MTSS CENTER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the MTSS Center Leadership Team
- Website and Content Coordinator
Amy Peterson, MA, has more than fifteen years of experience conducting public policy and education research, communications, and professional development. She supports schools, districts and states in defining and refining their MTSS frameworks, implementing evidence-based practices, using data…
Betheny Lyke, EdD, supports school districts as they create, implement, and enhance MTSS. She also leads the District and School Improvement Center at AIR, where she creates and coordinates the implementation of research and evidence-based systems. She has extensive experience working with…
Brittany Sterrett, PhD, provides technical assistance for the MTSS Center. She has worked with various states and localities to build their capacity for effective MTSS implementation throughout her career. For over a decade, Dr. Sterrett's professional and research interests have centered on…
Cat Merkle, BA, provides onsite assistance, supporting educators with MTSS training and needs-based assessments. She previously served as a researcher at the Maine Department of Education, where her focus on state-level practices and policies laid the foundation for a deep understanding of MTSS…
Cheryl Patterson-Menckowski, MEd, provides professional learning, coaching, and technical assistance to school districts in varying stages of MTSS implementation. She has extensive experience in school improvement processes including leadership coaching, instructional coaching, best practices…
Cory Stai, MEd, leverages over 25 years of teaching and leadership experience to provide subject matter expertise and technical assistance to state agencies and school districts focused on evidence-based instruction and policies for literacy, standards-based education, MTSS/RTI, assessment, and…
Dia Jackson, EdD, provides leadership on technical assistance, research, and professional development projects to states and school districts in the areas of MTSS, special education best practices, and equitable practices. Dr. Jackson specializes in equity issues, as she believes culturally-…
Diandra V. Best, MEd is a Consultant for the MTSS Center. Her primary role includes training and consulting with district stakeholders in MTSS with a focus on establishing evidence-based practices, data analysis protocols, and effective impact measurement. Best also provides coaching to LEAs to…
Erin Clancy, PhD, is consultant for the MTSS Center, where she provides technical assistance to state and district leaders, as well as school-based staff. Her interests include enhancing universal support and services and tiered interventions, coaching districts and service providers, and…
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the MTSS Center Leadership Team
Jason Harlacher, PhD, is the Director of the MTSS Center, where he oversees the vision and operation of the Center, as well as providing consultation and technical assistance to state and district leaders on MTSS. He is also the co-director for the …
Jenna Richard, MEd, provides consultation and technical assistance to school and district leaders on MTSS. She has extensive expertise in mathematics instruction and intervention across the tiers of supports, data-based decision making, intensive intervention, and data-based individualization (…
Jon Potter, PhD, provides consultation and technical assistance to state departments, regional support networks, and school districts on the implementation of MTSS. He has extensive experience in data-based decision making, problem-solving, intensive intervention, and early literacy instruction…
, provides technical assistance and professional learning to states and school districts with an emphasis on improving student outcomes through MTSS and evidence-based practices. Dr. Pfannenstiel has extensive expertise in math content and best practices for increasing…
Kyle Allen, MA, provides consultation and technical assistance to states, districts, and schools on the implementation of MTSS. For over 15 years, Kyle has been working with educators to implement MTSS in rural, suburban, and inner-city school districts. As a school psychologist, Kyle found his…
Maggie Trout, BA, provides technical assistance to state departments and school districts on MTSS and literacy instruction. She has expertise in evidence-based literacy instruction, differentiation, and data-based decision making. She has supported districts and schools with integrating evidence…
Patti Furlano, MSEd, provides professional learning, coaching, and technical assistance for the MTSS Center. Her over 29 years of work in education includes supporting local, regional, and state efforts. She has extensive experience in data-based decision making, effective teaming, progress…
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Member of the MTSS Center Leadership Team
- Director of the National Center
Rebecca Zumeta Edmonds, PhD, is the Director of the National Center on Intensive Intervention, which is a federally funded technical assistance center focused on supporting students with severe and persistent learning and behavioral needs. She…
Sacha Cartagena, PhD, provides professional learning and technical assistance for the MTSS Center, as she provides expertise to state departments and districts on MTSS implementation, Universal Design for Learning, and high-leverage practices. Dr. Cartagena is passionate about systems-level…
Sara Evans, MEd, provides technical assistance and coaching in MTSS and special education. She has extensive experience coaching districts on building sustainable systems that support all students within a MTSS framework, including students with diverse learning needs. She brings unparalleled…
Sarah Benz, PhD, provides technical assistance and professional learning to states and school districts on data-based individualization, inclusion, and MTSS. She has unique expertise in significant disproportionality, as she has provided professional learning on inequity to dozens of districts…
Job Titles:
- Co - Director of the National Student Attendance
Sarah Frazelle, MA is the Co-Director of the National Student Attendance and Engagement Center and a senior researcher at AIR focusing on projects related to attendance, Early Warning Systems, and college and career readiness and success. She brings over 15 years of experience in providing…
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Member of the MTSS Center Leadership Team
Sarah V. Arden, PhD, is an advisor for the MTSS Center and deputy director of the National Center on Intensive Intervention. She has over twenty years' experience supporting implementation and conducting research on MTSS in elementary and middle…
Sarah Willey, Ed.D., has extensive experience in school and district leadership as well as supporting implementation of MTSS within the continuous improvement process. Dr. Willey has implemented schoolwide programs in the teaching of pro-social skills and positive intervention programs,…
Sheila Lovato, MEd, provides professional learning, coaching, and consultation for the MTSS Center. Sheila leverages her practical experience to approach her work, acknowledging the importance of realistic and achievable solutions. With an extensive background spanning over 25 years in education…
Shirley Carlson, MA, PMP, is a trainer and technical assistance provider through the MTSS Center. She also serves as the project director for multiple projects supporting districts in varying stages of implementation of MTSS. She has extensive experience in the development of teaming…
Steven Prater, MA, provides consultation and technical assistance to state and district leaders on MTSS. He has extensive expertise in implementation of MTSS at the school level, data-based decision making, and intensive intervention. In over 20 years in education, he has worked as a classroom…
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Member of the MTSS Center Leadership Team
Swati Guin, BA, provides oversight and management for the MTSS Center, which includes managing client relationships, developing proposals, and gathering and analyzing data on the Center's effectiveness. She serves as the initial point of contact for clients and oversees all project budgets and…
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Member of the MTSS Center Leadership Team
Tessie Rose Bailey, PhD, is an advisor for the Center on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS Center) at AIR and the National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII), and she is the Director of the …
Thomas M. Flanigan, MS is a Technical Assistance Coach for MTSS Center at American Institutes for Research (AIR), where he currently works with school and district leaders to develop and effective data focused MTSS structures, systems. He has extensive experience with incorporating and…
Ursula Hill, EdD, provides technical assistance, professional learning, and consultation to state departments and school districts for the MTSS Center. Dr. Hill has decades of experience in public education as a special educator and school administrator focused on school improvement. She…
Veronica Fiedler, MA, provides professional learning and technical assistance to educators implementing MTSS. She also develops practical resources on MTSS and for supporting students with intensive needs. Previously, Veronica was the Specific Learning Disability Specialist (SLD) at the Colorado…