Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports

In this follow-up episode of Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports, host Naren Balasubramaniam welcomes back Tanya Morret, Training and Consultation Supervisor, and Dr. Matthew McLaughlin, Professional Development Specialist at Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12, for a deep dive into one of the most misunderstood aspects of MTSS: data-based decision making.Building on their previous conversation about sustainable MTSS systems, Tanya and Matt unpack how schools can better understand and use data to drive meaningful supports for students. The discussion explores why many districts are overwhelmed by “data rich, information poor” environments, how benchmark, diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments serve different purposes, and why schools must stop treating all data the same way.Listeners will also hear practical guidance on identifying leading indicators, distinguishing system-level problems from student-level problems, and using progress monitoring to determine whether interventions should be intensified, maintained, or exited. Tanya and Matt also explain how MTSS teams can use demographic, process, perceptual, and student performance data together to uncover the true story behind student outcomes.Key Moments04:49 Understanding educational assessment data types09:47 Understanding and Using Data Stories13:55 Discussing data evaluation in education16:36 Challenges in Student Tracking27:00 Identifying at-risk students30:26 Diagnosing student literacy levels32:41 Addressing learning gaps in math39:55 Intensifying interventions effectivelyWhy You’ll Love This EpisodeIf you’ve ever struggled with too much data, unclear intervention decisions, or disconnected MTSS processes, this episode provides the clarity educators need. Tanya and Matt simplify complex concepts around assessment, intervention, and progress monitoring while offering practical examples schools can apply immediately. This conversation is especially valuable for district leaders, MTSS coordinators, interventionists, and school teams working to build stronger data systems that truly support the whole child.Connect with Our GuestsTanya MorretTraining and Consultation Supervisor, Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 District Website: https://www.iu12.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-morret-b2411536 Matthew McLaughlin, EdDProfessional Development Specialist, Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 District Website: https://www.iu12.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mclaughlin-090aa8107 Connect with UsMetamorphix, Inc.Website: https://www.metamorphix.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamorphix-inc./About Whole Child: Personalized Tiered SupportsWhole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports is the podcast where district leaders, school teams, and practitioners share how they are personalizing MTSS to support every learner. Hosted by Naren Balasubramaniam of Metamorphix, Inc., each episode dives into real systems, stories, and strategies for delivering the right academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports at the right time—so all students can thrive.

On Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports, host Naren Balasubramaniam sits down with Tanya Morret, Training and Consultation Supervisor, and Dr. Matthew McLaughlin, Professional Development Specialist at Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12, for a systems-level conversation on what schools often misunderstand about MTSS and whole-child support.Together, Tanya and Matt bring a unique perspective from supporting more than 25 districts across suburban and rural communities. They unpack why MTSS should not be treated as a quick initiative, a pre-referral process, or one more item on a school’s plate. Instead, they frame MTSS as the plate itself—the operating system for how schools guarantee strong Tier 1 instruction, use data responsibly, collaborate across roles, and deliver the right supports to students.Listeners will hear why strong MTSS starts with a guaranteed and viable curriculum, a healthy data culture, and protected collaboration time for educators. Tanya and Matt also explore how silos between general education and special education can derail progress, why schools must avoid rushing to Tier 2 or Tier 3, and how leaders can start by clarifying what is already happening before adding more initiatives.Key Moments05:57 Discussing system complexity in education07:44 Understanding student needs12:52 Taking time to build MTSS15:57 The problem with educational silos20:20 Challenges in MTSS implementation23:29 Redefining special education roles25:14 School improvement and MTSS challenges30:05 Identifying and addressing tier one issues32:20 Explaining educational tiered intervention37:26 Defining stakeholder roles in plansWhy You’ll Love This EpisodeThis episode is a clear, practical reset on what MTSS is really meant to be. Tanya and Matt challenge schools to slow down, build the right foundation, and stop treating MTSS as a checklist or isolated intervention process. If you’re working on Tier 1 fidelity, data-driven decision-making, general education and special education alignment, or district-wide systems change, this conversation gives you the language and priorities to move forward with clarity.Connect with Our GuestsTanya MorretTraining and Consultation Supervisor, Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 District Website: https://www.iu12.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-morret-b2411536 Matthew McLaughlin, EdDProfessional Development Specialist, Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 District Website: https://www.iu12.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mclaughlin-090aa8107 Metamorphix, Inc.Website: https://www.metamorphix.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamorphix-inc./About Whole Child: Personalized Tiered SupportsWhole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports is the podcast where district leaders, school teams, and practitioners share how they are personalizing MTSS to support every learner. Hosted by Naren Balasubramaniam of Metamorphix, Inc., each episode dives into real systems, stories, and strategies for delivering the right academic, behavioral, and social-emotional supports at the right time—so all students can thrive.