Appendix A: MTSS-B Coach Interview Protocol

Protocol A: MTSS-B Coach(es) in Each District (Fall 2015)

Date: 

Interviewer_ID: District_ID: Coach_ID:

Introduction 

Good morning/good afternoon. My name is [name] and I work with the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support 

for Behavior (MTSS-B) study team. 

We are conducting interviews with MTSS-B coaches to learn their thoughts about the training and support 

they have received to help school staff to implement the MTSS-B program. I am here today to hear from 

you about how the CSBS trainers who have been working with you have helped you to implement the 

MTSS-B program in the schools that you coach in and about the usefulness of the implementation supports. 

We anticipate that the interview will take about 20 minutes. 

Before we begin, I would like to ask you to review this consent form and let me know if you agree to be 

interviewed and I can audio-record the interview. We record the interviews to ensure that we do not miss 

any relevant information. All the information we collect is confidential, and you, your school, or anyone 

working at or attending your school will not be identified by name in any of the reports that will be 

published. You can ask me to stop recording at any time. (Review consent form.)

Do you have any questions before we begin?

Interview

ICE BREAKER: How is the MTSS-B program implementation going?

I would like to ask you a few questions about the readiness activities that were conducted last spring and 

early summer and the trainings and supports you received to be able to help schools to implement the 

MTSS-B program. 

1. As a part of the readiness activities last spring, you were recruited to work as an MTSS-B coach. 

Did you find the CSBS trainer helpful in understanding your role and responsibilities?

a. If Yes, then ask: How did he/she help you to establish your position as the MTSS-B coach 

for this study and in schools? [Probe: For example, did you see a webinar about the MTSS-B 

study in general and about the role of the MTSS-B coach? Did you discuss your role as a 

coach and the roles and functions of the team members with the CSBS trainer?] 

b. If No, then ask: What kind of additional support would have been helpful in establishing 

your position as the MTSS-B coach?
2. Did the CSBS trainer provide any training specifically about being an MTSS-B coach and the 

coaching model (e.g. instead of covering the MTSS-B approach more generally)? 

a. If Yes, then ask: What kind of trainings or activities did you do with the CSBS trainer? 

[Probe: For example, group discussions about the coaching model, practice activities?]

b. If No, then ask: What kind of additional activities would have been helpful early on?

3. Did you get support from the CSBS trainer in how to assist schools in changing their office referral 

system(s)? For example, did the CSBS trainer: i) give you an example ODR form? ii) explain why

the forms needed to be changed?

a. If Yes, then ask: Was the support helpful? Can you give examples? Can you think of any

additional supports that could have been helpful?

b. If No, then ask: What kind of support would have been helpful for you?

I would now like to ask you a few questions about the support activities that have taken place in the last 

few months to implement MTSS-B in the schools where you coach.

4. Most schools participating in the study were encouraged to change their rewards and consequences 

system regarding student behavior and discipline. Did you work with any of the schools where you 

coach to change their system? 

a. If Yes, then ask: In those schools where the system changed, can you briefly describe 

how the system changed? Did the CSBS trainer provide guidance/information to you on 

how to modify the system? 

i. If Yes then ask: What kind of supports did he/she provide? Can you give examples? 

[Probe: Did the trainer discuss the benefits of or reasoning for having positive 

reinforcement systems in place, changing the focus from negative consequences to 

positive reinforcements, examples of systems other schools have established, 

etcetera? For example, technical assistance via email, phone calls] Can you think of 

any other supports that could have been helpful?

ii. If No, then ask: What kind of additional support would have been helpful for you?

b. If No, then ask: What were the reasons for not modifying the current 

rewards/consequences system? [Probe: Did the current system already align with the 

MTSS-B approach; was changing the system not necessary, etc.]

4. As a part of this study, SLTs and MTSS-B coach(es) were trained during the summer by CSBS in 

the MTSS-B approach. Did you help, after the summer trainings, any of the schools that you coach 

in to finalize their implementation plans and to prepare for the kick-off meeting? 

a. If Yes, then ask: Did you help all the schools in which you coach? Did you receive support 

from the CSBS trainer to help the school staff to finalize the implementation plan? Was the 

support helpful? Can you give examples? [Probe: For example, technical assistance via 

email, phone calls] Can you think of any other supports that could have been helpful?
b. If No then ask: What kind of additional support would have been helpful for you to help 

with this task?

