Re: thinking education

The Critical Thinking Consortium

As an educator, you know the value of reflecting on your current practices with an eye to adapting your strategies for more effective teaching and learning. "Re: thinking education" is an opportunity to listen to organic conversations between colleagues and partners from The Critical Thinking Consortium as they grapple with important pedagogical issues. Each episode will pull back the curtain on their critical, creative, and collaborative thinking and provide an opportunity for listeners to learn and reflect on their own practices.

  1. 12/02/2025

    Creating Thinking Systems Part 5: A conversation with senior leaders from Toronto DSB and Hastings and Prince Edward DSB

    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 Download a transcript of this podcast. Visit our website at tc2.ca for more information about professional learning with TC². Follow us on LinkedIn.

    1h 6m

  2. 10/30/2025

    Creating Thinking Systems Part 4: A conversation with Wes Hahn from Trillium Lakelands DSB

    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. Visit our website at tc2.ca for more information about professional learning with TC². Follow us on LinkedIn.

    59 min

  3. 09/03/2025

    Back-to-school 2025

    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. Download the transcript of this episode. Visit our website at tc2.ca for more information about professional learning with TC². Follow us on LinkedIn.

    12 min

  4. 08/05/2025

    Creating Thinking Systems Part 3: A conversation with senior leaders from Greater Essex County DSB

    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.  Download the transcript of this episode. 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 Visit our website at tc2.ca for more information about professional learning with TC². Follow us on LinkedIn.

    37 min

  5. 07/04/2025

    Creating Thinking Systems Part 2: A conversation with senior leaders from Bluewater DSB

    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 Visit our website at tc2.ca for more information about professional learning with TC². Follow us on LinkedIn.

    43 min

  6. 06/24/2025

    Creating Thinking Systems Part 1: A conversation with senior leaders from Limestone DSB

    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 Visit our website at tc2.ca for more information about professional learning with TC². Follow us on LinkedIn.

    46 min
  7. Back to School 2024

    09/04/2024 · BONUS

    Back to School 2024

    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. Visit our website at tc2.ca for more information about professional learning with TC². Follow us on LinkedIn.

    5 min
  8. Back-to-school 2023 - A message from Usha James, Executive Director TC2

    09/05/2023 · BONUS

    Back-to-school 2023 - A message from Usha James, Executive Director TC2

    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? Visit our website at tc2.ca for more information about professional learning with TC². Follow us on LinkedIn.

    5 min
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Trailer

About

As an educator, you know the value of reflecting on your current practices with an eye to adapting your strategies for more effective teaching and learning. "Re: thinking education" is an opportunity to listen to organic conversations between colleagues and partners from The Critical Thinking Consortium as they grapple with important pedagogical issues. Each episode will pull back the curtain on their critical, creative, and collaborative thinking and provide an opportunity for listeners to learn and reflect on their own practices.

Information

  • Creator
    The Critical Thinking Consortium
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Critical Thinking Consortium
  • Show Website
    Re: thinking education