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Training & Coaching That Strengthen Every Layer of Your System

Building stronger teams, one level of leadership at a time.

Sustainable systems depend on people, and people need support to grow, lead, and adapt. DECS District Support Services provides targeted training and coaching across your district—from paraeducators to principals—so professional learning translates into consistent practice and long-term stability.

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When Professional Learning Loses Momentum

Districts are investing significant time and resources in professional development—yet impact often fades quickly when training isn’t connected to daily realities.

We commonly hear that:

  • PD calendars are full, but staff still feel underprepared for complex classroom situations
  • New teachers struggle to find their footing and leave before systems support them
  • Paraeducators are committed and capable, but lack role clarity and structured training
  • Principals balance supervision, compliance, and behavior challenges with little space for coaching
  • ESDs and district PD leads are stretched thin, searching for credible, implementation-ready training

DECS helps districts move from training volume to training value—by aligning learning to systems, roles, and practice.

Our Focus: Training, Coaching, and Capacity Building

We design professional learning that connects instruction, behavior, and operations. Each engagement is tailored to your district’s needs and can be delivered in person, virtually, or in a blended format. Our training is built for immediate application, shared clarity across teams, and long-term sustainability.

Areas of District Support

Here are our four key areas of focus. Each includes an overview, sample learning module titles, and options for customization.

Paraeducator Program Audit & Training

Equip frontline staff with the skills, clarity, and confidence to support instruction, student independence, and inclusive practices.

  • Who’s Who and What’s What in Special Education
  • What’s Your Role?
  • Professionalism and Confidentiality
  • Behavior Basics
  • Taking Care of You: Paraeducator Self-Management
  • - Basics of Instruction
  • - Prevention Strategies
  • - An Introduction to Behavioral Principles and Terms
  • - Behavioral Measurement
  • - Prompts and Prompt Fading
  • In-Person Workshops
  • Virtual Interactive Sessions
  • Blended Learning Model (live + on-demand)
  • Asynchronous Virtual Interactive Courses

Paraeducators, teachers who supervise paraeducators, and building administrators.

  • Download Paraeducator Training Overview (PDF)

Areas of District Support

Below are the four key areas of focus. Each section includes an overview, sample modules, and a link to download a detailed outline.

Instructional Practice & Teacher Capacity Building

Strengthen instructional practice across special education and general education by building shared understanding, consistent expectations, and evidence-based approaches that support inclusive learning for all students.

This support involves custom courses and pathways of learning for new, returning, and experienced educators who are navigating increasingly complex classrooms and systems.

  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in Practice
  • Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) Within Inclusive Settings
  • Evidence-Based Instructional Practices Across Content Areas
  • Standards-Based Grading and Assessment
  • Classroom Structure, Behavior, and Data Systems
  • Family Communication and Collaborative Problem-Solving
  • One-on-One Virtual Coaching (monthly or bi-monthly)
  • Cohort Coaching for District Induction Programs, PLCs, or Teams
  • Reentry Coaching for Returning Educators from Leave or Role Transition

Educators across roles and experience levels who:

  • understand their instructional responsibilities within inclusive systems
  • share common language and expectations across general and special education
  • feel supported to grow and stay in the profession
  • Download New Teacher Training Overview (PDF)

Areas of District Support

Below are the four key areas of focus. Each section includes an overview, sample modules, and a link to download a detailed outline.

Principal Training, Continuous Improvement, & Leadership Development

Strengthen school leadership capacity by supporting principals and assistant principals to lead improvement, supervise instruction, and navigate change with clarity and confidence—especially in inclusive, high-accountability environments.

This support recognizes that today’s school leaders are not only supervisors, but systems leaders responsible for continuous improvement, data-informed decision-making, and responsive leadership in an ever-changing context.

  • Leading Inclusive Schools Across General & Special Education
  • Continuous Improvement Cycles & School Improvement Planning
  • Data Collection, Analysis, and Decision-Making for School Leaders
  • Evaluating Instruction & Special Education Practice
  • Coaching Teachers for Growth, Accountability, and Equity
  • Leading Through Change, Uncertainty, and Competing Priorities
  • Managing Conflict, Family Communication, and Community Trust
  • Leading Inclusive Schools
  • Evaluating Special Education Instruction
  • Coaching Teachers for Growth and Compliance
  • Managing Conflict and Family Communication
  • Data-Informed Decision-Making
  • One-to-One Executive Coaching
  • Principal or Assistant Principal Cohorts
  • School leadership teams
  • Leadership retreats and targeted workshops

Building leaders who want to:

  • strengthen instructional supervision across general and special education
  • lead meaningful school improvement efforts grounded in data and evidence
  • build systems that support consistency, equity, and sustainability
  • navigate change thoughtfully without losing focus on students or staff
  • Download Principal Supervision Coaching (PDF)

Areas of District Support

Below are the four key areas of focus. Each section includes an overview, sample modules, and a link to download a detailed outline.

License DECS Asynchronous Professional Learning

Expand access to high-quality, equity-centered professional learning through DECS-developed asynchronous courses, designed to build shared understanding, practical skill, and systemwide consistency over time.