5. In your opinion, in how many of the schools you coach in do the staff feel ready to use SWIS at 

this stage? In how many schools are staff not ready? 

a. For schools where staff appear ready, then ask: Can you give examples of how they are 

showing this? [Probe: For example, have you or staff in these schools started to use the 

system? Has someone been assigned to enter ODRs? How about to regularly print out 

reports? Are you or the staff using or planning to use the data reports during SLT or other 

meetings?] Are there other indicators that show staff members are ready to use SWIS?

b. For schools where staff do not appear ready, then ask: In your opinion, why do you think 

they are not ready to use SWIS at this point? [Probe: Were the right staff trained? Did the 

trained staff leave the school? Was the training not sufficient? 

I would like to learn about the activities you have engaged in since the start of the school-year to help 

school staff implement the MTSS-B program and the kind of supports that you received from the CSBS 

trainer to do that. I would like to ask a set of questions about the kind of activities you may have been 

engaged in. 

6. Did you help the SLT in any of your schools get established and become part of the school’s 

decision-making infrastructure? 

a. If Yes, then ask: What did you do to help? Did you receive support from the CSBS trainer? 

Was it helpful? Can you give examples? [Probe: Did the CSBS trainer explain the role and 

functioning of SLTs and their different members; how to incorporate the MTSS-B coach 

into the school infrastructure; technical assistance via email, phone calls] Can you think of 

any other supports that could have been helpful?

b. If No, then ask: Why not? Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: what is 

the trainer’s take on it? Were these schools moving without you? What kind of additional 

support would have been helpful for you to assume a more active role?

7. Have you been participating in the SLT meetings in any of the schools you work with? 

a. If Yes, then ask: 

i. In how many of your schools? 

ii. How often did you participate in these meetings on average across these schools?

iii. What was your role in the meeting? For example, did you keep the meeting minutes, 

or help to analyze data?

iv. What kind of supports have you received from the CSBS trainer for your role in the 

SLT?

v. If you did not participate in SLT meetings in all schools, why did you not attend in 

some schools? Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? 
b. If No, then ask: Why have you not been attending these meetings? Have you discussed this 

with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: What is the trainer’s take on it? Should you attend these 

meetings?]

8. Did you help the SLT or other school staff analyze student data and/or use data to modify the 

school’s implementation plan in any of your schools?

a. If Yes, then ask: In how many school did you help with the data? Did you receive support 

from the CSBS trainer? Was the support helpful? Can you give examples? [Probe: For 

example, went through examples based on your school’s data, printed out and interpreted 

example reports, answered questions about SWIS] Can you think of any other supports that 

could have been helpful?

b. If No, then ask: Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: What is the trainer’s 

take on it? Should you help the schools with data?] What kind of additional support would 

have been helpful for you?

These were all the questions that I have. Is there anything else you would like to share with me about the 

support you have received for implementing the MTSS-B program? Thank you so much for your time.
Protocol B:

MTSS-B Coach(es) in Each District (Spring 2016)

Date:

Interviewer_ID: District_ID:

Coach_ID:

Introduction 

Good morning/good afternoon. My name is [name] and I work with the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support 

for Behavior (MTSS-B) study team. 

We are conducting interviews with MTSS-B coaches to learn their thoughts about the training and support 

they have received to help school staff to implement the MTSS-B program. I am here today to hear from 

you about how the CSBS trainers who have been working with you have helped you to implement the 

MTSS-B program in the schools that you coach in and about the usefulness of the implementation supports. 

We anticipate that the interview will take about 20 minutes. 

Before we begin, I would like to ask you to review this consent form and let me know if you agree to be 

interviewed and I can audio-record the interview. We record the interviews to ensure that we do not miss 

any relevant information. All the information we collect is confidential, and you, your school, or anyone 

working at or attending your school will not be identified by name in any of the reports that will be 

published. You can ask me to stop recording at any time. (Review consent form.)

Do you have any questions before we begin?

Interview

ICE BREAKER: How the MTSS-B program going?

I would like to ask you a few questions about the support activities that have taken place over the last two 

months to implement MTSS-B in the schools where you coach. I would especially like to learn about the 

activities you engaged in over the last two months and what kind of supports you received from the CSBS 

trainer to conduct these activities. I would like to ask a set of questions about the kind of activities the 

CSBS trainer and you were engaged in. Are you ready? 

1. Most schools participating in the study were encouraged to change their rewards and consequences 

system regarding student behavior and discipline. Did you work with any of the schools where you 

coach to change their system? 

c. If Yes, then ask: In those schools where the system changed, can you briefly describe how 

the system changed? Did the CSBS trainer provide guidance/information to you on how to 

modify the system? 

i. If Yes then ask: What kind of supports did he/she provide? Can you give examples? 

