Small Fires Lucinda Wolters

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