Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports

About Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports

We believe multi-tier intervention model should be foundationally built on being proactive and preventive, while integrating evidenced based initiatives such as MTSS, PBIS, collective efficacy, continuous improvement science, implementation science, along with other models to meet the needs of all students.

Publisher

Naren Balasubramaniam

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Dec 2025

Latest episode

27 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

10 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Aug 2026

   Whole-Child Supports, Unified Wellness Teams, and Managed Autonomy with Dr. Sally Parish

   In this episode of Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports, host Naren Balasubramaniam welcomes Dr. Sally Parish, Vice Provost and Director of Schools at the University of Memphis, for a conversation about what whole child support looks like when a school district is built inside a university. It is the show's first conversation with a leader who works across both the higher education and K–12 spaces. Sally shares how University Schools grew from roughly 300 students into the state's first Innovative School District serving about 1,500 children across early childhood sites, two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school that graduated its first class this past May. She explains why her team opened schools first and built the district structure around them, how the university's nursing, social work, psychology, and teacher education faculty become part of the student support model, and why success at University Schools is defined as every child reaching their personal best rather than a single proficiency benchmark. That definition extends past academics: her staff know whether a student had dinner last night, whether the power is on at home, and whether something is happening in the family that would change what a child needs that day. Listeners will also hear how the district's Wellness Center gives families one entry point instead of a phone tree, bringing social work, psychology, nursing, speech, and special education practitioners to the same table alongside the university interns they are training. Sally and Naren dig into bridging the traditional silos between academics, attendance, behavior, and health, why leadership in a whole child system is about influence rather than position, and how teachers manage classrooms where students span several grade levels in both directions. She also describes what it takes to make whole child support a durable operating model rather than a person-dependent one, and closes with the challenge on her mind for the next six months. Key Moments 04:23 Growing from 300 students to 1,500 07:13 Opening schools first, then building the district 11:30 Defining success as every child's personal best 15:22 Inside the Wellness Center model 20:32 Bridging academic, attendance, and behavior silos 23:23 Leadership as influence, not position 31:40 Teaching classrooms with every ability level 37:29 Designing schools with parents at the table Why You'll Love This Episode If you have ever watched a family get handed off between the nurse, the counselor, the school psychologist, and the classroom teacher, this episode offers a concrete alternative. Sally describes a support model that is unified at the point of entry, staffed by practitioners who know the children by name, and backed by the research capacity of a major university. Her perspective is especially valuable for superintendents, principals, student services and MTSS leaders, and anyone working to connect academic, behavioral, and wellness supports into a system that holds together when individual people move on. Connect with Our Guest Dr. Sally Parish Vice Provost and Director of Schools, University of Memphis District Website: https://www.memphis.edu/universityschools/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sally-g-parish-34313013b/ 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.

2. 

   29 May 2026

   Clarifying MTSS Data Systems with Tanya Morret & Dr. Matthew McLaughlin

   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.

3. 

   8 May 2026

   Building MTSS as a System, Not a Program with Tanya Morret & Dr. Matthew McLaughlin

   On Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports, host Naren Balasubramaniam sits down with Tanya Morret, Training and Consultation Supervisor, and Dr. Matthew McLaughlin, Professional Development Specialist at Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12, for a systems-level conversation on what schools often misunderstand about MTSS and whole-child support. Together, Tanya and Matt bring a unique perspective from supporting more than 25 districts across suburban and rural communities. They unpack why MTSS should not be treated as a quick initiative, a pre-referral process, or one more item on a school’s plate. Instead, they frame MTSS as the plate itself—the operating system for how schools guarantee strong Tier 1 instruction, use data responsibly, collaborate across roles, and deliver the right supports to students. Listeners will hear why strong MTSS starts with a guaranteed and viable curriculum, a healthy data culture, and protected collaboration time for educators. Tanya and Matt also explore how silos between general education and special education can derail progress, why schools must avoid rushing to Tier 2 or Tier 3, and how leaders can start by clarifying what is already happening before adding more initiatives. Key Moments 05:57 Discussing system complexity in education 07:44 Understanding student needs 12:52 Taking time to build MTSS 15:57 The problem with educational silos 20:20 Challenges in MTSS implementation 23:29 Redefining special education roles 25:14 School improvement and MTSS challenges 30:05 Identifying and addressing tier one issues 32:20 Explaining educational tiered intervention 37:26 Defining stakeholder roles in plans Why You’ll Love This Episode This episode is a clear, practical reset on what MTSS is really meant to be. Tanya and Matt challenge schools to slow down, build the right foundation, and stop treating MTSS as a checklist or isolated intervention process. If you’re working on Tier 1 fidelity, data-driven decision-making, general education and special education alignment, or district-wide systems change, this conversation gives you the language and priorities to move forward with clarity. Connect with Our Guests Tanya Morret Training and Consultation Supervisor, Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 District Website: (https://www.joliet86.org/)https://www.iu12.org/ (https://www.iu12.org/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-morret-b2411536 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-morret-b2411536) Matthew McLaughlin, EdD Professional Development Specialist, Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12 District Website: (https://www.joliet86.org/)https://www.iu12.org/ (https://www.iu12.org/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mclaughlin-090aa8107 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-mclaughlin-090aa8107) Metamorphix, Inc. Website: https://www.metamorphix.co/ (https://www.metamorphix.co/)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamorphix-inc./ (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.

