MTSS Integrated Conference '26

Catherina Mattern is the principal of Lincoln Elementary in the Toppenish School District, where she is passionate about building systems that help every student succeed. Throughout her leadership career, she has focused on creating sustainable MTSS and PBIS practices by developing strong teams, using data to drive decisions, and fostering a positive school culture centered on relationships and continuous improvement. She believes effective leadership is about creating systems that empower educators and ensure students receive the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to thrive. As a practicing principal, Catherina enjoys sharing the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from implementing MTSS in a real school setting. Rather than presenting a perfect model, she believes in honest conversations, practical strategies, and resources that educators can take back and use immediately. Her goal is to help schools build systems that are sustainable, collaborative, and always focused on what is best for students.