Education Assessment Specialist (Special Education Teacher) - Mount View Youth Services Center

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

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

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

Division of Youth Services - Mount View Youth Services Center

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.

About the Work Unit: 

• The work unit exists to provide diagnostic/assessment services to committed youth as dictated by statute (CRS 19-2-704), in order to assist in the determination of the appropriate security level, needs and services of the youth, and provide services with treatment programming as needed.

• This position exists to administer achievement, vocational, transitional, and other appropriate education assessments (i.e. adaptive and behavioral) to committed youth, to analyze and interpret results and to provide a written report with recommendations; and to serve as the education representative on the assessment/education team.  Acts as Special Education Teacher in reviewing IEP needs, holding appropriate Special Education staffing and representing education at Multidisciplinary Team meetings, and providing supports and services as determined by the business needs of the Division. This position also serve as a special education teacher as required by building need while also serving as the education assessment personnel.

Summary of Job Duties:

• Administers educational, vocational, transition tests, and other tests as needed, using evidenced-based and normed tools to assess a student’s academic ability and achievement, vocational aptitude, transition needs, and language ability. Administers other tests as needed and appropriate. Collaborates with specialists regarding special needs not covered by Educational assessments. Determines which diagnostic tools to be administered. 

• Obtains and reviews student files and extracts relevant information, interviews students, and may, in collaboration with the Registrar, contact former schools and employers to summarize students' educational history for all new DYS committed youth. Develops and completes IEPs for students, for the special education process, to include meetings, determination of eligibility, annual reviews of services, transitions needs and education goals for each eligible student (i.e. Transfers, Annuals and/or Prior Written Notice & Consent to Evaluate to begin the Re-Evaluation / Special Evaluation process). IEP information, MDT results, testing results, and SASID numbers are entered into TRAILS. Information also will be uploaded to the Student Information System as required.  Is the site CWEL and education liaison for multiple MDTs, family engagement, and site needs for collaboration. Will be responsible for the Body of Evidence for determining the education pathway for a youth to share with principal as well as progress monitoring. Will participate in MTSS processes.  Must adhere to DYS Compliance Review standards for general education and special education.

• Analyzes and interprets test results, integrates findings, confers with other team members, and correlates assessment components to draw meaningful diagnostic conclusions while including data-driven recommendations for instruction. Generates this data, such as test scores used in reports, and then interprets the findings to funding sources and agencies.  Member of the multidisciplinary team, utilizing test results to assist in determining appropriate security level and needs for each individual. Creates and monitors multiple spreadsheets of information for youth that is updated regularly.

• Monitor best practices, normed testing, evidence-based strategies, and current education trends. Attends scheduled meetings with Education for professional training and communication.  Communicates assessment findings directly to client managers, parents, service providers, school districts, and special education personnel.  Works collaboratively with all staff.

• Assist with educational services for committed youth to include the special education services in the classroom, observations and feedback for IEP documentation, transition process monitoring, directing special education teacher practice and collaborating on lesson planning and implementation, ICAP support to connect to transition, and support initiatives by the education office

Note: Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed below to continue in the selection process for this position. Work experience must be specifically documented on your application.  Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to the work assignment. 
• Two (2) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position preferably in special education teaching and/or administrative experience.

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

• Current, valid Colorado Adult Basic Education Authorization will substitute for the Colorado Professional Teacher license with an endorsement in Special Education.

• Master’s degree in Special Education
• Relevant Years of State Service

• Experience writing Individual Education Programs
• Knowledge and experience implementing IDEA within the school setting
• Experience with implementing articulated systems and structures with fidelity

• Must be 21 years old or older
• Must travel to training and events in Denver area and other state facilities.
• CDE Teaching License; with and endorsement in Special Education
• Must have no felony convictions and no violent history
• Able to pass Escape and Evade training
• Full Background: CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children)
• 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.   The results of the Diana Screen will be provided to the Division of Youth Services and may be used as part of the Division's decision on whether a candidate is selected.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position.  Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS
• Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.  

 Appeal Rights: 

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail 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.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

How to Apply

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact isaac.phelps@state.co.us

About Us: 

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining 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. 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 www.copera.org 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

• BenefitHub state employee discount program

• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe

• 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. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.

Our Values:

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

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.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.  

ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of 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, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform 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 our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at  cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

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