4. 

   30 Mar 2026

   Strengthening Tier 1, Teacher Development, and Unified MTSS Systems with Julie Hollander

   On Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports, host Naren Balasubramaniam sits down with Julie Hollander, Director of MTSS for Standards at Manteca Unified School District (California), for an inside look at how districts strengthen Tier 1 instruction while coordinating supports across academic, behavioral, and social-emotional systems. Julie shares her 23-year journey within MUSD—from classroom teacher to district leader, shaped by a passion for professional learning, instructional coaching, and supporting teachers so every student thrives. Together, they explore how Manteca Unified organizes MTSS leadership across three district targets—Standards, Safety, and Emerging Students, and why strengthening Tier 1 instruction is the most powerful lever for improving outcomes across the system. Listeners will also hear how MUSD uses learning walks, MAP assessment data, attendance and discipline insights, and school strategic plans to identify where students and schools need support. Julie explains how calibration across leaders helps ensure consistent classroom observations, how district teams avoid working in silos by aligning around shared data systems, and how teacher development plays a critical role in delivering whole-child support. The conversation also looks ahead to MUSD’s next frontier: adopting a new K–8 math curriculum, strengthening inclusion practices, and continuing the district’s post-pandemic literacy recovery efforts. Key Moments 06:01 "Supporting SEL in Schools" 10:04 Learning Walks for School Insights 12:14 Evolving Teacher Hiring Norms 17:15 Balancing Growth and Achievement 20:48 Personalized Training and Administrative Support 23:23 "School Strategic Planning Overview" 27:11 Identifying and Addressing Student Needs 29:53 Data-Driven Academic Collaboration 34:56 "Collaborative Classroom Learning Walks" 37:05 Addressing New Teacher Challenges 40:59 "Focused Leadership and Core Vision" Why You’ll Love This Episode This episode offers a practical look at district-level MTSS leadership. Julie shares how strong Tier 1 instruction, aligned professional learning, and consistent data practices can reduce fragmentation across large school systems. If you’re thinking about how to scale MTSS across multiple schools, strengthen teacher development, or unify academic and behavioral supports, this conversation provides both strategy and real-world implementation insights. Connect with Our Guest Julie Hollander Director of MTSS for Standards, Manteca Unified School District LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hollander-4a8321203 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hollander-4a8321203) Website: https://www.mantecausd.net/ (https://www.mantecausd.net/) Connect with Host & Metamorphix Host: Naren Balasubramaniam Founder & CEO, Metamorphix, Inc. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/) Metamorphix, Inc. Website: https://www.metamorphix.co/ (https://www.metamorphix.co/)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamorphix-inc./ (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.

5. 

   4 Mar 2026

   Whole-Child MTSS, Early Warning Systems, and Student-Centered Flexibility with Hal Heard

