MTSS Integrated Conference 25

Multilingual Learners bring rich linguistic assets to the classroom. In this session we will demonstrate strategies that can be used in all K-12 classrooms and in all tiers to harness these assets and build on students' home languages for academic success. Whether you speak another language or not, you can support students to use their bilingual superpowers!

Speakers

Katie Sperling

Multilingual Education Program Supervisor, OSPI

Katie Sperling, MIT - Multilingual Program Supervisor – OSPI Katie Sperling is a passionate advocate for Multilingual Education. She has taught in and led K-12 language development programs on the East and West sides of Washington State for the past 24 years.

Dr. Patricia Venegas-Weber

Dual Language Program Supervisor, OSPI

Dr. Patricia Venega-Weber is a former ESL, Bilingual and Reading Specialist teacher with over 20 years of experience. She has a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in Bilingual Education. She has also worked as an English/Spanish... Read More →

Kristin Percy Calaff

Director, Multilingual Education, OSPI

Dr. Kristin Percy Calaff is the Executive Director of Multilingual & Migrant Education for the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. She has over 30 years of experience as a dual language teacher, principal, district administrator, adjunct professor, and state... Read More →

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Orchard South

Target Audience Elementary, Secondary
Experience Developing, Foundational, Proficient

10:15am PDT

Comprehensive Inclusive Education: Crafting and Implementing Inclusive IEPs

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

Gala 2

In this session, participants will learn about the OSPI and TIES Center resource, “Comprehensive Inclusive Education in Washington.” This guidance supports general educators and special educators to collaboratively develop high-quality and compliant IEPs that facilitate meaningful inclusion and ambitious student outcomes. Participants will explore the resource, brainstorm next steps at any stage of their school or district’s inclusion journey, and learn how inclusive IEPs can break barriers for students no matter their support needs.

Speakers

Jaimee Kidder

Special Education Program Supervisor, OSPI

Jaimee Kidder (PhD, BCBA, they/them) serves as a Special Education Program Supervisor at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in Washington state, with a focus on inclusionary practices, positive behavior support, and authentic belonging for all students. Their... Read More →

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Gala 2

Target Audience District, Elementary, Secondary
Experience Developing

10:15am PDT

Leveraging Dispute Resolution to Enhance Equitable Systems

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

Orchard North

This presentation will explore recent trends in dispute resolution, highlighting issues around medical diagnosis and autism and bullying and FAPE, to highlight proactive and preventative measures districts can take, including informal dispute resolution. The presentation will also explore how lessons from conflict can be leveraged to examine district systems for opportunities to build on foundational compliance to ensure that all students eligible for special education have equitable access to meaningful instructional opportunities, services, and supports.

Speakers

Alyssa Fairbanks

Assistant Director of Dispute Resolution, OSPI

Kathryn Mayer

Program Supervisor, OSPI

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Orchard North

Target Audience District, Elementary, Secondary
Experience Developing, Foundational

10:15am PDT

Theory Can Only Take You So Far: Building A System of Instructional Practices

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

Fuji 1

Educators are incredible, but disjointed systems and initiative fatigue can undermine their impact, and diverse learning needs in our communities demand instructional agility. It’s time we empower educators with the tools they deserve to drive lasting instructional growth. This session introduces a coherent classroom instructional system of Tier 1 and Tier II classroom strategies, supported by research, data, and AI, to help every teacher build optimal classroom learning conditions that any MTSS must include.

Speakers

Jaime Bertran

Patrick Mongrain

Instructional Practices Coordinator

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Fuji 1

Target Audience District, Elementary, Secondary
Experience Developing, Foundational, Proficient

10:15am PDT

Innovations in De-escalation

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

Gala 3

Escalating behaviors require regulated adults who are equipped with the skills and a plan to bring a student back down to calm. Regardless if you are new to de-escalation or if you are a certified trainer yourself, this course will offer creative solutions to address complex chains of behavior.

Speakers

Patrick Mulick

Director of Student Engagement, Auburn School District

Patrick is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a certified speaker, trainer, and coach with the John Maxwell Team. Originally from the humble town of Boring, Oregon, Patrick earned his undergrad and masters in special education and behavior analysis from Gonzaga University. While... Read More →

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Gala 3

Innovate

Target Audience District, Elementary, Secondary
Experience Developing

10:15am PDT

MTSS, RTI & the Law: What Every Educator Needs to Know Before 2028

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

Grand Apple Ballroom

In 2028, OSPI will change the evaluation process for determining eligibility for special education under the category of specific learning disability to require a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework based on the Response to Intervention (RTI) model. In this interactive session, special education attorney Jonathan Read discusses MTSS and RTI in the context of evaluation requirements under the IDEA and state law. Jonathan will cover Washington’s statutory requirements, child find obligations, compliance with evaluation timelines, parent participation duties and much more.

