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
Connect with Us
Metamorphix, Inc.
Website: https://www.metamorphix.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamorphix-inc./
About Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports
Whole 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.
