Creating Conditions for MTSS Innovation

What if innovation was less about finding the next big thing and more about creating the conditions for people to do their best work?

During our annual MTSS Summit, Dr. Angela Plugge, explored three core components essential for fostering this kind of innovation: Coherence, Culture, and Connection.

View the keynote session, It’s Not Magic – It’s MTSS: Creating Conditions that Inspire Innovation, presented by Angie Plugge, Director of Learning, Waverly School District 145 (NE)

Coherence: Building a Shared Language

Does your team work hard but feel disconnected? This often signals a lack of coherence, which can block innovation. Leaders can fix this by creating a shared framework for success. Here’s how:

• Align on Vocabulary: Define key terms like "effective instruction" and "student success" to foster collaboration.
• Build Flexible Systems: Provide clear direction while allowing space for professional judgment.
• Clarify the "How": Work with your team to outline specific strategies for achieving goals together. 

Culture: The Heart of Meaningful Work

While coherence provides the structure, culture provides the heart. A positive culture is intentionally built through small, consistent actions that send a powerful message: "You are safe here, you are valued, and your work matters."
To create a culture of innovation, focus on these key areas:

• Psychological Safety: Educators need to feel safe to take risks, experiment, fail, and ask for help without judgment.
• Leadership Vulnerability: When leaders openly share their own challenges, it empowers their teams to learn from mistakes and grow.
• Shared Purpose: Linking actions back to your "why" motivates people to contribute to a meaningful, collective goal.

Connection: The Fuel for Sustainable Change

The best strategic plans will remain on paper if people don't feel connected to the work and, most importantly, to each other. Innovation is deeply human work. It is about relationships, collaboration, and mutual support. Great outcomes don't come from programs; they come from environments where people feel seen, heard, and valued.