Speakers

Jonathan Read

Partner, F3 Law

Jonathan represents educational agencies in all facets of special education law. After receiving his B.A. in music, Jonathan’s career in education began as a one-to-one aide for students with severe disabilities and for English language learners. He subsequently taught elementary... Read More →

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Grand Apple Ballroom 121 N Wenatchee Ave, Wenatchee, WA 98801

Innovate

Target Audience District, Elementary, Secondary
Experience Foundational, Developing

10:15am PDT

Guiding the Pieces: Putting MTSS Together with Purpose (Part 4: Guidebook in Action)

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

Fuji 2/3

Join us for the grand finale of our Washington State MTSS Guidebook series. This fourth and final session is your backstage pass to the guidebook’s most powerful tools—templates, resources, and ready-to-use supports. Bring your team and roll up your sleeves for dedicated action planning time with expert guidance from State-Level MTSS Coaches. It’s hands-on, high-energy, and all about moving from knowing to doing. Don’t miss it!

Speakers

Kjersti Clayton

MTSS Regional Implementation Specialist, North Central Educational Service District 171

Solina Adelson-Journey

MTSS Implementation Coordinator, Educational Service District 112

Andrea Bowman

MTSS Implementation Coordinator, Olympic Educational Service District 114

Andrea Bowman currently serves as a Regional Implementation Coordinator at Olympic Educational Service District 114, where she partners with district and building leaders to assess their current MTSS design and support action planning for system-wide improvements. Her work centers... Read More →

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Fuji 2/3

Target Audience District
Experience Foundational, Developing

10:15am PDT

The Road to 2028: An Overview of the Last Mile Project to Support RtI Implementation

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

Golden Delicious

This presentation will provide an overview of the 2028 shift in Specific Learning Disability eligibility guidelines, provide an overview of the Last Mile project (an OSPI funded partnership with the University of Washington Bothell), and offer action steps for districts to take in preparation for the upcoming change in eligibility guidelines including access to the Last Mile RtI Implementation Rubric. A Last Mile district administrator partner will also offer insights into this work from the district perspective.

Speakers

Melissa Van Stratten

Director of Elementary Teaching, Learning, and Leadership, Mount Vernon School District

Assistant Principal, Madison Elementary

Fran McCarthy

ECSEL Faculty, UW Bothell

William Rasplica

Executive Director, Learning Support Services (Retired), University of Washington Bothell Goodlad Institute

Chloe Melton

Last Mile Faculty

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Golden Delicious

Target Audience District, Elementary, Secondary
Experience Developing, Proficient

10:15am PDT

Tier 1 for Everyone: Strengthening MTSS for Inclusive Success for Students with Extensive Support Needs

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT

Gala 1

In this session, educators will explore how MTSS can be designed and implemented inclusive of students with extensive support needs (ESN). For students with ESNs, we often focus on Tier 3 interventions without providing the foundational Tier 1 instruction. Through evidence-based strategies and practical examples, participants will understand how MTSS (academic and behavioral) can be accessible and impactful for all learners. Participants will leave with insights to strengthen equity and inclusion for students with ESNs.

Speakers

Jennifer Sommerness

Research Associate, TIES Center

Jennifer Sommerness is a distinguished educator and researcher at the TIES Center, at the University of Minnesota. She is known for her dedication to inclusive education and student success, with a profound commitment to educational equity. Jennifer has played a role in shaping the... Read More →

Friday August 1, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am PDT
Gala 1

Target Audience Elementary, Secondary
Experience Developing

11:30am PDT

Building Equitable Classrooms: Adaptive Leadership, UDL, and Real-World Solutions

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Gala 3

Creating inclusive classrooms takes more than intention — it requires practical tools, adaptive leadership, and systemic change. Designed for educators ready to lead change, this session brings together a specialist, administrator, and teacher perspective to share strategies for accommodating diverse learners through UDL, MTSS, and equity-centered technical assistance. Explore real-world examples, coaching tips, and innovative tools like AI. Be the first to preview new 2025–26 learning opportunities focused on communication, literacy, leadership, and sustainable inclusion.

