Skilled leadership in education has never been more relevant. We certainly cannot lead our schools in the ways of the past. Too much has changed. Too much is at stake. We need to collectively engage, with our hearts and our minds – through intentional conversations – to successfully sustain the journey. Join Lucinda Wolters, a passionate school leader and an Adaptive Schools Agency Trainer, as she shares her perspectives, on what's necessary for school leadership today, and interviews other leaders, as they navigate innovation and change in schools.
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https://smallfires.ca
EP22 Indigenous Education Consultant, Carolyn Roberts
In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Carolyn Roberts, an award-winning author, Indigenous academic, and educator whose work invites us to think more deeply about what it means to decolonize education.
Carolyn is St̓át̓imc and Stó:lō from the Thevarge family of N'Quatqua and the Kelly family from Ch'iyáqtel, and is also a member of the Squamish Nation. She is the author of Re-Storying Education and Tess's Red Dress: Honouring Love & Family and currently teaches in UBC's Teacher Education and NITEP programs. She also is writing another book which she talks about near the end of the episode.
Our conversation explores what decolonizing education can look like in practice, whose stories and worldviews are represented, how we develop a more critical lens, and how the ways we teach can create greater belonging, agency, relationship, and participation in learning.
Carolyn also talks about the importance of moving beyond talking about this work to actually doing it, even when we are worried about getting it wrong. We explore listening, relationship, Indigenous brilliance, and her hopes for future generations of Indigenous students.
Near the end of our conversation, Carolyn brings us back to a powerful question about education and leadership: how do we learn to be human and see the humanity in one another?
I am deeply grateful to Carolyn for sharing her knowledge, stories, and perspective in this episode of Small Fires.
Carolyn Roberts- Indigenous Education Consultant - www.carolynroberts.net
19 Aug 2026
EP21 Thinking Collaborative Leader, Jane Ellison
In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Jane Ellison, a long-time leader with Thinking Collaborative whose work has had a significant influence on Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools.
Jane has spent decades supporting educational leaders at all levels in developing their capacity to think, learn, collaborate, and lead. In this episode, she shares reflections from her extensive experience with Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools, including some of the early development of this work and the people and ideas that have influenced her along the way.
Our conversation explores listening, identity, the importance of developing groups, and what it means to create the conditions for others to think and grow. Jane also reflects on how her own thinking and leadership have evolved over time.
I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from Jane and to share some of her wisdom and reflections through this episode of Small Fires.
Mentioned in this episode: Priya Parker: My First Substack Live
For more information about Adaptive Schools and Cognitive Coaching Seminars:
Thinking Collaborative (https://www.thinkingcollaborative.com/)
Note Lucinda Wolters can be reached through LinkedIn: Lucinda Wolters, Ed.D.
22 Feb 2026
EP20 Educational Leader, Coach and Author, Kevin Reimer
In episode 20 of Small Fires, Lucinda has the honour of interviewing Kevin Reimer, a mentor, former colleague, and friend. They explore the evolution of Kevin's leadership identity over a lifetime in education. Kevin, a former principal as well as a former President and Executive Director of the BC Principals' and Vice-Principals' Association, reflects on how mentorship, lived experience, and curiosity shaped his journey. They discuss the power of relationships, the importance of navigating complexity with ongoing openness, and why seasoned leadership shifts from having all the answers to asking better questions.
Kevin's new book is also discussed in this interview, which is called "A Year of Leading: A 40-Week Leadership Compass for Principals and Vice-Principals." It is certainly a practical and reflective guide designed to support school leaders at every stage of their careers. Blending research, metaphor, and real-world experience, the book offers thoughtful encouragement and steady guidance for those leading schools today. It is a very supportive and relevant book for today's principal as well as anyone aspiring to become one.
Check out his website here: https://howtoprincipal.com/
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