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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
For additional recruiting questions, please contact Isaac.Phelps@state.co.us 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.
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
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.
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.
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.