[Probe: Did the trainer discuss the benefits of or reasoning for having positive 

reinforcement systems in place, changing the focus from negative consequences to 

positive reinforcements, examples of systems other schools have established, 
etcetera? For example, technical assistance via email, phone calls] Can you think of 

any other supports that could have been helpful?

ii. If No, then ask: What kind of additional support would have been helpful for you?

d. If No, then ask: What were the reasons for not modifying the current rewards/consequences 

system? [Probe: Did the current system already align with the MTSS-B approach; was 

changing the system not necessary, etc.]

2. Has the CSBS trainer conducted webinars about the classroom components in any of the schools 

where you coach over the last two months?

a. If Yes, then ask: Did you participate in the webinars? Do you think the staff and teachers 

have found the information in the webinars to be useful? Do you think they are using the 

specific strategies and tools? Can you think of any other supports that could have been 

helpful?

b. If No, then ask: Has there not been any trainings yet? Have you discussed this with the 

CSBS trainer? [What is the trainer’s take on it? Should you have attended the trainings as 

well?]

2. Have there been any other trainings by the CSBS provider in any of the schools where you coach 

over the last two months?

a. If Yes, then ask: Did you participate in the trainings? What was the content of the trainings? 

Do you think your staff and teachers have found the trainings useful? How do you know? 

Do you think they are using the specific strategies and tools covered in the trainings? Can 

you think of any other supports that could have been helpful?

b. If No, then ask: Has there not been any trainings yet? Have you discussed this with the 

CSBS trainer? [What is the trainer’s take on it? Should you have attended the trainings as 

well?]

3. Have you been participating in the SLT meetings in any of the schools you work with? 

a. If Yes, then ask: 

i. In how many of your schools? 

ii. How often did you participate in these meetings on average across these schools?

iii. What was your role in the meeting? For example, did you keep the meeting minutes, 

or help to analyze data?

iv. What kind of supports have you received from the CSBS trainer for your role in the 

SLT?

v. If you did not participate in SLT meetings in all schools, why did you not attend in 

some schools? Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? 
b. If No, then ask: Why have you not been attending these meetings ? Have you discussed this 

with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: What is the trainer’s take on it? Should you attend these 

meetings?]

4. Did you help the SLT or other school staff analyze student data and/or use data to modify the 

school’s implementation plan in any of your schools?

a. If Yes, then ask: In how many school did you help with the data? Did you receive support 

from the CSBS trainer? Was the support helpful? Can you give examples? [Probe: For 

example, went through examples based on your school’s data, printed out and interpreted 

example reports, answered questions about SWIS] Can you think of any other supports that 

could have been helpful?

b. If No, then ask: Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: What is the trainer’s 

take on it? Should you help the schools with data?] What kind of additional support would 

have been helpful for you?

5. Did you conduct any trainings for teachers in any of your schools over the last two months? (For 

example, during grade level meetings?)

a. If Yes, then ask: In how many schools? What was the content of the trainings? Can you give 

examples? [Probe:]

i. Physical arrangement of the classroom

ii. Explicitly defining, teaching, and reinforcing teaching behavior expectations 

(support in creating behavior matrices, etc.)

iii. How to provide praise in the classroom (contingent and explicit; implementing 

reward consequence system—including new ODR process, positive vs. negative 

comments)

iv. General classroom routines 

v. Classwide group contingencies

vi. Error correction

vii. Multiple opportunities to respond

viii. Active supervision

ix. Positive Behavior Game

b. If Yes, then ask: Have CSBS trainers provided support for the training of teachers in MTSSB implementation? If so, can you tell me more about those supports? [Probe: For example, 

materials, consultation, and problem solving about specific issues or challenges (e.g., what 

content to cover in the training, how to make the training hands on, etc.)]

c. If No, then ask: Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: What is the trainer’s 

take on it? Should you engage in direct coaching with the teachers?] 
6. Did you provide any individualized coaching to the classroom teachers in any of your schools over 

the last two months? 

a. If Yes, then ask: What was the content of the coaching? Can you give examples? [Probe:]

i. Physical arrangement of the classroom

ii. Explicitly defining, teaching, and reinforcing teaching behavior expectations 

(support in creating behavior matrices, etc.)

iii. How to provide praise in the classroom (contingent and explicit; implementing 

reward consequence system—including new ODR process, positive vs. negative 

comments)

iv. General classroom routines 

v. Classwide group contingencies

vi. Error correction

vii. Multiple opportunities to respond

viii. Active supervision

ix. Positive Behavior Game

b. Can you give examples of the type of activities you engaged in?

i. Observations for coaching purposes

ii. Observations for checking on implementation fidelity

iii. Modelling any of the classroom strategies

iv. Providing teachers feedback on their implementation

v. Consulting with teachers about the Positive Behavior Game

vi. Other:

c. How did you pick which teachers to coach? 

d. What kind of supports has the CSBS trainer provided for coaching the teachers in the 

MTSS-B implementation? [Probe: For example, materials, consultation, and problem 

solving about specific challenges or issues (e.g., how to model a specific strategy, how to 

create productive relationships with teachers)]. 

e. If No, then ask: Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: what is the trainer’s 

take on it? Should you engage in direct coaching with the teachers?] 