Speakers

Kristin Percy Calaff

Director, Multilingual Education, OSPI

Katie Sperling

Multilingual Education Program Supervisor, OSPI

Dr. Patricia Venegas-Weber

Dual Language Program Supervisor, OSPI

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Gala 3

Target Audience Elementary, Secondary
Experience Developing, Foundational, Proficient

11:30am PDT

MTSS: Creating the Conditions for Inclusion

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Gala 2

This session outlines how MTSS implementation at the district, school, and classroom levels increases inclusionary practices. Participants will explore how implementation of integrated systems, collaborative practices, and data-based decisions reduce exclusionary discipline and maximize academic, social-emotional, and behavioral resources. We will crosswalk the MTSS framework and the TIES Center Inclusive Education Roadmap, highlighting sustaining effects of implementation science. We will provide concrete examples of MTSS implementation increasing inclusion from districts participating in the Reduction of Restraint and Elimination of Isolation grant.

Speakers

Debra Limon

Executive Director, Sound Supports

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Gala 2

Target Audience District, Elementary, Secondary
Experience Developing

11:30am PDT

MTSS Mash-Up: Wellness, Inclusion & Whole Child Wins!

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Fuji 1

Discover how Medical Lake School District is reimagining MTSS by fusing wellness practices with inclusive strategies to support every learner. See how understanding your current reality and systems of support enables schools and district offices to collaborate effectively, integrating inclusion, social-emotional, behavioral, and mental health supports, to create powerful outcomes for the whole child, whole family, and whole community Join us to explore bold innovations that Include, Inspire, and Innovate with purpose and passion!

Speakers

Tawni Barlow

Director of Integrated Student and Community Services, Medical Lake School District

My career journey, more accurately described as an ongoing adventure in public service, has taken me from the field of corrections to education, driven by a deep commitment to finding the most meaningful ways to serve my community and make a lasting, positive impact. I currently serve... Read More →

Rob Haugen

Assistant Superintendent of Learning and Teaching, Medical Lake School District

Lyra McGirk

Assistant Principal Medical Lake Middle School, Medical Lake School District

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Fuji 1

Innovate

Target Audience District, Elementary, Secondary
Experience Foundational, Developing

11:30am PDT

From Misconception to Momentum: A Fresh Look at Tier 2 MTSS Supports

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Gala 1

This session explores practical Tier 2 teaming strategies within MTSS, using real outcome examples to highlight impact. Participants will address misconceptions—such as MTSS being a path to SpEd—and shift the narrative around the purpose of MTSS. Foundational teaming challenges will be explored alongside practical solutions and resources. Attendees will examine MTSS implementation across phases and discover best practices to build functional team-led supports that lead to student-centered, data-driven outcomes.

Speakers

Amanda Pharis

Associate Director, True Measure Collaborative

Michael Williams

Program Manager, True Measure Collaborative

Cassie Watkins

Program Manager, True Measure Collaborative

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Gala 1

Target Audience Elementary, District, Secondary
Experience Developing

11:30am PDT

Rooted in Resilience: Building Integrated Multi-Tiered Support Systems That Support Every Learner

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Orchard North

Discover how Comprehensive Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports including School Improvement, Special Education, Early Learning, Student Support, and Trauma-Informed Practices can work together to drive lasting change. This team will reveal how aligning these powerful initiatives supports both individual student needs and systemic growth. Learn through real examples how intentional integration leads to greater coherence, improved outcomes, and district-wide success—empowering educators and supporting the whole child. Unlock strategies for more effective, efficient, and transformative practice.

Speakers

Jennifer Acuna

Executive Director Special Services, Olympic Educational Service District 114

"Special Services Director, OESD 114Harvard School Of Education Summer Institute Universal Design for Learning 2015"

Patricia Beuke

Executive Director Teacher & Learning, Olympic Educational Service District 114

Patricia works at Olympic ESD 114 as the Director of Learning Support, where she is the English Language Arts Coordinator, team trainer in Trauma Informed Practices, a Danielson Framework trainer and a Third Party DoDEA Evaluator for two school districts. Previously, she served for... Read More →

Laura Batcheller

Director of Special Services, Olympic Educational Service District 114

Andrea Bowman

MTSS Implementation Coordinator, Olympic Educational Service District 114

Mona Johnson

Executive Director Systems & School Improvement, Olympic Educational Service District 114

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Orchard North

Target Audience District, Elementary, Secondary
Experience Developing

11:30am PDT

What's Your Recipe for MTSS Success? Weaving in Implementation Science for Sustainable Results

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT

Golden Delicious

This session focuses on the systems and practices school and district leadership teams need for successful MTSS Implementation. We will talk about helpful tools and resources that can be used to guide and enhance implementation efforts. A focus on braiding together initiatives with the use of Implementation Science will be highlighted.

Speakers

Dr. Lori Lynass

Senior Director for MTSS, Character Strong

Friday August 1, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Golden Delicious