Case Study: Banning Unified School District

Award-Winning Innovation in Special Education Support

At Banning Unified School District, clarity, consistency, and support aren’t just ideals, they’re essential to how their special education teams operate across schools. Led by Director of Special Education, Timothy E. Worthington II, the district faced a challenge shared by many: how to ensure staff—from administrators to paraprofessionals—could access accurate, reliable guidance without increasing workload or headcount.

The Challenge

Like many districts, Banning USD needed a way to streamline information, reduce confusion, and build a more cohesive support system. With countless forms, procedures, and role-specific expectations, even experienced educators can feel overwhelmed searching for the right answer in the moment.

As a former principal and now Director of Special Education, Timothy deeply understands the day-to-day realities educators face. He recognized the urgent need for a centralized system that could reduce confusion, improve access to resources, and help staff feel confident in their work.

The Solution: axis3 + SETH

Banning USD partnered with Creatively Focused to bring clarity and structure to their support systems by implementing axis3, a digital platform developed to centralize special education knowledge, tools, and professional learning.

As part of the axis3 offering, Banning launched a customized AI-powered support agent nicknamed SETH (Special Education Technical Handbook). Built and maintained by Creatively Focused, this closed-source AI assistant provides staff with 24/7 access to district-aligned answers, timelines, job aids, and guidance.

Alongside this, Timothy and his team developed a comprehensive special education manual tailored to their district. This manual is now housed in axis3, serving as a living resource that is accessible, up to date, and aligned to local practices.

Creatively Focused is also supporting the training and implementation of this manual across the district, ensuring that the investment in clarity and consistency pays off in the day-to-day work of educators.

The Impact

The results have been powerful. Since launching SETH and axis3, Banning USD has seen a measurable shift in staff confidence and efficiency.

“Our axis3 agent SETH is creating cohesion and clarity across our district. Principals are confident their teams are getting consistent answers, and we can feel the needle moving.”
– Timothy E. Worthington II, Director of Special Education

Educators are on the path to spending less time searching and second-guessing and more time supporting students.

Leadership that Makes a Difference

Timothy is an exceptional leader: visionary, systems-driven, and deeply committed to supporting the educators he leads. His focus on building scalable, sustainable structures has set his team up for long-term success. With his guidance, and the support of an amazing team, Banning USD is creating a model for how systems, technology, and people can come together to make a meaningful impact.

In recognition of this work, Timothy E. Worthington II and Banning Unified School District were awarded the 2025 Creative Impact Award from Creatively Focused for innovation and excellence in special education.

Learn more about Banning and axis3 here. Want to see what axis3 could do for your district? Contact us!