TEACHER, ELEMENTARY SPECIAL EDUCATION MODERATE NEEDS - ELA E/S -KINDERGARTEN - 5TH GRADE

Denver Public Schools; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Teacher Compensation

Health and wellness benefits

PERA Retirement

Total rewards

Job summary

A premier educational institution in Denver is seeking a dedicated special education teacher to provide individual instruction to students with a range of needs. The candidate will develop and implement tailored lesson plans, monitor student progress, and collaborate with staff and families to promote student success. A Bachelor's degree in Education and a valid Colorado teaching license are required. Comprehensive benefits and a collaborative work environment are part of the package, supporting the continuous growth of every learner.

Qualifications

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Education or related field required.
• Have a valid Colorado Department of Education teaching license.
• Experience working with young special needs students preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Effective time management, critical thinking, problem solving, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute individualized lesson plans.
• Administer and interpret individualized educational assessments.
• Counsel students to support achievement.
• Monitor and enforce rules of conduct.
• Prepare and grade tests to evaluate student progress.
• Prepares lesson materials and adapts instruction to student needs.
• Grants tests and reports grades using district software.
• Communicates with parents/guardians and staff to resolve issues.

Skills

Bilingual in Spanish and English

Effective verbal and written communication

Time management skills

Attention to detail

Problem-solving skills

Critical thinking

Team collaboration

Equity and inclusion

Bilingual Spanish/English

Education

Bachelor's degree in Education or related field

Valid Colorado Department of Education teaching license

Master's Degree for Concurrent Enrollment positions

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

** Applications will be received until March 4, 2026. If the position is not filled by then, we may consider applications submitted after the deadline. Interested applicants must apply online by visiting the Denver Public Schools job board at careers.dpsk12.org.

About This Job

Instructs special education students in settings that provide a continuum of services from self-contained instruction to full inclusion in the regular classroom.

What DPS Offers You

• A Culture that values Equity, Accountability, Integrity, Collaboration and Fun with a shared vision that Every Learner Thrives.
• Competitive Teacher Compensation and Procomp Incentive plan, click here for the DCTA Teacher and SSP Salary Schedule. Click here for more information on compensation for these roles. Please note: You must submit all relevant documentation via onboarding before the deadline (15 days after receiving your offer letter) for salary setting purposes.
• In addition to competitive compensation, DPS has other Total Reward offerings such as time off, health and wellness benefits, and PERA Retirement.

What You’ll Do

• Develops and executes individualized lesson plans in all subject areas, providing for direct instruction while maintaining a focus on District standards and benchmarks.
• Administers and interprets both formal and informal individualized educational assessments.
• Counsels students to encourage and support student achievement.
• Monitors, supervises, coordinates, and enforces rule of conduct and behavior of assigned students; reinforces positive student behaviors in accordance with school and District policy.
• Observes, evaluates, and records student performance, behavior, social development, and physical health and prepares student, attendance and activity reports as required by administrators.
• Prepares lesson plans and materials according to curriculum guidelines, adapting teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests; establishes and communicates to students clear objectives for lessons, units, and projects; and instructs students individually and in groups using various teaching methods.
• Prepares, administers, assigns, and grades tests and assignments to evaluate student progress, reporting grades using District software.
• Communicates with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve student behavioral and academic problems.
• Provides daily living (e.g., toileting, diapering, feeding, personal hygiene) following universal precautions and as trained and directed; operates, monitors, and performs maintenance of adaptive technology and equipment; and lifts and transports students using appropriate equipment and lifting technique.

What You’ll Need

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Education or related field required. A Master's Degree is only required for Concurrent Enrollment positions.
• Have a valid Colorado Department of Education (CDE) teaching license. Click here for additional information regarding specific requirements and qualifications for the various subject areas (DPS does accept a CDE Application Receipt for 90 days.)
• ELA‑S Only (teaching in both Spanish and English) positions, candidates are required to take the Spanish language proficiency (SLP) exam, proctored by Berlitz Testing. Click here for more information. Additionally, if a teacher has taken, or choses to take, the Praxis II – Spanish: World Language 5195 exam, it will also work at DPS as an appropriate SLP exam, as long as the candidate scores 163 or higher on the Praxis II (#5195) exam.
• ELA‑S Only: Must be Bilingual in Spanish and English Required.
• Experience working with young special needs students and their parents preferred.
• Experience working with young special needs children who represent the diversity of the District school community is preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Effective time management, critical thinking, problem solving, and organizational skills.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Effectively handles multiple demands and competing deadlines.
• The ability to take responsibility for one's own performance.
• Ability to work effectively as member of multi‑disciplinary team.
• Aptitude for variety and changing expectations in a fast‑paced environment.
• Knowledge of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA), Early Childhood Initiatives, and the Exceptional Children's Educational Act (ECEA) 2008 rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of individualized teaching techniques, differentiated instruction, and the ability to appropriately select and implement instructional strategies.
• Strong commitment to the developmental/educational growth of young students.
• Lead for racial and educational excellence and work to dismantle systems of oppression and inequity in our community, along with believing in and supporting all students so they feel seen and heard with access to high quality education.
• Live and work with a permanent home address in Colorado while working with us.
• Have the ability with or without accommodations to meet the physical demands of the position.

Denver Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender expression, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, or any other status protected by law or regulations. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.

Students First. Integrity. Equity. Collaboration. Accountability. Fun

About Us

Denver Public Schools is committed to meeting the educational needs of every student with great schools in every neighborhood. Our goal is to provide every child in Denver with rigorous, enriching educational opportunities from preschool through high school graduation. DPS is comprised of nearly 200 schools including traditional, magnet, charter, and alternative pathways schools, with an enrollment of more than 90,000 students.

DPS has become the fastest-growing school district in the country in terms of enrollment and the fastest-growing large school district in the state in terms of student academic growth. Learn more at dpsk12.org.