   On Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports, host Naren Balasubramaniam sits down with Hal Heard, Executive Director of Student Services at Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (Michigan), for a grounded conversation about what it looks like to coordinate academic, attendance, behavior, and mental health supports—without losing sight of the student’s real lived experience. Hal shares his journey from social studies teacher to high school principal and district leader, shaped by a family legacy of education and a deep belief in the power of schools to change lives. Together, they unpack how PCCS is using an Early Warning System to bring cross-functional teams out of silos and into shared problem-solving—so students get the right supports before small signals become major barriers. Listeners will also hear how PCCS is rethinking its virtual program through more flexible, asynchronous learning options to better meet student needs, how “BAG data” (Behavior, Attendance, Grades) helps flag risk early, and why real progress depends on pairing data with empathy and context. Hal also shares powerful stories that highlight the difference between reacting to symptoms and addressing root causes—and closes with how the district is preparing for the next frontier: AI in education. |Key Moments 04:17 "Enhancing Whole-Child Virtual Education" 08:43 Early Warning System Team Meetings 10:26 Making Data Actionable for Students 13:27 Addressing Student Challenges Collaboratively 17:51 "Ensuring Access for All Students" 20:50 "Empowering Students Through Nurture" 23:01 Overcoming AI Fear in Education 26:05 Supporting Students Through Challenges 30:17 "Leveraging AI in Education"t Why You’ll Love This Episode This episode blends systems thinking with human-centered leadership. Hal offers a clear look at how districts can coordinate supports across roles and data systems, while still treating each student as more than a dashboard. If you’re building early warning systems, strengthening MTSS alignment, improving attendance and engagement, or redesigning virtual learning, you’ll find practical structures—and a reminder that the most important “metric” is whether students know where to go for help. Connect with Our Guest Hal Heard Executive Director of High School Education, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools District Website: (https://www.joliet86.org/)https://www.pccsk12.com/ (https://www.pccsk12.com/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hal-heard-8368152/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/hal-heard-8368152/) Metamorphix, Inc. Website: https://www.metamorphix.co/ (https://www.metamorphix.co/)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamorphix-inc./ (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.

6. 

   27 Feb 2026

   Transforming Special Education: Christopher Sanzari on the Multi-Abilities Classroom and Tiered Supports

   On Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports, host Naren Balasubramaniam sits down with Dr. Christopher Sanzeri, Assistant Director of Specialized Student Services – Curriculum & Instruction at Elgin Area School District U-46, for a practical and forward-looking conversation on what it takes to build inclusive, high-quality systems for students with complex learning needs. Christopher shares his path from aspiring social studies teacher and football coach to special education teacher, and ultimately to district leadership—driven by a desire to expand impact beyond the 6–10 students in his classroom. Together, Naren and Christopher explore U-46’s Multi-Abilities Classroom (MAC) model: why it was created, how it replaces multiple segregated programs with a unified service delivery approach, and how boundary changes created a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redesign placements around inclusion, consistency, and belonging. Listeners will also hear how U-46 is strengthening MTSS alignment across literacy, numeracy, and SEL, how Panorama is evolving into a centralized MTSS warehouse, and how Christopher’s research on teacher attitudes and assessment connects directly to curriculum and instruction decisions for students with significant disabilities. Key Moments 03:07 Classroom Joy and Reflection 07:44 "Special Education Integration Changes" 12:11 "Optimizing Classrooms for Diverse Needs" 13:56 Measuring Success Through Student Metrics 19:46 "Refining Intervention and Assessment Processes" 22:35 Blending Functional and Academic Teaching 25:10 Data-Driven Instructional Implementation Guide Why You’ll Love This Episode This episode is a rare look at large-scale special education redesign done thoughtfully—not as a “program of the year,” but as sustained, system-level work built for long-term impact. Christopher brings deep classroom credibility, strong instructional focus, and a clear commitment to inclusion. If your district is navigating service delivery redesign, MTSS alignment, alternate curriculum decisions, or inclusive placement strategy, you’ll walk away with concrete ideas and a sharper vision for what’s possible. Connect with Our Guest Christopher Sanzeri Assistant Director of Specialized Student Services – Curriculum & Instruction, Elgin Area School District U-46 District Website: (https://www.joliet86.org/)https://www.u-46.org/ (https://www.u-46.org/) Connect with Host & Metamorphix Host: Naren Balasubramaniam Founder & CEO, Metamorphix, Inc. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/) Metamorphix, Inc. Website: https://www.metamorphix.co/ (https://www.metamorphix.co/)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamorphix-inc./ (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.

7. 

