MTSS Center staff bring extensive experience and expertise to support states, districts, and schools in implementing and evaluating MTSS at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Director, MTSS Center
Jason Harlacher, PhD, is the Director of the MTSS Center, overseeing the vision and operation of the Center. He provides consultation and technical assistance to state and district leaders on MTSS. He has extensive expertise in classroom management, data-based decision making, intensive…
Director, MTSS Strategy & Policy
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…
Center Coordinator
Cat Merkle, BA, provides onsite assistance, supporting educators with MTSS 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…
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 framework, implementing evidence-based practices, using data…
Communications Coordinator
Kinsey Kandray, BA, coordinates the MTSS Center's strategic communications plan, content development, and outreach initiatives to amplify the Center's services and resources. With over ten years of experience, her current work includes supporting the Special Educator Workforce: A Research…
MTSS Center Advisor
Tessie Rose Bailey, PhD, is an advisor for the MTSS Center and the National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII). She is the Director of the PROGRESS Center and supports states and districts in…
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…
Jenna Basile, PhD, provides technical assistance and consultation for the MTSS Center. She has extensive expertise in literacy, with a focus on developing, testing, and training education professionals in writing interventions for adolescents with and without disabilities. Dr. Basile is…
Sarah Benz, PhD, provides technical assistance and professional learning to states and school districts on data-based individualization, special education, significant disproportionality, and MTSS. In addition to her work for the MTSS Center, she provides leadership and technical assistance…
Erin Clancy, PhD, provides technical assistance and consultation to state and district leaders as well as school-based staff for the MTSS Center. Her interests include enhancing universal support and services and tiered interventions, coaching districts and service providers, and supporting an…
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, including students with diverse learning needs. She brings unparalleled expertise in the…
Veronica Fiedler, MA, provides technical assistance, coaching, and professional learning focused on Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and special education. She has extensive experience supporting states, districts, and schools in strengthening sustainable systems that improve outcomes for…
Sarah Frazelle, MA, brings over 15 years of experience in providing technical assistance to schools, districts, and states in implementing student support systems such as Early Warning Systems. She is the Co-Director of the National Student Attendance and Engagement Center, focusing on projects…
Dia Jackson, EdD, provides technical assistance and professional learning to states and school districts on MTSS and special education. Dr. Jackson specializes in research and professional learning with educators and leaders on ways to improve academic and social outcomes for students with…
Sheila Lovato, MEd, provides professional learning, coaching, and consultation to educators and school leaders across the country. Sheila leverages her practical experience to approach her work, acknowledging the importance of realistic and achievable solutions. With an extensive background…
Betheny Lyke, EdD, supports school districts as they create, implement, and enhance MTSS. She also leads the District and School Improvement Center at the American Institutes for Research, where she creates and coordinates the implementation of research and evidence-based systems. She has…
Caitlyn Majeika, PhD, BCBA, provides consultation and technical assistance to state, district, and school leaders on MTSS. She brings over 12 years of experience to help schools implement sustainable practices to support student behavior within MTSS frameworks. She has extensive expertise in…
Kathleen Pfannenstiel, PhD, 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…
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…
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…
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 (…
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…
Elise Strongin, MA, provides technical assistance and consultation to states, districts, and schools on the implementation of MTSS. She has extensive expertise supporting educators and school leadership with the adoption and implementation of curricula, MTSS, and PBIS using evidence-based…
Maggie Trout, MA, 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…
