Learn how to master Response to Intervention (RTI) and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process to help every child succeed. RTI is a proven framework for providing targeted support to students who struggle, while IEPs are personalized plans designed to meet the unique educational needs of students with disabilities. In this episode, we explore strategies and actionable insights to optimize these essential tools, empowering teachers, parents, and administrators to support diverse learners effectively.
What You’ll Learn about IEP’s, RTI and reaching every child:
- 📘 IEP Essentials: Discover the key components of creating effective IEPs, from measurable goals to collaborative planning.
- 📊 RTI Strategies: Learn how to implement RTI correctly to provide tiered support for every student.
- 🤝 Collaboration: Explore how parents, educators, and students can work together to overcome challenges and foster success.
- 🎓 Student Motivation: Hear a powerful story of resilience, perseverance, and the effort required to thrive academically from a former NBA player who is now working to inspire kids.
Special Guest EXPERTS:
- Mike Mattos: Co-creator of the RTI at Work™ model, offering expert advice on systematic interventions that truly support student learning.
- Stephanie DeLussey: Special education veteran and author of The Intentional IEP, sharing her wisdom on how to craft IEPs that empower students and involve parents.
- Dean Tolson: Former NBA player who overcame illiteracy to earn a master’s degree, inspiring students to value education and effort.
Why This Episode Matters
As educators and parents, our goal is to ensure that every child learns and reaches their full potential. This episode sheds light on:
- RTI’s Correct Use: Avoid common mistakes and learn how to implement RTI as a tool for early intervention rather than a bureaucratic hurdle.
- Effective IEP Planning: Understand how to build IEPs that address individual student needs and align with measurable academic goals.
- Student Success Stories: Be inspired by a real life example of a student who overcome the odds as an adult to encourage the effort kids need to have to successfully learn (even if they are a world class athlete.)
Top Takeaways for Educators and Parents about RTI, IEP, and Reaching Every Child
- Start Early: Early intervention through RTI prevents students from falling too far behind.
- Collaboration Is Key: Successful IEPs depend on teamwork between teachers, parents, and students.
- Every Child Can Learn: With the right strategies and accommodations, all students can thrive academically.
- Empathy and Persistence: Supporting students with diverse needs requires patience, consistency, and a belief in their ability to succeed.
- Persistence: Helping every child remember the importance of education and words from those who have gone before can inspire them to do the work. Motivation can be challenging but it is an important part of the student success equation!
Featured Highlights from this Episode
- 🛠️ The RTI Process: Mike Mattos discusses the importance of systematic interventions and how to use RTI effectively to support student learning.
- ✍️ Crafting Better IEPs: Stephanie DeLussey shares step-by-step strategies for writing IEPs that truly meet student needs and empower teachers.
- 🏀 Dean Tolson’s Journey: Learn from Dean’s inspiring story about overcoming illiteracy and achieving academic success after his NBA career and his inspiring message to students everywhere.
Listen, Learn, and Take Action
This episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk is your guide to transforming how we support students with special needs and diverse learning abilities. Together, we can create a system that works for every child.
👉 Listen Now: This show will air on WDJY FM Atlanta 99.1 at 4pm on Wednesday February 5. Listen to the live stream
🎧 Subscribe: Subscribe to get inspiring episodes like this every week on Cool Cat Teacher TV.
💡 Bonus Tip: Share this episode with fellow educators and parents to spread these powerful strategies and stories.
YouTube: Transform Your IEP Process and Response to Intervention to Reach Every Child
YouTube videos air a week after the show airs on the radio around the country.
Other Episodes You Might Like on These Topics
Bios As Submitted
Our amazing guests are interviewed in full on the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast with excerpts included in Cool Cat Teacher Talk
Stephanie DeLussey – IEP Expert
🎙️10 Minute Teacher Podcast episode 818
Stephanie spent 7.5 years in the traditional classroom, teaching in multiple states and special education settings and grades, and has over 12 years in education. She has always enjoyed writing IEPs and is a self proclaimed #data nerd. Stephanie is the author of The Intentional IEP: A Team Approach to Better Outcomes for Students and Their Families.
Upon leaving the classroom, Stephanie dove into learning more about special ed law and student and parent rights – where she quickly realized that formal IEP training for teachers was needed. She understands that not everyone will love IEPs as much as she does, but it is her hope that with the appropriate training and resources, teachers will not only advocate harder for student services and supports, but also bridge the gap between teachers and families to foster a true IEP Team.
She also provides professional development for teachers.
You can connect with her at Mrs. D’s Corner and The Intentional IEP.
Mike Mattos – RTI Expert
🎙️10 Minute Teacher Podcast Episode 878
Mike Mattos is an internationally recognized author, presenter, and practitioner. He co-created the RTI at Work™ approach to systematic interventions. Mike is also a thought leader in professional learning communities (PLCs) and the PLC at Work® process, advancing the work of his mentors Richard DuFour and Robert Eaker.
In 2024, the Global Gurus organization recognized him as one of the thirty most influential educational thought leaders in the world. Mike is proud of the twenty-three years he served on-site as a history teacher and, later, an administrator. He is former principal of Marjorie Veeh Elementary School and Pioneer Middle School in California. At both schools, he helped create Model PLCs, improving learning for all students.
In 2004, Marjorie Veeh, an elementary school with a large population of youth at risk, won the California Distinguished School and National Title I Achieving School awards. A National Blue Ribbon School, Pioneer is among only thirteen schools in the United States that the GE Foundation selected as a Best-Practice Partner and is one of eight schools that Richard DuFour chose to feature in the video series The Power of Professional Learning Communities at Work: Bringing the Big Ideas to Life.
Based on standardized test scores, Pioneer ranked among the top 1 percent of California secondary schools and, in 2009 and 2011, was named Orange County’s top middle school. For his leadership, Mike was named the Orange County Middle School Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators.
Mike has coauthored many best-selling books focused on multitiered systems of supports (MTSS) and PLCs, including:
To learn more about Mikes work, visit AllThingsPLC (https://allthingsplc.info) and www mikemattos.info, or follow him @mikemattos65 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Blog: mikemattos.info Twitter: @mikemattos65
Byron Dean Tolson – Former NBA Player – Motivational Speaker for Students
🎙️10 MInute Teacher Podcast Episode 835
Dean Tolson is the author of PowerForward: My Journey from Illiterate NBA Player to an Honors Master’s Degree (Title edited for NSFW)
Today’s message is one our sports-obsessed nation needs to hear. In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary life of Dean Tolson, a man whose life changed from dribbling basketballs to championing education. Dean admitted at age 32 and went from the high-flying courts of professional basketball to the halls of academics where he not only learned to read but achieved the unimaginable Master’s degree.
Dean shares his inspiring transition from an illiterate athlete to a magna cum laude graduate, his story is not just about the victories or the setbacks; it’s a powerful call to action for every listener to recognize the undeniable value of education in shaping one’s destiny. Join us as Dean Tolson unfolds the chapters of his life, offering invaluable lessons on resilience, the importance of education, and the belief in one’s potential to overcome any obstacle.
I played the rough cut of this episode for my eighth graders and we had an incredible class discussion about how perhaps we have turned things upside down in our society. I hope there are many more like Dean who rise through athletics and go back and complete their education.
We should all reflect on the emphasis we put on education and the importance of getting a great education even if a student is pursuing a career in sports.
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