   27 Feb 2026

   Justice-Centered MTSS and Whole-Child Wellness at Santa Barbara Unified

   On Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports, host Naren Balasubramaniam welcomes two leaders from Santa Barbara Unified School District: ShaKenya Edison, Assistant Superintendent of Student & Family Services, and Christina Fernandez, Executive Director of Student & Family Services. Together, they share how Santa Barbara Unified is building a unified, justice-centered MTSS approach that goes far beyond “interventions” and instead strengthens the full ecosystem around students—physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. ShaKenya and Christina unpack the cultural shifts required to reduce siloed work, move from “buy-in” to true commitment, and redesign systems so staff capacity and student wellbeing are treated as inseparable from academic success. You’ll also hear how the district uses targeted universalism to set universal goals while designing supports that most benefit the most burdened student groups, how Tier 1 quality is the real leverage point, and why the biggest challenge today isn’t internal resistance, it’s the national climate and the impact it has on students’ sense of safety, belonging, and stability. Key Moments 03:09 "Committed to Fair Leadership" 09:43 "Whole Child Development Insights" 10:50 "Comprehensive Student Wellness System" 16:33 Equity-Focused Leadership Transformation 20:21 Focus on Adults for Student Success 23:05 "Multi-Tiered Support for Learning" 27:46 "Time-Saving Social-Emotional Learning" 30:47 "Addressing Harm with Intentionality" 34:11 "Supporting Students Amid National Challenges" 37:37 Year-Round Youth Support Strategy 39:06 "Supporting Newcomer Students' Wellness" Why You’ll Love This Episode This episode is a masterclass in systems leadership. ShaKenya and Christina bring clarity to the hard parts of MTSS: changing adult mental models, aligning resources with values, and building a culture where wellness and academics are treated as one integrated responsibility. If you’re trying to reduce silos, strengthen Tier 1, implement equity-based MTSS, or create supports that extend beyond the school day, this conversation offers both a framework and real examples. Connect with Our Guests ShaKenya Edison Assistant Superintendent, Santa Barbara Unified School District LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shakenya-edison-432b7636 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shakenya-edison-432b7636) District Website: (https://www.joliet86.org/)https://www.sbunified.org/ (https://www.sbunified.org/) Christina Fernandez, Executive Director of Student & Family Services, Santa Barbara Unified School District LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-christina-fernandez-b54087351/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-christina-fernandez-b54087351/) District Website: (https://www.joliet86.org/)https://www.sbunified.org/ (https://www.sbunified.org/) Connect with Host & Metamorphix Host: Naren Balasubramaniam Founder & CEO, Metamorphix, Inc. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/) Metamorphix, Inc. Website: https://www.metamorphix.co/ (https://www.metamorphix.co/)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamorphix-inc./ (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.

8. 

   9 Feb 2026

   Equity, SEL, and Culturally Responsive MTSS at Joliet Public Schools with Dwayne Williams

   On Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports, host Naren Balasubramaniam sits down with Dwayne Williams, Director of Equity and Student Services at Joliet Public Schools District 86, for a grounded and practical conversation on supporting students through an equity-centered, whole-child lens. Dwayne shares his journey from special education teacher to district leader, and how that experience shapes his work supporting some of the district’s most vulnerable student populations, including unhoused students, students with disabilities, and students navigating significant social and emotional challenges. The conversation explores how Joliet is prioritizing social-emotional learning (SEL), building culturally responsive MTSS frameworks, and partnering with community agencies to address social determinants that impact learning. Listeners will hear how student voice, intentional data use, and restorative approaches to discipline, especially around bullying—are helping Joliet rethink traditional responses and create healthier, safer school environments for all students. Key Moments 01:20 Dwayne’s path from teacher to district leader 02:10 Supporting unhoused students 03:29 What equity and student services includes 04:41 Defining the whole child 05:55 Prioritizing SEL districtwide 07:30 Building culturally responsive MTSS 09:19 Student self-reporting in SEL 11:09 Using data across district and schools 13:09 Challenges of fragmented data systems 15:10 Addressing bias through transparency 16:12 Using data as a continuous cycle 17:28 Rethinking bullying through restoration Why You’ll Love This Episode This episode offers a thoughtful look at how equity, MTSS, and SEL intersect at the district level. Dwayne brings a community-centered perspective grounded in real challenges, housing instability, mental health needs, and bullying, and shares how Joliet is shifting from punitive responses to supportive, restorative practices. If you’re working to align equity goals with MTSS, strengthen SEL systems, or better integrate data across student services, this episode offers practical insights you can apply immediately. Connect with Our Guest Dwayne Williams Director of Equity & Student Services, Joliet Public Schools District 86 District Website: https://www.joliet86.org/ (https://www.joliet86.org/) Connect with Host & Metamorphix Host: Naren Balasubramaniam Founder & CEO, Metamorphix, Inc. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/) Metamorphix, Inc. Website: https://www.metamorphix.co/ (https://www.metamorphix.co/)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamorphix-inc./ (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.

9. 

