Special Education, State Teacher

Department Information

This position is open only to current Colorado state residents.

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies at the locations below.

About the Division of Youth Services: The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates fifteen secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State. For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State.

We invite you to explore the DYS website and learn about the services provided to youth, families, and local communities in the State of Colorado at: https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs/dys

Description Of Job

You are required to work at your assigned work location during your scheduled work times.

Schedule: M-F, typically 7am start.

Please note: Work arrangements are subject to change at any time.

Purpose Of This Position

This work unit exists to provide academic, vocational, and other education-related services to youth in institutional facilities, to provide professional consultation to community programs which serve DYS youth, and to establish and maintain collaboration with other state and community agencies that provide or monitor education services.

This position exists to provide special education services and supports and classroom instruction to committed youth. The position provides special education services to students with special education needs as identified in an Individualized Education Program (IEP), as well as support to staff. The teacher will develop IEPs in collaboration with parents, students, and other team members and in accordance with all special education laws and guidelines. The teacher will enter all special education records/documents into the online IEP system. Will be competent administering, analyzing and interpreting educational assessments as prescribed by DYS. The teacher takes responsibility for knowledge and implementation of special education laws and DYS special education procedures. This position must have a valid CDE license for Special Education. This position may be permanently assigned to different content area or CTE teaching as determined by business need or supervisor expectation and/or assigned for other needs.

Primary Job Duties

• Provide direct and indirect instructional support to students in a positive learning environment. This includes maintaining a schedule of classes each day to support the needs of special education students to ensure a full continuum of services is available. Classes will be co-planned and co-taught. Pull out services will be planned and documented topics and time will be available. The special education teacher schedule will be based on the needs of the students. This will include both academic and social/emotion or executive functioning skills. A CDE license for special education is required for these services.
• Maybe required to teach content classes, CTE courses, or other courses as required by the principal or other supervisor. This would continue to require standards-based instruction, daily and monthly unit plans, and ongoing assessments for and of learning. Data would be required to be furnished for youth progress on IEP goals, MTSS, and other identified areas. Serve as a substitute when directed

Specific Duties Include

• Utilizes effective classroom management strategies, including Differentiated Instruction, Motivational Interviewing and Positive Behavior and Intervention Support.
• Progress, monitors Individual Education Programs (IEP) goals and / or objectives during the direct or indirect supports
• Use data to drive instructional decisions
• Design and implement a variety of assessment tools to evaluate student progress that correlate to standards-based education based on the needs outlined within the IEPs.
• Prepares daily and unit lesson plans that are aligned with state standards.
• Implements a variety of research-based education strategies (including technology) to accommodate multi-age/multi-level students. Implements research-based differentiated teaching strategies
• Assumes responsibility for maintaining appropriate, current teaching licensure at all times as a condition of employment.
• Ensures substitute plans are available when absent, planned or unexpected.
• Implementation of a classroom management system within the established culture.
• Choice of differentiated/multi-instructional teaching strategies
• Incorporate technological components within lessons
• Assessment of student academic skills and weaknesses and design of appropriate lessons to meet everyone’s learning style. This includes needs as outlined within student IEPs.
• Ensure lesson plans are available for reference and/or Review of the Principal and uploaded monthly by the 10th of each month to the shared drive.
• Provide ongoing data and feedback to the Special Education Coordinator regarding students’ needs, information for appropriate Goals and Objectives as related to the IEP and share MTSS strategies in which to utilize instruction and opportunities for the success of students with an IEP or in general education.
• Provide an Annual Curriculum Review for each course taught.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal Rights

Experience must be described in detail on your application to receive credit. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application.

Mininum Qualifications

This position is open only to current Colorado state residents.

Experience must be described in detail on your application to receive credit. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to the work assignment.

~AND~

License

• Current, valid Professional Teacher license issued by the Colorado Department of Education with an endorsement in Special Education.

Substitutions

• None

Essential Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Knowledge of effective research-based instructional strategies
• Understandings of classroom-based behavioral interventions
• Able to build rapport with students while maintaining boundaries
• Experience with urban and at-risk populations
• Content area knowledge
• Team work and cross curricular collaboration
• Interpersonal Skills
• Oral Communication
• Oral Comprehension
• Problem Sensitivity & Solving
• Safety and Security
• Technology enhance instruction

Preferred Qualifications

• Dual endorsements or documentation or ability to be endorsed in multiple content areas.
• Licensure aligned to position.
• Experience with special needs populations: youth with IEPs, 504s, Multilingual backgrounds
• Experience working with at-risk or adjudicated youth
• Proficient use of data to inform instructional practices
• Leadership roles and experience
• Secondary school experience
• Trauma-Informed practices and knowledge as it applies to at risk populations and classroom instruction
• Experience with differentiated instruction; developing lessons/curriculum and providing differentiated instruction
• Project-based learning experience
• Previous State Experience

Conditions Of Employment

• Must be 21 years old or older
• Full background check and reference check required
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Motor Vehicle Check , (MVR check) required,
• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver’s License
• Some travel may be required to attend meetings and/or a professional development or training within the state.
• CDE Professional Teaching License; Special Education License.
• Able to pass Escape and Evade training
• Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
• The Diana Screen, a sexual risk screening tool, is administered to all applicants to the Division of Youth Services (DYS) seeking positions of trust with children and teens to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained. At the DYS, the safety and protection of the youth who have been entrusted to us is our #1 priority. Your results of the Diana Screen will be provided to the DYS and may be used as part of the Division's decision to select you
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:
• Disclose that information on the application.
• Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.
• Provide your employee number from your prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

CDHS Selection Process Explanation

• Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.

Minimum Qualification Screening Process

• A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position. You must complete the official State of Colorado online application. Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."
• You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process. Part-time work experience will be prorated.

Comparative Analysis Process – Structured Application Review

• After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing.

Your Work Experience/Job Duties

• Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications.
• If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.

Supplemental Questions

• Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

Appeal Rights

You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated. You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

• You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.
• You can find the official appeal form here .
• You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:
• By email (***email_hidden***), or
• Postmarked in US Mail to (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or
• Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or
• Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

Contact The State Personnel Board For Assistance

• At (303) 866-3300, or
• Refer to the Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

Supplemental Information

How To Apply

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact [email protected]

About Us & Benefits

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS . In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
• Employee Wellness program
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program .

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.
• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment.

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to [email protected] .

EEO Statement: The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities. The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Support For Your Application: Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.