All DECS courses are:

  • fully built and ready to deploy
  • grounded in evidence-based practice
  • designed for adult learners
  • developed through an equity and inclusion lens that prioritizes the rights and dignity of both students and educators

DECS asynchronous courses are not static slide decks or passive videos. They are intentionally designed to:

  • engage adult learners through reflection, application, and practice
  • connect theory to real classroom and leadership decisions
  • support consistent implementation across roles and schools
  • reinforce inclusive practice in both general and special education

Courses address areas such as:

  • inclusive instructional practice and Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
  • specially designed instruction (SDI)
  • MTSS systems and progress monitoring
  • paraeducator roles and classroom support
  • compliance-aligned instructional decision-making

DECS courses are housed in Canvas, allowing for flexibility and scalability.

  • Districts without Canvas may access courses through DECS-hosted environments.
  • Districts that already use Canvas can choose technical integration with their existing LMS, enabling:
  • Custom Curriculum Integration
  • single sign-on and streamlined access
  • consistent user experience for staff
  • easier tracking of participation and completion

Integration is designed to minimize administrative burden while maintaining fidelity to course design.

  • School districts seeking consistent, scalable professional learning
  • Educational Service Districts (ESDs)
  • Regional or multi-district collaboratives
  • District PD leads looking to supplement or strengthen existing learning pathways
  • Annual or multi-year licensing agreements
  • Districtwide, regional, or role-specific access
  • Optional implementation guidance and support from the DECS team

Licensing DECS courses allows districts to build internal capacity without relying on repeated external facilitation.

Educators and leaders who:

  • share common language and expectations
  • apply inclusive, evidence-based practices with confidence
  • experience professional learning as relevant, accessible, and respectful of their time
  • grow skills that support students and systems long after the course is completed
  • Download Principal Supervision Coaching (PDF)

What Districts Gain

Districts that partner with DECS for training, coaching, and licensed professional learning consistently report:

The coaching changed how our principals lead: they are now calm, clear, and confident.

  • Superintendent, Washington

Aligned professional learning across departments and leadership levels.

Staff who stay longer because they feel competent, supported, and valued.

Improved student outcomes through better-trained adults.

Scalable systems that can grow with our district over time.

The Process That Delivers Results

Professional learning only sticks when it’s intentional, supported, and grounded in real context. Every DECS District Support engagement follows a clear, flexible process designed to build momentum without adding burden.

Step 1

Discovery & Alignment

We partner with district leadership to clarify goals, identify priority audiences, and understand existing initiatives, capacity, and constraints.

Step 2

Design & Customization

Training modules, coaching plans, and delivery formats (in-person, virtual, blended, or asynchronous) are adapted to your district’s context and systems.

Step 3

Delivery & Engagement

We facilitate professional learning experiences that connect directly to classroom practice, leadership responsibilities, and district priorities.

Step 4

Coaching & Follow-Through

Optional coaching supports implementation so new learning becomes daily practice—not just a completed requirement.

Step 5

Measurement & Reflection

We review participation data, feedback, and implementation indicators to refine the approach and support sustained growth.

Proven Results

This wasn’t a one-and-done PD. It actually changed how our people lead.

  • Assistant Superintendent, Pacific Northwest

Paraeducator Development

In one mid-size district, trained paras improved classroom data collection accuracy by 40% within 60 days.

New Teacher Retention

A district reduced special education teacher turnover by 25% after adding structured re-entry coaching and instructional support.

Principal Leadership Growth

Building leaders who completed coaching reported stronger instructional feedback conversations, improved data use, and calmer family interactions.

Licensed PD Expansion

An Educational Service District trained more than 120 staff using DECS-licensed asynchronous courses, ensuring consistent, high-quality professional learning across seven districts.

Why Districts Choose DECS

Districts partner with DECS because our approach is grounded, credible, and designed to last.

  • We’ve led at every level—from paraeducator to director to superintendent
  • We train with context—connecting learning to the realities of district life
  • We build internal capacity so leadership and expertise remain in-house
  • We design learning that is scalable, replicable, and adaptable over time

Our focus: empowering the people who make systems work.

Who This Program Serves Best

We work with teams eager to move beyond quick fixes and build systems that truly empower staff and students alike.

DECS District Support is a strong fit for districts that:

  • want cohesive, system-wide professional learning across roles
  • need training that is practical, evidence-based, and ready to implement
  • are navigating turnover, burnout, or inconsistent supervision
  • want scalable options, from single-district PD to regional licensing

Not ideal for districts seeking:

  • one-time PD sessions with no follow-through
  • training disconnected from leadership, systems, or implementation

When your goal is sustainable practice—not just compliance hours, DECS District Support is the right fit.

FAQs

Clarity and Confidence in Every Step

Yes. All DECS training and coaching is tailored to your district’s context, initiatives, and staff roles.

Yes. Blended models are often the most effective and scalable across large or multi-site districts.

Yes. Ongoing coaching is available and strongly recommended to support implementation and leadership growth.

Yes. We offer flexible licensing options with optional implementation guidance and technical support.

We Partner for Sustainable Change

Invest in the People Who Run Your System

Sustainable change happens when every adult in the system grows. From paraeducators to principals, DECS helps your staff build skills, confidence, and clarity one learning experience at a time.

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