Share Tweet Share Email

IL-MTSS Network strengthens educational systems in districts across Illinois

March 20, 2023

The network is continuing this important work from its new home in the NIU Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development.

In 2022 the Illinois MTSS Network(IL MTSS-N) became part of the NIU Division of Outreach Engagement and Regional Development, joining the Illinois P-20 Network,  Illinois Interactive Report Cards Office, NIU STEAM and other programs dedicated to disseminating educational data and best practices essential in achieving equitable outcomes for learners across Illinois.

IL MTSS-N was originally founded in 2015 as a professional learning initiative of the Illinois State Board of Education. The network’s coaches – all experienced educators – currently provide coaching and professional development for districts across northern, central and southern Illinois, as well as presenting at conferences and leading virtual teacher professional development around the Midwest, reaching hundreds of educators each year.

The IL MTSS-N team: Matt Schultz – Kari Harris – Cindy Knight – Lori Hensold – Amy Jo Clemens – Ruth Poage-Gaines – Madi Phillips

MTSS stands for “Multi-Tiered System of Supports.” It’s a framework for providing equitable educational services because we know that if educators intervene early, students achieve more.  Using this framework supports educators to use data on student learning to diagnose when and how learners are struggling.  Additionally, an MTSS process requires educators to use evidence-based instruction with proven interventions. MTSS focuses on the whole child and supports academic, social emotional and behavioral growth.

Hensold says that MTSS helps schools work smarter, not harder, by building consistent systems that ensure that efforts are not duplicated. Central to this is the “systems coaching” model – where IL MTSS-N coaches come in to assist teams of administrators and educators at the district, building and classroom levels, to make sure everyone is working together toward shared goals.

“We don’t have a problem with effort in schools; we have a problem with focus,” says Hensold. “Systems coaching helps us avoid ‘random acts of school improvement’ by focusing school improvement efforts on systems that result in the desired outcomes aligned with the mission, vision, values and ultimate purpose of the district or school: student learning.”

IL MTSS-N has found its new home at NIU thanks in part to Amy Jo Clemens, Ed.D., NIU assistant vice president for Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development and director of the NIU Center for P-20 Engagement. As a former high school science teacher, principal and superintendent, Clemens has seen MTSS in action and is a passionate advocate for using it to build a system that will improve learning outcomes and equity. She jumped at the chance to integrate IL MTSS-N into the division’s lifelong learning initiatives.

“MTSS is the most powerful way for schools to take all their resources and align them to support students equitably, efficiently and effectively. It’s proactive and preventative so we aren’t waiting until students fall way behind – we are regularly looking at data to anticipate students’ needs and support them to success,” says Clemens.

According to Hensold, the network’s systems focus developed in response to the needs of districts and in alignment with growing research showing best practices for sustainability.

“Education leaders and decision makers often assume that teachers can attend workshops, learn new strategies, and then return to their school and implement their new learning smoothly and appropriately,” Hensold says. “However, we found that was simply untrue. Individual teachers exist within a larger culture made up of school and district initiatives, grade-level teams, etc. Coaching the entire system enables new practices at every level and creates the supportive culture that facilitates success.”

And what would success look like in Illinois’ schools? In a word: equity.

“Equity is a very high priority in post-pandemic education,” Hensold says. “The Illinois State Board of Education sees equity as the foundation and goal for school and student success.”

Clemens adds, “In MTSS, we identify a student falling behind and go through a problem-solving process to address the issue. Is it poor attendance, missing instruction due to frequent moves, additional time needed to master new skills, or that they haven’t mastered foundational skills they need to move forward? MTSS helps schools build a system that finds students just starting to fall behind so staff can intervene early with supports tailored to the students’ needs. This is key in an equity-based system.”

“IL MTSS Network has been integral in the development and continuation of a solid MTSS implementation in our district,” says John F. Thomas, Superintendent of Harvey School District 152. “We started working with IL MTSS-N in 2017 as a way to increase our capacity to provide support via interventions to our students. Since that time they have assisted us in developing a more comprehensive program that includes academic intervention, social-emotional intervention, and attendance intervention.”

To learn more about the Illinois MTSS Network, visit their website or contact them at ilmtss@niu.edu.