-min.png)
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, February 26, 2025 — Branching Minds, the leading Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) management platform for K-12 school districts nationwide, is thrilled to announce its 2025 MTSS Hero Award winners, Rob Elizalde, RTI/Accelerated Instruction/ESL Coordinator, Fort Sam Houston ISD, TX, and Maria Kołodziej, MTSS Coach, Medina City School District, OH.
This year’s winners were selected from over 200 outstanding nominations across 50 school districts. The finalists exemplify best practices in MTSS; ensure each student receives the proactive, personalized support they need to thrive; and drive real, measurable improvement in K-12 outcomes.
“We were absolutely blown away by the passion and dedication of this year’s MTSS Heroes nominees. Each and every one of them strives every day to create a path for every learner, and is a hero in their own right,” says Maya Gat, CEO and Co-Founder of Branching Minds. “We are deeply honored to celebrate this year’s winners and finalists for their passion, hard work, and lasting impact on their students and communities.”
Meet the 2025 MTSS Hero Award winners:
Rob Elizalde
RTI/Accelerated Instruction/ESL Coordinator, Fort Sam Houston ISD, TX
Rob has been a key driver of Fort Sam Houston ISD’s strong MTSS culture, supporting interventionists, empowering teachers, and guiding data-driven decision-making at the student and system levels. His leadership has strengthened and streamlined the district’s intervention programs, giving educators time back so they can prioritize personalized student support.
"Rob is the glue holding our MTSS system together," said Mariel Gaitan-Martinez, Student Services Coordinator in Fort Sam Houston ISD. "Because of him, our intervention program is thriving. He meets with interventionists weekly, and because they are given so much support, they can focus principally on helping students."
Maria Kołodziej
MTSS Coach, Medina City School District, OH
Maria has revolutionized MTSS implementation at Medina City Schools, making data-driven student support more manageable and effective for her fellow educators. By thoughtfully integrating new tools and strategies into established MTSS practices, Maria has enhanced teacher collaboration and increased intervention impact on students.
"Maria doesn’t just support students and staff—she empowers them to be their best," said Ronda French, Assistant Director of Pupil Services for Medina City Schools. "She empathizes with the difficulties teachers face and is able to offer strategies that are doable and easily implemented. Maria’s ‘we got this’ attitude is inspiring; she turns obstacles into opportunities and reminds me that together is the best way to support students.”
The 2025 MTSS Hero Honorable Mentions:
Emma McBride
MTSS District Administrator, Beaumont ISD, TX
Emma is a dedicated MTSS champion who has been instrumental in laying the foundation for effective, student-focused practices in her district.
“Emma embodies MTSS by not allowing excuses or barriers to stop staff from supporting students,” says Sharika Hawkins, District Administrator in Beaumont ISD. “She drives inclusiveness among district administrators by demonstrating how MTSS can support their growth, and she comes in daily with the mindset of making a difference.”
Megan Freeman
Interventionist, Chicago Public Schools, IL
Megan is tirelessly committed to her students and her district’s MTSS practices, directly supporting all grade levels on a daily basis while consistently keeping student intervention data up-to-date.
“Megan is a shining example of the dream MTSS coordinator,” says Kristin Marin, a School Psychologist in Chicago Public Schools. “I know students referred for special education have had targeted interventions with fidelity. Megan proves intervention works, even in a large urban school district like Chicago Public Schools! "
Florinda Castillo
Principal, South San Antonio ISD, TX
Florinda has been a key driver of her campus’ MTSS implementation, focusing on intervention fidelity, meeting effectiveness, and proactive support for both educators and students.
“Florinda is in every MTSS meeting,” says Vanessa Dominguez, District Administrator in South San Antonio ISD. “Her campus was the first among elementary campuses in the district to have an intervention plan for 100% of students in the Branching Minds MTSS platform.”
Jeanine Rainey
Interventionist, University of Chicago Charter Schools — Woodlawn Campus High School, IL
Jeanine has valiantly led the development of an MTSS framework for her high school, coaching staff on best practices for framework implementation and student support.
“Jeanine has dedicated herself to getting our school on track,” says Devin Churchill, School Psychologist and Counselor in Woodlawn Campus High School. “She has created spaces for stakeholders to provide input and strengthened our school through her efforts.”
Alison Vovchuk
MTSS Coordinator, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, NC
Alison is described as the heart and soul of student support in her district, helping educators give each student the support they need to thrive.
“Alison’s passion, leadership, and belief in every student’s success inspire her colleagues daily,” says colleague Sarah Barnett. “She is truly an MTSS Hero, transforming the educational experience for students, families, and staff."
Erica Gosling
Speech Language Pathologist, Public Schools of the Tarrytowns, NY
Erica has had a profound impact on her district’s success with MTSS, supporting meeting efficiency, tracking student progress, and leading data-informed problem-solving.
