The National Catholic Educational Association annual conference is an inspiring and uplifting event that draws thousands of teachers and administrators from dioceses in the United States and abroad.
Recently, I had the privilege of presenting a session alongside colleagues at this year’s conference in Pittsburgh. Despite the rain outside, the energy of the conference was a reflection of the vibrancy of Catholic schools across the nation.
My colleagues and I offered a presentation titled, “Empowering Every Catholic School: The Roadmap to Success through MTSS.”
According to the American Institutes for Research, Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) “is a proactive and preventative framework that integrates data and instruction to maximize student achievement and support students’ social, emotional, and behavior needs from a strengths-based perspective.”
Every school uses some form of student performance and growth data to make decisions about instruction. For South Jersey Catholic Schools, we use STAR Assessments taken by our students.
Using academic data, as well as behavioral data (tracking patterns of behavior), schools determine what interventions and supports a student requires to be successful. From there, a student’s response to those interventions is monitored by educators to help close any gaps in student achievement.
I worked with my co-presenters in the Diocese of Allentown, Pa. – Dr. Emily Kleintop, deputy superintendent, and Mrs. Susan Parker, principal of Good Shepherd Catholic School in Northampton – on implementing the MTSS framework to provide a pathway for Catholic schools to use appropriate academic and behavioral interventions to meet the needs of all our students.
Dr. Kleintop is an expert in special education and a source of inspiration to me as we continue to work together to support our respective schools in this area. Mrs. Parker is an early adopter of the MTSS framework in her school.
As part of our presentation, we were able to share the success of Good Shepherd Catholic School with Catholic school educators, principals, and superintendents throughout the country. Mrs. Parker has successfully mentored her faculty into holding regular monthly meetings to discuss the progress of all students. We call these meetings Child Success Team meetings, as they are meant to be problem-solving sessions as well as celebratory while discussing the progress of all students.
The outcome of these meetings result in implementing new academic/behavioral interventions or making slight adjustments in the methods already being used. They are also meant to track progress and look at school performance as a whole. This holistic view creates a path for continual school improvement.
For me personally, presenting at the NCEA conference was an experience I will cherish. Those who know me well, know my passion for Catholic education and strong desire for the success of each Catholic school to meet its evangelistic mission and to be academically excellent. I hope to continue and expand the work I began in the Diocese of Allentown, and share the MTSS framework with our Catholic schools in South Jersey.
Dr. Sarah Kerins is assistant superintendent of school services for the Diocese of Camden’s Office of Catholic Schools.
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