How Douglas School District Elevates Paraeducator Growth Through a Human-Centered Feedback Cycle - Creatively Focused

How Douglas School District Elevates Paraeducator Growth Through a Human-Centered Feedback Cycle

12. 10. 2025

At Creatively Focused, we believe paraeducators are essential to the heart of every school community. They support instruction, build relationships, help maintain calm and connection, and make learning more accessible for students who need it most. Yet across the country, paras are often asked to do incredibly complex work without consistent structures for feedback, growth, or professional learning.

Douglas School District recognized this challenge—and solved it.

Under the leadership of Monica Waltman, Douglas embraced a compassionate, human-centered approach to developing paraeducators through a structured Para Feedback Cycle, built in collaboration with Creatively Focused. Monica not only led the design of this system, she also presented the model at CASE, highlighting how a clear framework can elevate para performance, strengthen communication, and improve outcomes for students.

Why Para Support Matters

Paraeducators play a powerful and often understated role in supporting students, especially those receiving special education services. Their development matters—but many teachers have not been formally trained to supervise or provide ongoing feedback to paras. Without tools or clarity, professional growth can feel inconsistent for both sides.

Douglas faced the same challenges many districts do:

  • Feedback that was inconsistent or informal
  • Limited training tailored to para roles
  • No centralized way to track goals or progress
  • Time and communication barriers between supervisors and paras

Monica knew her team deserved better.

A Framework That Works: The Para Feedback Cycle

The Para Feedback Cycle brings clarity and purpose to para support by guiding staff through five powerful steps:

  1. Self-Assessment – Paras reflect on strengths and areas for growth using a structured preparedness survey.
  2. Feedback & Reflection – Paras meet with supervisors to review self-assessment findings and discuss next steps.
  3. Goal Setting – Together, they create measurable goals aligned with student needs and classroom priorities.
  4. Professional Learning & Support – Paras engage in targeted training, coaching, and skill-building opportunities through AXIS3.
  5. Review & Next Steps – Growth is formally reviewed, and the cycle continues with updated goals and ongoing support.

This process gives paras the structure they deserve while offering teachers and supervisors a supportive framework to guide them—something many have never been trained to do.

 

The Role of DOUG: AI-Powered Support with a Human Touch

Monica’s vision extended beyond a framework—she wanted accessible, ongoing support that paras could use independently.

Enter DOUG, the district’s closed-source AI agent built in partnership with Creatively Focused.

Paras use DOUG to:

  • Workshop their goals
  • Get feedback on next steps
  • Ask clarifying questions about expectations
  • Access guidance rooted in Douglas-specific policies
  • Find AXIS3 courses that build skills related to their goals

DOUG turns reflection into action, helping paras translate the feedback cycle into daily growth. It’s private, supportive, and always available—removing barriers and boosting confidence.

Supervisors also use DOUG and AXIS3 to track progress, plan meaningful check-ins, and streamline communication. The result? A clearer, more aligned feedback process that feels supportive rather than evaluative.

 

Professional Learning Connected to Real Outcomes

Creatively Focused supports Monica and Douglas by helping operationalize the cycle, host the trainings, and ensure paras have clear access to everything they need. With AXIS3 and DOUG working together, paras receive:

  • Skill-based training modules
  • Goal-aligned learning recommendations
  • Tools for data tracking and instructional materials
  • Ongoing coaching and reflection opportunities

Monica’s work proves that when paras are supported, students benefit. And when teachers have a structure to guide para growth, everyone in the learning community thrives.

 

Human-Centered. Compassionate. Impactful.

The Para Feedback Cycle in Douglas School District is more than a process—it’s a culture shift. It affirms that paraeducators deserve consistent support, clear expectations, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth.

Monica’s leadership has created a model worth celebrating, and we’re proud to partner with Douglas in bringing this vision to life.

At Creatively Focused, we are committed to elevating paras, empowering teachers, and building systems of support that make a measurable difference for students.