By Brian Lovell, MTSS Specialist, INcompassing Education
In the world of education, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is often discussed as a framework—a carefully designed system for addressing students' academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs. But at the heart of this process are the educators who make it all work. MTSS isn’t just about interventions and data; it’s about people. Let’s explore three critical ways educators are essential to successful MTSS implementation.
1. Building Relationships: The Foundation of Success
Educators are the bridge between students and the resources they need to thrive. Relationships form the foundation of MTSS because they allow teachers to:
Understand the Whole Child: By building trust and rapport, educators gain deeper insights into a student’s strengths, challenges, and personal context. This knowledge informs targeted interventions.
Encourage Student Engagement: Students are more likely to participate in and benefit from support when they feel valued and understood.
Collaborate with Families: Strong educator-student relationships often lead to better communication with families, ensuring a holistic approach to meeting student needs.
Through connection, educators transform MTSS from a system into a personalized and impactful process.
2. Analyzing Data with Empathy and Expertise
Data is central to MTSS, but educators bring the expertise and empathy needed to interpret it effectively. Here’s how:
Identifying Root Causes: Educators use their firsthand knowledge of students to distinguish between academic struggles that stem from skill deficits versus those influenced by external factors, such as trauma or social-emotional challenges.
Tailoring Interventions: Educators ensure data-driven decisions are grounded in compassion, designing interventions that reflect the unique needs of each student
Monitoring Progress Thoughtfully: While metrics are essential, teachers balance numbers with narratives, recognizing that progress isn’t always linear.
The ability to humanize data ensures that students are seen as individuals, not just numbers on a spreadsheet.
3. Collaborating Across Teams: A Shared Mission
MTSS relies on a collaborative approach, and educators are the glue that holds teams together.
Their contributions include:
Leading Conversations: Students need an advocate. They need educators who will share their perspective and champion their needs in meetings.
Fostering Inclusive Practices: By working with specialists, administrators, and families, educators ensure interventions are inclusive and culturally responsive.
Continuously Learning: Collaboration inspires professional growth. Teachers adapt their practices by learning from colleagues, staying informed about best practices, and reflecting on outcomes.
This teamwork ensures that no student—or educator—feels isolated in the process.
MTSS may be a framework, but it’s educators who breathe life into it. By building meaningful relationships, interpreting data with care, and fostering collaboration, they transform a structured system into a compassionate, student-centered process. As schools continue to implement and refine MTSS, let’s celebrate the essential human element—the educators who make it all possible.
Want to learn more about MTSS? Contact Brian Lovell at brianl@incompassingeducation.com to find out how INcompassing Education can support your district.
Resource: Center on MTSS
Books: Effective Universal Instruction: An Action-Oriented Approach to Improving Tier 1- by Kimberly Gibbons, Sarah Brown, Bradley C. Niebling
