ABOUT THE DISTRICT
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 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: 08/18/2025
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: 08-16-2025
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.
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.
QUALIFICATIONS Must hold a valid Colorado teaching license with a Special Education Generalist endorsement. Understanding/interpreting educational assessments and prescriptive teaching. Developing appropriate materials, facilitating inclusion, creating and designing and implementing behavioral plans.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Experience with toileting needs, wheelchairs, seizure disorders, and other physical disabilities. Experience working with students that demonstrate complex, sometimes aggressive behaviors. Training emphasis in all disabilities preferred.
The physical requirements, work environment characteristics, and mental functions 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 While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, see and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision. The employee is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee may occasionally be required to run a short distance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds with assistance. The employee must be able to push/pull 150 pounds for 30 feet. After being offered a position, candidates must pass a physical exam prior to starting work.
WORK ENVIRONMENT While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud.
Job Status: Ongoing
A successful external applicant will be issued a probationary contract. A successful internal applicant that currently holds a probationary or non-probationary contract with Jeffco Public Schools will maintain that contract status.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
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.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $55,256.00 - $74,031.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Ability to Commute:
- Arvada, CO 80004 (Required)
Ability to Relocate:
- Arvada, CO 80004: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person
