RTI Team Building

Kelly Broxterman, PhD, NCSP (formerly Kelly McGraw), is Associate Professor in the School Psychology Department at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She facilitates a multi-year grant to implement the problem-solving model presented in Transforming Schools in a high-needs school, and is a lead coach for the Illinois MTSS Network. She formerly worked as a school psychologist and district trainer. Dr. Broxterman teaches courses in systems theory and change and conducts research on the factors that influence the implementation of a systems-level change. She is the coauthor of RTI Team Building: Effective Collaboration and Data-Based Decision Making and RTI in the Classroom: Guidelines and Recipes for Success.Angela J. Whalen, PhD, is Assistant Dean for Academic Programs and Student Services at the University of Oregon College of Education. Dr. Whalen served for 9 years as a faculty member and Co-Director of the School Psychology Program at the University of Oregon, where she taught courses in RTI, assessment, consultation, practicum, clinical supervision, and school psychology principles and practices. Before joining the faculty at the University of Oregon, Dr. Whalen worked as a school psychologist, data/literacy facilitator, and staff development specialist for the Heartland Area Education Agency in Iowa and Vancouver Public Schools in Washington. Dr. Whalen’s primary professional interests include academic assessment and intervention, school improvement efforts that promote student achievement, training, and supervision issues in school psychology. She was Project Coordinator for a personnel preparation grant, funded by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs, to train school psychologists with expertise in RTI, and has presented and consulted with schools nationally on topics related to RTI and data-based decision making.

• Introduction: Data-Based Decision-Making Teams and Their Role in Schoolwide Response-to-Intervention ModelsI. Before the Team Meeting2. Getting Started: Establishing Your Team3. Planning for Collaborative Data-Team Meetings in RTIII. During the Team Meeting4. Data-Based Benchmark Assessment and Screening Decisions5. Data-Based Intervention Planning Decisions6. Data-Based Progress Monitoring DecisionsIII.After the Team Meeting7. The Roadmap: Planning for Data-Based Decision Making8. Making It Happen: Implementing and Sustaining Data-Based Decision Making in Collaborative RTI Teams

Virtually all important RTI decision making in schools is team based, so as an RTI trainer, I was delighted to come across Broxterman and Whalen's book. This practical guide walks schools through the process of setting up effective problem-solving teams in clear, specific terms. A particular strength is the lucid description of how an RTI team can help teachers to successfully define student problems, select appropriate interventions and goals, and monitor progress. The authors stress the collaborative nature of team-based problem solving and the key role of teachers. The book also anticipates possible roadblocks that can derail RTI teams--such as lack of intervention follow-through--and offers strategies to prevent them.--Jim Wright, MS, CAS, RTI consultant and trainer, New YorkCollaborative effort and productive meetings are what really drive and inform an RTI process, but problems frequently arise in these areas. Broxterman and Whalen systematically delve into these important aspects of data-based decision making. This is truly a book that will allow you to learn about the foundational concepts of an RTI process, access materials and forms for immediate use, and get started improving your RTI decision making right away! The precise descriptions, examples, charts, and reproducible materials make this a treasure trove of information that will improve your school's or district's likelihood of success with RTI.--Randy Allison, EdS, independent educational consultant, Waukee, IowaThis is truly a unique book that addresses critical issues in RTI implementation. It describes the basic functions of RTI teams, how to create a team, and how to engage in team-based decision making at all tiers of RTI. The authors explicitly show how successful team meetings help districts and schools develop, deliver, and sustain best practices in instruction and intervention. Numerous helpful tools are included. A valuable roadmap for RTI implementers, the book would also serve as a useful 'how-to' text in university courses.--Danielle M. Parisi, PhD, Department of Secondary and Special Education, Montclair State University -