“Erica helps colleagues, students, and administrators succeed,” says Dr. Ivette Lebenberg, School Psychologist and Counselor in Public Schools of the Tarrytowns. “She partners with our team in a positive, problem-solving manner, building confidence and skills. I highly recommend her as an MTSS Hero!”
Erica Bulk
Principal, Middletown Public Schools, RI
Erica is an exemplary, data-driven MTSS leader, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality instruction and interventions for students and demystifying MTSS for staff.
“Erica ensures all students receive high-quality Tier 1 instruction and that Tier 2 and 3 interventions use evidence-based, data-driven practices,” says Jennifer Mulcahey, Teacher in Middletown Public Schools. “Her leadership ensures students and teachers get the support they need to succeed."
Jennifer Amigone
District Administrator, Cambridge Public Schools, MA
Known as the “data queen,” Jennifer has been a steadfast driver of MTSS implementation in her district and a champion for student growth.
“Jen goes above and beyond in visible ways—and even more behind the scenes,” says Heidi Cook, School Administrator in Cambridge Public Schools. “If anyone has a data or Branching Minds MTSS platform question, Jen finds the answer and makes it work. She is ALWAYS student-centered and positive."
Nanci Barr
Supervisor of Literacy Instruction, Egg Harbor Township School District, NJ
Nanci’s proactive leadership and coaching has been instrumental in the success of her district’s MTSS implementation.
“Nancy has actively mentored our building interventionists and data teams to ensure accurate progress monitoring and intervention program fidelity,” says Leanna Mullen, District Administrator in Egg Harbor Township School District. “Her exceptional problem-solving skills have enabled us to provide targeted Tier 2 support within the classroom and expand our services to a greater number of Tier 3 students than ever before."
Heather Mars
Teacher, Garland ISD, TX
Heather is a dedicated educator and MTSS leader who regularly inspires and mentors her colleagues to improve student outcomes and drive continuous improvement.
“Heather trains her team in data-driven strategies, aligning student academic goals with career aspirations and improving outcomes," says Mikeba Hill, Teacher in Garland ISD. “Her efforts have strengthened team cohesion and elevated education quality.”
Mary Cornely
Interventionist, Buckeye Local School District, OH
Mary is a steadfast advocate for students and an MTSS role model for colleagues across her district.
“Mary believes all students can learn and is constantly finding new ways to meet the academic and behavioral needs of our diverse learners,” says Sharon Nelson, a fellow Interventionist in Buckeye Local School District. “She is consistent and fair when it comes to behavior supports, provides clear and concise documentation of student challenges and interventions, and is truly loved by our students."
Kim Schultz
Teacher, Encinitas Union School District, CA
Kim is described as the heart of her school’s support system, working tirelessly to create effective schedules, implement impactful interventions, lead effective MTSS meetings, and support both students and staff.
“Kim’s dedication has directly benefited my students and me by scaffolding instruction in small groups, training and guiding intervention staff, and ensuring we have the resources we need at any time,” says Amber Brown, fellow Teacher in Encinitas Union School District. “Her passion for her work is evident in everything she does, and our school is beyond lucky to have her!"
Christina Fraser
School Administrator, Oakmont Education, OH
Christina’s tireless dedication and proactive approach to MTSS helps ensure all students feel valued and supported, while also surfacing key insights to guide effective intervention delivery and support objective resource allocation.
"Christina has shown incredible dedication to supporting both students and colleagues, always stepping up to provide guidance and solutions at Towpath Trail High School,” says Megan Caranna, District Administrator. “Her commitment and innovative mindset have not only positively impacted her students’ success, but have also inspired other teams to follow in her footsteps."
Christine Field
Director of MTSS, St. Jude Catholic School
Christine has been the driving force behind MTSS infrastructure development at her school, coaching staff and supporting effective intervention delivery.
“Christine is excellent with implementing structures and meeting individual students' needs,” says Sister Mary Andre, School Administrator. “She is caring, mission-driven, and professional, and works harder and more effectively than just about anyone I've ever worked with.”
About the 2025 MTSS Hero Awards
Now in its second year, the MTSS Hero Awards spotlight educators leading MTSS implementation and making a tangible difference in their schools and districts.
To learn more about the 2025 MTSS Heroes and explore Branching Minds’ MTSS Hall of Fame, visit https://www.branchingminds.com/brm-hall-of-fame
About Branching Minds
Branching Minds partners with schools to help educators streamline differentiation and personalize learning through an MTSS system solution that simplifies best practices. Since 2013, Branching Minds has collaborated with nearly 300,000 teachers and 545 districts across 38 states, improving outcomes for more than 2 million students. For more information, visit https://branchingminds.com.
Abigail Woodworth
Branching Minds
+1 215-866-7309
email
Related Posts
Comments (0)