Beyond the Average: Rethinking educational support to help ALL learners reach their full potential

2D Image of the SEAD 3D Pyramid

My Journey: From MTSS to Something More

My advocacy journey began with a clear mission: to support gifted learners using the familiar Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework that most educators already knew and understood. I assembled a dedicated work group of gifted educators and stakeholders from across Ohio, and together we made tremendous progress creating a system that would finally give advanced learners the support they deserved within the three-tiered MTSS structure.

This work energized me! Gifted and advanced learners are so often misunderstood and overlooked. Brilliant minds that don't fit the traditional mold, sitting in classrooms where they're not challenged or supported appropriately. Using MTSS as our foundation felt like the perfect solution.

But then my research took an unexpected turn.

The Moment Everything Changed

As I delved deeper into educational research and learning theory, I came across Todd Rose's powerful TED talk about the myth of "average". His message stopped me in my tracks: there is actually no such thing as an "average" person. When we design educational systems for the average learner, we're essentially designing for no one. Every individual has what Rose calls a "jagged profile," which includes unique patterns of strengths and weaknesses that do not align with any predetermined norm. Suddenly, I found myself confronting two fundamental questions that I couldn't ignore:

1. How do I help every learner go beyond their personal ceiling?

2. How can I create a system that looks at all aspects of learners, not just academic, but social-emotional and executive functioning, too?

   
   

The more I researched, the more I realized that my initial focus, while important, was too narrow. What about all the students who fell into "the middle"? What about the complex reality that every single student, whether labeled as gifted, struggling, or typical, had their own unique combination of strengths and growth areas? Rose's research clearly showed that every learner deserved individualized support based on their unique profile, and I was on a personal mission to create a system to see and support ALL learners.

The Birth of a New Framework

This internal wrestling led me to completely reimagine my approach. Instead of simply flipping the traditional MTSS triangle into a diamond to accommodate gifted learners, I realized I needed something far more comprehensive. Something that honored the truth that Rose revealed: we all have jagged profiles that require individualized understanding and support.

A Dual Mission: Ohio's Gifted Learners and Beyond

This expansion of thinking allows me to pursue both passions simultaneously. I continue my dedicated work with Ohio's gifted educators, developing our MTSS framework specifically designed to serve advanced learners within our state's educational system. This work remains close to my heart because these students deserve specialized support within structured frameworks that districts already understand.

Parallel to this, I'm developing the SEAD Pyramid as a broader framework that I can share with educators everywhere. A system that naturally includes support for gifted learners while also addressing the needs of every student with their unique jagged profile.

Understanding the SEAD Pyramid

Instead of a single triangle or diamond, imagine a pyramid with four distinct sides, each addressing a crucial element of every learner's development:

S - Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

The social and emotional components that affect how students connect, cope, and thrive in learning environments.

E - Executive Functioning

The cognitive processes, including working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control, are what students need to learn effectively.

A - Advanced Learning

Opportunities for growth beyond grade-level expectations for students ready to accelerate their learning.

D - Developmental Support

Targeted interventions for areas needing additional attention to reach grade-level proficiency.

Why Every Student Needs a SEAD Profile

Here's the revolutionary part: because we all have jagged profiles, every student will have varying levels of strength and need across all four SEAD categories. This framework moves us away from labeling students as simply "gifted," "struggling," or "average" and instead creates a dynamic, individualized profile that captures the full complexity of each learner.

Practical Implementation

The beauty of the SEAD Pyramid lies in its flexibility. It works with any board-adopted curriculum and doesn't require a complete overhaul of existing systems. Instead, it adds intentionality to classroom practices by helping educators:

1. Assess comprehensively across all four domains

   
   

2. Plan strategically based on individual SEAD profiles

   
   

3. Support systematically with targeted interventions

   
   

4. Monitor growth across multiple dimensions of learning

   
   

A Framework for All

Unlike traditional models that might work well for some students while leaving others behind, the SEAD Pyramid recognizes that every learner deserves support tailored to their unique profile. It's not about sorting and labeling students. It's about understanding and nurturing the individual complexity each child brings to the learning environment.

The Vision: Beyond Every Ceiling

When we truly embrace the reality that there is no "average" learner, we open up possibilities for every student to grow beyond their perceived limitations. The SEAD Pyramid isn't just another educational framework. It's a mindset and culture shift toward seeing and supporting the whole child in all their beautiful webs of complexity.

Because at the end of the day, every learner deserves to go beyond their ceiling and reach their full, individual potential.

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Ready to learn more about implementing the SEAD Pyramid framework in your school or classroom? Contact angiefugatebtc@gmail.com or fill out the “Contact Me” section at the bottom of the website.