7. What barriers or obstacles do you believe have hindered the implementation of the MTSS-B 

program in your school? Was the CSBS trainer helpful in addressing these obstacles? How?
8. In your opinion, in any the schools where you coach, did the staff feel well supported by the 

provider regarding MTSS-B implementation during the last school year? In how many schools do 

you think the staff felt well supported?

These were all the questions I had. Is there anything else you would like to share with me about the support 

you have received for implementing the MTSS-B program? Thank you so much for your time.
Protocol C:

MTSS-B Coach(es) in Each District (Spring 2017)

Date:

Interviewer_ID: District_ID:

Coach_ID:

Introduction 

Good morning/good afternoon. My name is [name] and I work with the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support 

for Behavior (MTSS-B) study team. 

We are conducting interviews with MTSS-B coaches to learn their thoughts about the training and support 

they have received to help school staff to implement the MTSS-B program. I am here today to hear from 

you about how the CSBS trainers who have been working with you have helped you to implement the 

MTSS-B program in the schools that you coach in and about the usefulness of the implementation supports. 

We anticipate that the interview will take about 20 minutes. 

Before we begin, I would like to ask you to review this consent form and let me know if you agree to be 

interviewed and I can audio-record the interview. We record the interviews to ensure that we do not miss 

any relevant information. All the information we collect is confidential, and you, your school, or anyone 

working at or attending your school will not be identified by name in any of the reports that will be 

published. You can ask me to stop recording at any time. (Review consent form.)

Do you have any questions before we begin?

Interview

ICE BREAKER: How is the MTSS-B program going? Is there a difference compared to last year? [Probe: 

Is it getting easier? Is the staff better prepared to implement?]

I would like to learn about the support activities that have taken place over the last few months to 

implement MTSS-B in the schools where you coach. I would especially like to learn about the activities 

you engaged in over the last two months and what kind of supports you received from the CSBS trainer to

conduct these activities. Are you ready?

1. Has the CSBS trainer conducted webinars about the classroom components in any of the schools 

where you coach over the last two months?

a. If Yes, then ask: Did you participate in the webinars? Do you think the staff and teachers 

have found the information in the webinars to be useful? Do you think they are using the 

specific strategies and tools? Can you think of any other supports that could have been 

helpful?

b. If No, then ask: Has there not been any trainings yet? Have you discussed this with the 

CSBS trainer? [What is the trainer’s take on it? Should you have attended the trainings as 

well?]

2. Have there been any other trainings by the CSBS provider in any of the schools where you coach 

over the last two months?
a. If Yes, then ask: Did you participate in the trainings? What was the content of the trainings? 

Do you think your staff and teachers have found the trainings useful? How do you know? 

Do you think they are using the specific strategies and tools covered in the trainings? Can 

you think of any other supports that could have been helpful?

b. If No, then ask: Has there not been any trainings yet? Have you discussed this with the 

CSBS trainer? [What is the trainer’s take on it? Should you have attended the trainings as 

well?]

3. Have you been participating in the SLT meetings in any of the schools you work with? 

a. If Yes, then ask: 

i. In how many of your schools? 

ii. How often did you participate in these meetings on average across these schools?

iii. What was your role in the meeting? For example, did you keep the meeting minutes, 

or help to analyze data?

iv. What kind of supports have you received from the CSBS trainer for your role in the 

SLT?

v. If you did not participate in SLT meetings in all schools, why did you not attend in 

some schools? Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer?

b. If No, then ask: Why have you not been attending these meetings ? Have you discussed this 

with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: What is the trainer’s take on it? Should you attend these 

meetings?]

4. Did you help the SLT or other school staff analyze student data and/or use data to modify the 

school’s implementation plan in any of your schools?

a. If Yes, then ask: In how many school did you help with the data? Did you receive support 

from the CSBS trainer? Was the support helpful? Can you give examples? [Probe: For 

example, went through examples based on your school’s data, printed out and interpreted 

example reports, answered questions about SWIS] Can you think of any other supports that 

could have been helpful?

b. If No, then ask: Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: What is the 

trainer’s take on it? Should you help the schools with data?] What kind of additional 

support would have been helpful for you?

