In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, recorded live at the Nebraska MTSS Summit, we explore how the Omaha Tribe Head Start program is transforming early childhood education through the implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). We are joined by Merissa Cruye and Shelsea Bia, who share their inspiring journey of bringing systems-level change to their Head Start program, serving children from six weeks to five years old across four townships on the Omaha Tribe reservation in Nebraska.

Merissa and Shelsea detail how the pandemic revealed gaps in early intervention services and led to a bold commitment to improving outcomes for the children in their program (and their families). They discuss the challenges and successes of integrating MTSS into their support at Omaha Tribe Head Start, including the use of data-driven practices, professional development, and building a foundation of collaboration through tools like CliftonStrengths.

This episode offers a powerful look at how systemic change and a dedicated team can create meaningful improvements for young learners!

To learn more about the Omaha Tribe Head Start Program, visit https://www.omahatribe.com/omaha-tribe-head-start-early-head-start-are-open-for-enrollment/

To learn more about Nebraska's MTSS efforts, visit https://nemtss.unl.edu/