Branching Minds

Selected from more than 700 nominations nationwide… meet our 2026 MTSS Hero Award Winners. 🏆💙

These educators were recognized for the extraordinary impact they’re making through student support, collaboration, and MTSS leadership in their schools and communities every single day.

⭐ Susan Weshinskey, School Social Worker, Wood River-Hartford ESD15, IL
⭐ Todd Hartman, School Administrator, Lakota Local Schools, OH
⭐ Robin Cansler, Interventionist, Beaumont ISD, TX

Thank you to everyone who submitted nominations and shared the incredible stories behind this work. 🎉

See the full 2026 MTSS Hall of Fame ➡️ https://hubs.la/Q04hFb7P0

ICYDK, our team laughs often, drives fast minivans (and bikes), loves a good cookie, and are the best kind of nerds! 🌱 Can you guess who’s who from their baby photos?

Ever helped a student build the perfect organizational plan, only to find it crumpled at the bottom of their backpack a week later?

Dr. Rebecca Bransetter School Psychologist gets it. The school psychologist, founder of Thriving Students Collective, and author of The Everything Guide to Executive Functioning is joining us at the 2026 MTSS Mini-Summit to share executive functioning strategies that actually stick.

Wednesday, June 3. Free to attend.

We asked our partners one simple question: Who’s your MTSS hero?

With 700+ nominations, the impact of MTSS champions across schools and communities was undeniable. 💙

✨ And big news: because the response was so overwhelming this year, we’re officially adding a THIRD MTSS Hero winner! 🏆🏆🏆

Who are you rooting for? Show finalists some love below. ⬇️

Three winners will be publicly announced on socials next week.

Hot take: behavior IS the core. 🍎

It touches everything — academic engagement, attendance, graduation outcomes. Our own Trudy Bender, Ed.S, NCSP is breaking it down at the free 2026 MTSS Mini Summit on June 3.

🧺 Grab your (virtual) spot 👇
https://hubs.la/Q04gnRln0

Behind every student success story is a teacher who kept going, kept caring, and kept believing. 💙

As we wrap up , we wanted to share one of the many heartfelt messages submitted by our partners. To all educators: thank you for the care, patience, teamwork, and impact you bring every day. ✨

We appreciate you, teachers!

💌Tag your favorite educator in the comments.

NEW GUIDE—For district and school leaders, this guide shows you how to align instruction, intervention, and data across your whole system so stronger reading outcomes are possible for every student.

🔻FREE DOWNLOAD:
https://hubs.la/Q04fQ_5d0

Behavior is at the core, and we mean that literally. 🥧

The 2026 MTSS Mini Summit kicks off June 3 with an opening session that challenges the way districts think about behavior support, moving from reactive discipline to proactive investment. Come for this opening session with Dr. Brian Gaunt, stay for the whole summit!

Register for FREE here: https://hubs.la/Q04fzzY_0