From an MTSS Hero: "Build Systems Good Enough to Outlast You"

In this episode, Todd Hartman, principal of Creekside Elementary in Lakota Local Schools, Ohio, and a 2026 MTSS Hero Award winner, shares what changed between his first year in the building and his fourth. He and Larissa get into why "do all the things right away" turned out to be unsustainable, what collaboration actually means once a staff defines it out loud, and the five-minute monthly practice that has become his teachers' most requested professional learning. Perfect for building leaders who want the systems they build to keep working after they're gone.Resources:Lead From Where You Are — Joe SanfelippoEp 98: Roll Call! Addressing the Roots of Absenteeism with MTSS — Todd's first appearance, 4/1/2025 (Captivate link)How Creekside Elementary Improved Attendance with Branching MindsPrincipal to Principal: 5 Steps to MTSS SuccessHow To Establish a Supportive & Successful MTSS CultureHow to Master Your MTSS MeetingsRequest a consultationTakeaways:Chasing every improvement at once frustrates staff and moves nothing very far.Collaboration is interdependence — you feel it when a teammate is missing.A real legacy is a system that survives the leader, not a leader nobody can replace.Define collaboration with your team out loud instead of assuming shared meaning.Call it evidence, not data, when the word carries baggage for teachers.Coach your building leadership team so they can coach their own teams.Hand data-meeting ownership to teachers gradually, over years, not in one year.Invite a parent to speak for five minutes at a staff meeting each month. Learn more about MTSS and Branching Minds by visiting our Branching Minds Website, or sign up for our weekly Newsletter on all things MTSS. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn @BranchingMinds.  Send feedback or inquiries to podcast@branchingminds.com!