Licensed: Special Education Center-Based Teacher

Sylvania; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 48,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

PERA retirement plan

Job summary

Sheridan School District No. 2 seeks a dedicated educator to support students in a center-based program, delivering structured instruction and accommodations to help each student reach goals.

The role emphasizes collaboration with teachers, paraeducators, and families to implement IEPs and effective behavioral strategies. Applicants should have a Bachelor's degree with preference for a Master’s and Colorado licensure.

Qualifications

• Requires ability to create a structured learning environment and routines.
• Experience with assistive technology and supporting students with communication and social skills.
• Ability to develop accommodations and access grade level curriculum.
• Experience with data collection and using assessments to inform instruction.

Responsibilities

• Create a positive learning environment and effective management structures to promote achievement.
• Supervise and collaborate with paraeducators, including providing schedules and activities.
• Collaborate with other disciplines to ensure team understanding of student strengths and needs.
• Provide feedback and communicate progress to parents and staff.
• Notify the principal of any failure to implement IEP requirements.

Skills

Classroom management

Communication

Collaboration

Technology literacy

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Position Summary

This position will meet the educational needs of students whose LRE places them in a center-based program. Provide a high degree of structure and management in order to provide appropriate support to aid students in accomplishing individual goals. Familiarity with creating a structured environment and daily routine for students, ability to develop accommodations to support individual students and provide instruction to assist students with skill mastery and to access grade level curriculum. Experience with assistive technology and supporting students with communication and social skill needs. Collaborate with grade level teachers to establish links between disciplines. Support student integration into mainstream as much as possible and according to the student’s IEP. Support students with acquisition of communication skills, social skills, self-regulation and school appropriate behaviors. Develop and promote good community relations among stakeholders.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Create a positive learning environment and effective management structures to purposefully promote and foster effective teaching, learning, and student achievement.
• Create an instructional learning environment that establishes routines and provides for student engagement through authentic learning experiences.
• Supervise and collaborate with paraeducators, including providing schedules and activities to be implemented.
• Collaborate with other disciplines to ensure team understanding of student strengths and needs through evaluation, educational program planning, and service delivery.
• Promote a learning environment that respects the dignity of the child and is perceived by students as fair and consistent.
• Evaluate student ability and formulate student profiles through a variety of functional, behavioral, and standardized assessments, skilled observation, checklists, histories, and interviews.
• Incorporate additional learning opportunities when appropriate.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings to review evaluation results, integrate findings with other disciplines, offer recommendations, and develop individualized education plans (IEPs) and intervention plans.
• Ensure all classroom processes, procedures, and data collection systems are highly organized and effective, maximizing instructional time.
• Motivate, engage, and empower learners to track and monitor their own learning.
• Design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources.
• Collaborate with educators across grade levels or subject areas to establish interdisciplinary connections.
• Demonstrate mastery of content and make curriculum relevant and accessible to all students.
• Deliver content that is relevant and applicable to real‑world contexts, including life skills instruction when appropriate.
• Integrate and align Colorado Academic Standards, instructional objectives, strategies, activities, materials, resources, and assessments; differentiate instruction based on individual student needs.
• Use data management tools to analyze results, draw inferences, and identify strengths and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide quality, accurate, constructive, corrective, specific, and timely feedback that encourages students to perform at their highest level.
• Effectively communicate with parents and staff regarding student progress and growth opportunities.
• Utilize technology and other communication platforms (e.g., websites, podcasts) to engage stakeholders.
• Establish rapport with students, staff, and parents to proactively address potential concerns.
• Participate in ongoing professional development to ensure practices align with best practices and meet Colorado licensure requirements.
• Use professional literature, evidence-based research, and continuing education to inform practice decisions.
• Adhere to the professional code of ethics and standards of practice to guide ethical decision‑making.
• Notify the principal and director of student services of any failure to implement the requirements of assigned students’ IEPs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

General Expectations

• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in response to change.
• Possesses computer and technology skills.
• Effectively works with students from diverse backgrounds and abilities.
• Collaborates well with supervisors and co‑workers.
• Capable of understanding and following both complex oral and written instructions.
• Able to perform duties independently with minimal supervision.
• Communicates effectively with the school district community.
• Skilled in analysis, instruction, negotiation, coordination, communication, problem solving, and interpersonal interactions.
• Proficient in comparing, computing, synthesizing, and evaluating information.
• Meets attendance standards and works the necessary hours to fulfill essential responsibilities.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Upholds a generally positive attitude.
• Complies with all district policies and procedures.
• Adheres to federal and state laws, regulations, and policies.

Education / Training / Experience

• Bachelor's degree.
• Master’s degree (preferred).
• English fluency will be determined through the interview process and licensure.
• Previous experience with center-based instruction (preferred).

Licenses or Certifications

• Valid Colorado Driver’s license.
• Valid Colorado Teaching License with a Special Education Generalist endorsement and Elementary Education endorsement.

Essential Physical Requirements

• Frequent lifting 5 to 10 pounds.
• Lifting of up to 150 pounds with support.
• Frequent sitting, bending, walking, standing, stooping, kneeling, squatting, crawling, and reaching.
• Ability to run, jog, swim, or expend physical exertion to appropriately respond to needs of students.

Work Environment

• Mostly clean and comfortable.
• High energy, may appear chaotic.
• Possible diapering, and feeding via feeding tube.
• Physical restraint may be necessary to provide safety for student and others.
• May encounter noise, odors or bodily fluids.

Clearance

Must clear online background check and FBI fingerprint check through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

Salary

Placement on Licensed Teacher salary schedule based on previous teaching experience and highest degree and college credits earned after student teaching was completed. The annual salary will be determined by hours scheduled and spread over 12 months.

Benefits

Employees scheduled to work 30 or more hours per week are eligible to obtain district health benefits, which include medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance and supplemental benefits. Positions that qualify for health benefits also qualify for leave, which could include vacation and daily leave. Sheridan School District No. 2 participates in the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association. All employees are required by statute to contribute 11% of their salary on a pre‑tax basis to PERA; the district contributes 21.4% in addition.