5. Did you conduct any trainings for teachers in any of your schools over the last two months? (For 

example, during grade level meetings?)

a. If Yes, then ask: In how many schools? What was the content of the trainings? Can you 

give examples? [Probe:]

i. Physical arrangement of the classroom
ii. Explicitly defining, teaching, and reinforcing teaching behavior expectations 

(support in creating behavior matrices, etc.)

iii. How to provide praise in the classroom (contingent and explicit; implementing 

reward consequence system—including new ODR process, positive vs. negative 

comments)

iv. General classroom routines 

v. Classwide group contingencies

vi. Error correction

vii. Multiple opportunities to respond

viii. Active supervision

ix. Positive Behavior Game

b. If Yes, then ask: Have CSBS trainers provided support for the training of teachers in 

MTSS-B implementation? If so, can you tell me more about those supports? [Probe: For 

example, materials, consultation, and problem solving about specific issues or challenges 

(e.g., what content to cover in the training, how to make the training hands on, etc.)]

c. If No, then ask: Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: What is the 

trainer’s take on it? Should you engage in direct coaching with the teachers?] 

6. Did you provide any individualized coaching to the classroom teachers in any of your schools over 

the last two months? 

a. If Yes, then ask: What was the content of the coaching? Can you give examples? [Probe:]

i. Physical arrangement of the classroom

ii. Explicitly defining, teaching, and reinforcing teaching behavior expectations 

(support in creating behavior matrices, etc.)

iii. How to provide praise in the classroom (contingent and explicit; implementing 

reward consequence system—including new ODR process, positive vs. negative 

comments)

iv. General classroom routines 

v. Classwide group contingencies

vi. Error correction

vii. Multiple opportunities to respond

viii. Active supervision

ix. Positive Behavior Game

b. Can you give examples of the type of activities you engaged in?
i. Observations for coaching purposes

ii. Observations for checking on implementation fidelity

iii. Modelling any of the classroom strategies

iv. Providing teachers feedback on their implementation

v. Consulting with teachers about the Positive Behavior Game

vi. Other:

c. How did you pick which teachers to coach? 

d. What kind of supports has the CSBS trainer provided for coaching the teachers in the 

MTSS-B implementation? [Probe: For example, materials, consultation, and problem 

solving about specific challenges or issues (e.g., how to model a specific strategy, how to 

create productive relationships with teachers)]. 

e. If No, then ask: Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: what is the 

trainer’s take on it? Should you engage in direct coaching with the teachers?] 

7. Have there been any trainings by the CSBS provider about the Tier II intervention [CICO] in any

of your schools over the last two months?

a. If Yes, then ask: In how many schools there have been trainings? Did you participate in the 

trainings? What was the content of the trainings? Do you think the staff found the trainings 

useful? How do you know? Do you think they are using the specific strategies and tools 

covered in the trainings? Can you think of any other supports that could have been helpful?

b. If No, then ask: Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: What is the 

trainer’s take on it? Should there have been training at this point? Should you participate in 

the trainings?] ?

8. Have you worked with the SLT or the Targeted Team regarding implementation of [CICO] in ay of 

the schools where you coach?

a. If Yes, then ask: In how many of them? What kind of supports have you provided? Can you 

give examples? [Probe:] 

i. Did you help the SLT and/or the Targeted Team to identify students who are not 

responsive to Tier I and who would benefit from [CICO]? 

ii. Did you help the SLT or the Targeted Team to create behavior expectations for 

students? 

iii. Did you help to enter the [CICO] data into SWIS?

iv. Did you help analyze the SWIS [CICO] data?

v. Did you help with progress monitoring and adjusting the implementation?

vi. Did you model how to give feedback to students regarding their expectations and 

behavior?
b. What kind of support did you receive from CSBS to help the school staff with CICO 

implementation? [Probe: Did the CSBS trainer answer your questions, provide additional 

materials (e.g., examples of student score cards), brainstormed to solve issues, etc.)

c. If No, then ask: Have you discussed this with the CSBS trainer? [Probe: What is the 

trainer’s take on it? Should you be helping the SLT and TT with CICO at this point?] 

9. What barriers or obstacles do you believe hindered the implementation of the MTSS-B program in 

the schools in which you coach? Was the CSBS trainer helpful in addressing these obstacles? 

How?

These were all the questions I had. Is there anything else you would like to share with me about the support 

you have received for implementing the MTSS-B program? Thank you so much for your time.