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 Moments

04:49 Understanding educational assessment data types

09:47 Understanding and Using Data Stories

13:55 Discussing data evaluation in education

16:36 Challenges in Student Tracking

27:00 Identifying at-risk students

30:26 Diagnosing student literacy levels

32:41 Addressing learning gaps in math

39:55 Intensifying interventions effectively

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If 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 Guests

Tanya Morret Training and Consultation Supervisor, Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 District Website: https://www.iu12.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-morret-b2411536

Matthew McLaughlin, EdD Professional Development Specialist, Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 District Website: https://www.iu12.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mclaughlin-090aa8107