North Carolina MTSS Voices brings together stories, strategies, and successes from across North Carolina through powerful interviews with educators and district leaders. This virtual summit features conversations highlighting real-world MTSS implementation in action, including a live webinar to connect ideas, reflect on practice, and explore practical next steps for strengthening systems that support every student.
Learn from real examples of MTSS in action through stories and strategies shared by North Carolina educators and district leaders
Reflect on your own systems and practices with opportunities to consider what is working, what needs strengthening, and where to go next.
Walk away with practical ideas and next steps for building more aligned, sustainable supports for students across your school or district.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have question? We are here to help!
Are the sessions live?
No, all of the interviews are pre-recorded videos and available for you to watch at your convenience.
When will the content be available?
The videos will be sent out around 5am on November 4th, and will be available for an entire week.
Is this event free to attend?
Yes. This is a free, virtual event and all content will be available asynchronously on-demand.
Dr. Loretta Whitson is the founder and executive director of the California Association of School Counselors (CASC), the second-largest state association representing school counselors in the nation.
Dr. Loretta Whitson Founder and Executive Director of the California Association of School Counselors
Lezya Weglarz wears many hats in the school counseling profession. She currently serves as a Project Specialist for the San Diego County Office of Education where she supports K12 School Counseling across San Diego County.
Lezya Weglarz Project Specialist, San Diego County Office of Education
Lauren is a school counselor at Cambridge Elementary in San Antonio, TX, a 2019 National School of Character. She is currently in her 17th year as a school counselor and serves as the Texas Coordinator for Character.org.
Lauren Boyher School Counselor, Cambridge Elementary & Texas Coordinator for Character.org
Matthew McClain has been a school counselor in rural Northeast Colorado since 2005. He spent 10 years counseling at the 5th and 6th grade level, then spent 6 years at the high school level, and is currently at the elementary level since 2021.
Matthew McClain School Counselor & the Executive Director for the Colorado School Counselor Association
Meet the Speakers & Presenters
More Speakers Coming Soon!
Your Hosts For The Summit
Ashley Bennetone
Ashley is a Director of School Supports at CharacterStrong and has over ten years of experience in education. She started her career as an elementary teacher and then served as a school counselor at both the elementary and middle school levels. During her time as a school counselor, she advocated for students and the school counseling profession through her involvement in her district's school counseling leadership team and her state's Government Relations Committee. In 2022, she was recognized as her district's Middle School Counselor of the Year. Ashley is passionate about working with fellow educators as they support students with character development.
Anna Ellsworth
Anna Ellsworth is the Director of School Support at CharacterStrong with over 5 years of experience in education. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in North Carolina, where she discovered her passion for supporting the Whole Child. Anna now partners with schools and districts to help educators implement meaningful, sustainable practices that strengthen student wellbeing and character development, ensuring every student has the support they need to thrive.
