Building Thriving School Communities Focused on Wellness and Equity by Leveraging MTSS - by Lori Lynass & Bridget Walker & Erika McDowell

About the Book

This user-friendly handbook aims to provide school and district leaders the tools to effectively implement Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS),

Book Synopsis

This user-friendly handbook aims to provide school and district leaders the tools to effectively implement Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS),

Review Quotes

Building Thriving School Communities Focused on Wellness and Equity by Leveraging MTSS brings a much-needed framework into clarity for school leaders. Adopting multiple programs, that may not fit together, or may compete for critical resources, is an inefficient, and often inequitable 'model' for supporting wellness and growing equity of opportunity and success. Drs. Lynass, Walker, and McDowell build off other important MTSS resources in this new 'go to' handbook on leveraging MTSS to create thriving, equitable school communities.

I have dedicated my career to the design, implementation, and evaluation of Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-tiered (Ci3T) models of prevention, with an emphasis on systematic screening. The intent of this integrated tiered system is to provide an effective, efficient system to (a) prevent academic, behavioral, and social and emotional well-being challenges from occurring and (b) respond effectively when challenges arise. As eloquently explained by Lynass, Walker, and McDowell, complex, integrated tiered systems when implemented as planned, create positive, productive, equitable, and joyful learning environments for students. These models create a collaborative context for educators, families, community members, and students themselves to meet students' multiple needs in a manner that also protects educators' well-being. This book provides an excellent foundation for getting started.

Lynass, Walker & McDowell offer one of the most comprehensive texts to demonstrate the power of Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) in post-2020 education. The concepts described throughout the text offer educational leaders the opportunity to take the many initiatives, pressures, and passions they face and find ways to make them aligned, sustainable and culturally responsive. Highlighting the ways that practices connected to social-emotional learning, restorative justice, academics, and mental health can be provided in an equitable framework, Building Thriving School Communities Focused on Wellness and Equity by Leveraging MTSS serves as a cookbook for creating climates of belonging and success for every learner.

About the Author

Lori Lynass, Ed.D., Bridget Walker, Ph.D., and Erika McDowell, Ed.D. have over 70 years of collective wisdom in education. They have worked with over 2,000 schools in their implementation of MTSS.