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

Re: thinking education

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.

All Episodes

Re: thinking education

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

July 04, 2025 • The Critical Thinking Consortium

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
Announcer: Usha James
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.