   2 Feb 2026

   Whole-Child Leadership, Early Literacy, and Rethinking Special Education with Scott Drue

   On Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports, host Naren Balasubramaniam sits down with Scott Drue, Director of Student Services at Salem-Keizer Public Schools, for a deeply personal and systems-level conversation about what it truly means to support the whole child. Scott shares how his own experience growing up with dyslexia shaped his career in education, and how those early challenges now inform his work redesigning systems of support across one of Oregon’s largest school districts. From early literacy and data alignment to over-identification in special education and post-pandemic shifts in student needs, this episode explores how districts can move from fragmented interventions to coherent, student-centered systems. Listeners will hear why Tier 1 instruction is the foundation of everything, how schools, not districts are the real unit of change, and what it takes to rethink long-standing structures that unintentionally create inequity. Scott also unpacks how culturally responsive practices, early intervention, and smarter use of limited resources can dramatically change student trajectories. Key Moments 05:41 "Building Strong Foundations for Students" 08:43 "Unified Data for Student Success" 10:03 Smarter Resource Use in Education 15:48 "Optimizing Time for Student Success" 17:32 Rethinking Traditional School Structure 22:35 Student Struggles & Data Focus 24:59 "University Partnership for Teacher Training" Why You’ll Love This Episode This episode offers a rare blend of vulnerability and systems thinking. Scott brings a practitioner’s lens shaped by decades in classrooms, principalships, and district leadership, grounded in lived experience and hard realities like funding constraints and staffing shortages. If you’re wrestling with MTSS coherence, early literacy strategy, special education identification, or post-pandemic student needs, this conversation provides both clarity and challenge. Connect with Our Guest Scott Drue Director of Student Services, Salem-Keizer Public Schools District Website: (https://www.holtonschools.com/)https://salkeiz.k12.or.us/ (https://salkeiz.k12.or.us/) Connect with Host & Metamorphix Host: Naren Balasubramaniam Founder & CEO, Metamorphix, Inc. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/) Metamorphix, Inc. Website: https://www.metamorphix.co/ (https://www.metamorphix.co/)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamorphix-inc./ (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.

10. 

    8 Dec 2025

    Collaboration, Data, and MTSS at Holton Public Schools with Erik Carlson & Joshua Glick

    On Whole Child: Personalized Tiered Supports, host Naren Balasubramaniam sits down with Erik Carlson, High School Principal, and Joshua Glick, MTSS Director, from Holton Public Schools in Michigan — marking the very first episode of the show. Together, they walk through how a small district is building a truly collaborative, K–12 approach to multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) that centers the whole child. From breaking down silos between buildings to structuring Tier 2 teams with mental health partners, outside clinicians, and general educators, Erik and Joshua share how they’re using data, teaming structures, and shared tools to get the right supports to the right students at the right time. They also dig into the role of AI, how platforms like Cascades help unify data, and why Tier 1 instruction and adult collaboration are still at the heart of effective MTSS. Key Moments 01:18 What Joshua enjoys most about leading MTSS 01:39 Why Erik is energized as a secondary principal 02:26 Moving MTSS from isolated efforts to collaboration 03:22 Structuring Tier 2 teams with specialists and partners 05:13 How Tier 2 meetings run across K–12 08:23 Strengthening Tier 1 with PBIS/CHAMPS 09:14 Using Chalk to map curriculum and identify gaps 10:09 Connecting academic challenges to behavior needs 11:13 How AI could automate data work for MTSS teams 13:27 Disaggregating data to identify student groups needing support 14:47 Why the MTSS Director role + Cascades has been a game changer 16:54 Why MTSS must function as “multi-team” work Why You’ll Love This Episode You’ll hear a practical, classroom-grounded look at MTSS from leaders who are still in the work every day. Erik and Joshua share structures, tools, and lessons learned that any district—large or small—can adapt to strengthen whole-child supports, improve Tier 1, and make collaboration less about “one more thing” and more about how the work gets done. Connect with Our Guests Erik Carlson High School Principal, Holton Public Schools District Website: https://www.holtonschools.com/ (https://www.holtonschools.com/) Joshua Glick MTSS Director, Holton Public Schools District Website: https://www.holtonschools.com/ (https://www.holtonschools.com/) Connect with Host & Metamorphix Host: Naren Balasubramaniam Founder & CEO, Metamorphix, Inc. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/narenbalasubramaniam/) Metamorphix, Inc. Website: https://www.metamorphix.co/ (https://www.metamorphix.co/)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/metamorphix-inc./ (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.

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Apple Podcasts (US)

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Spotify

5.0 / 5

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