Costa and Robert Garmston to lead the Cognitive Coaching work in its early years with Jane Ellison, it was the greatest honour of her career.  Carolee brings her graciousness, vision, and hopefulness to this episode, as she describes what she has learned about leadership, what has influenced her thinking, the importance of a non-evaluative approach in coaching, and her hopes for the on-going work of Thinking Collaborative.   

Andrea McComb is the Principal of Learning Services for the Coquitlam School District here in British Columbia as well as an Adaptive Schools Agency Trainer with Thinking Collaborative. In this interview, Andrea shares what gives her joy in her life, what brought her to pursuing the Adaptive Schools work and what influences she is noticing in her leadership with others as she engages in the work.  In the introduction, Lucinda mentions the work of Lisa Kirk, an artist in the Comox Valley, who facilitates Pure Process Art sessions as a way to engage in the deeper meaning of our lives, through painting. Both Andrea and Lucinda have participated in these sessions and benefitted from them which is why Lisa's classes come up in this episode. If you are interested in knowing more about Lisa Kirk's art sessions, please visit https://lisakirk.ca/page/pure_process_art_classes  Thank you for listening.

Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser are beloved educational leaders here in British Columbia, the Yukon and beyond. Their work promoting the spiral of inquiry, to guide collaborative work amongst educators, continues to be relevant to improve the learning for all students. In this interview, they share their journey from earlier beginnings, with the Network of Performance Based Schools, to the present with the Network of Inquiry and Indigenous Education. They share their highlights, challenges and on-going hope for the future. Such an honour to interview these inspirational leaders! For further information on the Network, here is the link to the website: https://noiie.ca 

Paula Gosal is the Principal of Chilliwack Middle School in British Columbia. As a busy and experienced administrator, with a full life outside of school, she talks about what is important to her as she navigates her different life roles. An area of interest for Paula is how to support women leaders and provide safe contexts for them to express their thoughts, feelings and experiences. Currently Paula is enrolled in a doctoral program through Kansas University in Educational Leadership and Policy.  In the interview introduction, Lucinda refers to a "Women In Leadership Conversation" that was recently recorded to share with others on the topic of women's leadership experiences. Here is the link, if you are interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-jc1RcjHlU 

Doreen Miori-Merola is the Co-Director of Thinking Collaborative. Doreen talks about her journey in educational leadership and how the work of Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools helped her develop skills in mediating others' thinking. Doreen highlights the importance of being able to engage in cognitive conflict, and how diverse perspectives are a positive aspect of effective collaborative groups. She also articulates the importance of using the Adaptive Schools strategies and processes in online meetings. Certainly relevant to our current Covid-19 reality. 

Carol Brooks Simoneau is the Co-Director of Thinking Collaborative. In this interview, Carol shares her journey as an educational leader, which began as a reading specialist. What clearly comes through is Carol's thoughtful identity, in connection with her beliefs and values, that informs her leadership choices. 

Lucinda shares her reflections during three weeks of quarantine. The book, "The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters," provided an opportunity for reflection, alongside her experience of being stuck in her room alone. She realizes she was hiding aspects of herself away, in pursuit of a more cookie cutter leadership approach and recommits to being true to her authenticity.

Lucinda interviews Bruce Wellman, co-developer of Adaptive Schools, as he shares his career journey. He also relays significant insights about group dynamics, leadership and listening skills that certainly makes this interview compelling for all educators.

Lucinda shares a short interview with her dad, Syrt Wolters, from 25 years ago. A representative from the Shoah Foundation interviewed him to hear about how he, alongside his first wife, Gien, hid a Jewish family of four for over two years in their home during the Second World War. Lucinda makes connections to current educational work in British Columbia to develop empathy and understanding of Indigenous cultures.

Bob Garmston, is co-developer of Adaptive Schools with Bruce Wellman. In this interview, he shares some of his highlights and challenges of his career journey. His life is certainly a story of resiliency and positive contribution. 

In this episode, Lucinda shares her reactions after attending the Adaptive Schools Foundation Seminar and the realization that in order to develop her skills, she would need to consistently be intentional in order to improve.

Lucinda met Art at the Thinking Collaborative Symposium and interviews him about his career journey. Art is the co-developer of Habits of Mind and Cognitive Coaching.

In this first episode, Lucinda Wolters introduces herself and shares her passion for Adaptive Schools. She explains how she was introduced to this work and why she believes this is so important to support educational transformation. Thanks for listening!