Teacher, Special Education Learning Specialist Grades 6-8

Jeffco Public Schools; Colorado; On-site; USD 56,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Jeffco Public Schools is seeking a Special Education Learning Specialist for Carmody Middle School (Grades 6–8) in Lakewood. The role focuses on developing and implementing individualized instruction for students with diverse disabilities, closely monitoring progress and coordinating with a multidisciplinary team.

Qualified candidates hold a Colorado Special Education Generalist license. The position emphasizes collaboration with general educators, families, and support staff to optimize student

Qualifications

• Hold a valid Colorado teaching license with Special Education Generalist endorsement.
• Training emphasis in Learning Disabled/Perceptual/Communicative preferred.
• Experience with educationally disabled students and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and monitor individualized instruction for students with diverse disabilities.
• Collaborate with general educators to adapt curriculum and communicate student needs.
• Develop and review individualized behavioral plans for designated students.
• Lead IEP and referral meetings with multidisciplinary teams.
• Maintain ongoing communication with teachers, staff, students and parents.
• Create a safe, supportive environment and support student success.

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Progress monitoring

Behavioral management

Education

Colorado teaching license (Special Education Generalist)

Job description

Teacher, Special Education Learning Specialist Grades 6-8

Jeffco Public Schools (Jeffco) is located in Jefferson County, Colorado. It is the second largest school district in Colorado serving 69,000 students across 155 schools. With 14,000 employees, the district is the largest employer in Jefferson County and has provided educational excellence for more than 70 years.

Jeffco embraces the spirit of the West and the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain region with the county spanning more than 770 square miles running the length of the western edge of the Denver metropolitan area. The district is diverse in both population and geography, from urban to rural, including the mountain communities in the foothills west of Denver.

Overall, Jeffco has 31% of students that qualify for free and reduced lunch, an indicator of poverty, and 34% minority (25% Hispanic) student population. The district is implementing a new strategic plan, Jeffco Thrives 2025 that is focused on providing a world-class education that prepares all Jeffco students for bright and successful futures as local and global citizens. Come join us!

Jeffco Public Schools is a Single-State Employer. All candidates hired by Jeffco Public Schools must reside within the state of Colorado.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT

Carmody is a comprehensive 650 student 6-8 middle school in Lakewood. Carmody's vast footprint covers many neighborhoods offering great diversity across the student body. On the most recent one-year School Performance Framework from CDE, Carmody currently ranks 4th out of 18 Middle Schools in Jeffco. This ranking accounts for high achievement and high growth scores on the state standardized test (CMAS).
Carmody proudly operates with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) focus. STEAM is about incorporating creative and critical thinking in an integrated project-based learning environment. The electives boast 24 different offerings with a STEAM lens and 7 licensed CTE (Career Technical Education) certified teachers. Carmody is intentional about a safe and welcoming culture and provides a restorative approach to our work. Every student is scheduled into a Connections class where the ratio is approximately 18:1. The class is specifically designed to support the whole student and address any academic or social emotional needs while cheerleading, coaching, and building trust between the student, their teacher, and their school. Carmody Cougars embrace the following CORE Values: Positive Attitude, Respect, Integrity, Determination and Excellence (PRIDE) throughout all aspects of the school.

ABOUT YOU

Jeffco is a learning organization in which all staff must grow in their capacity to support and educate all students including those with special needs. Special Education professionals are committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities who have the right, and deserve the opportunity, to meet the challenging expectations that have been established for their non-disabled peers. Highly efficacious educators understand that their knowledge and skills can assist students in overcoming educational barriers. Maintaining a strong academic focus with quality instruction including frequent progress monitoring produces more successful outcomes for all students. A robust continuum of services driven by student needs is essential.

HOURS AND DAYS WORKED

Desired Start Date: 10/14/2026

Tchr SPED Learning Specialist

Annual Position

FLSA: Exempt

FTE: 1.00000 , Hours/Day: 8.000 , Days/Year: 185

Salary Plan, Grade, Step: JCE - Professional - 185 days , L01, 1

Min-Mid Annual Salary Range: $56,085.00 - $75,142.00 Effective as of: 08-16-2026

Compensation schedules for Jeffco Schools can be found here. Starting salary for non-licensed roles is based on the candidate's relevant work experience and education. Additional considerations may be given for job-specific certifications and skills. Applicants should submit all relevant and verifiable education, training and work experiences at the time of application. Starting Salary for licensed educators is based on the step and lane schedule found here.

RESPONSIBILITIES

SUMMARY Develop, implement, and support individualized practices for achieving learning outcomes for students with communication, cognitive, physical, and/or social/behavioral needs, based on the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA). This teacher will utilize evidence-based best practice and rely on frequent progress monitoring for programming adjustments. The Learning Specialist teacher will take a leadership role in collaboratively problem solving interventions for students.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES may include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Design and implement specialized instruction in one-on-one, small group and large classroom settings.
• Work collaboratively to plan and modify curriculum, team teach with general educators and to communicate the abilities and needs of special education students.
• Develop, implement and review for appropriateness the behavioral plans for designated students.
• Work in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team to conduct IEP and referral meetings, conferences, and to develop a multidisciplinary approach to the educational enhancement of the student.
• Maintain ongoing communication with regular educators, school staff, students and parents.
• Create a safe supportive and understanding environment for disabled students.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS Hold valid Colorado teaching license with Special Education Generalist endorsement. If teacher is the teacher of record for a specific content area, they must meet content-area qualification, which could include the appropriate content endorsement, degree in the content area, Colorado State Board of Education-approved content exam, or 36 credit hours as determined by the district. Training emphasis in Learning Disabled/Perceptual Communicative preferred.

EXPERIENCE Experience/supervised internship in working with educationally disabled children. Training in understanding/interpreting educational assessments and prescriptive teaching. Demonstrated ability to collaboratively work with a multidisciplinary team in developing appropriate materials, facilitating inclusion, creating educational plans, and designing and implementing behavioral plans. Training and experience in working with students with a variety of, disabling conditions. Complies with the Special Education Department and district policies and procedures (e.g., Medicaid billing, accident reporting).

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Normal routine levels of activity related to bending, carrying, climbing, hearing, reaching, sitting, standing, vision and walking, and may also involve above-average levels of activity at times that can not always be anticipated. Ability to meet physical needs of students.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Important Notice Regarding Licensed Positions

Job Status: Temporary

A successful external applicant will be hired into a one-year, temporary position.

Applicants may be probationary or non-probationary for ongoing and temporary positions. If the successful candidate is a current Jeffco non-probationary or probationary educator, they may be displaced at the end of the current school year, as per Article 12. Displaced non-probationary educators may be placed for one school year unless a mutual consent placement is secured. Displaced probationary educators may be non-renewed by the Board of Education unless a mutual consent placement is secured by the educator.

The Jefferson County School District does not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, pregnancy, or gender.