Director of Education (State Teacher IV) – Pueblo

Department Information

This position is open ONLY to current Colorado State Residents

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

The salary for this position would most likely be closer to the minimum rate.

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

CMHHIP Education Department

This work unit exists to provide therapeutic academic educational services to adults within an education classroom or on various units throughout the Colorado Mental Health Hospital at Pueblo (CMHHIP), a residential psychiatric hospital program. In addition, it helps fulfill mandates as set forth in the federal Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Colorado’s. Exceptional Children’s Educational Act (ECEA) mandating a free and appropriate education for individuals under the age of twenty-two and or patients with Individualized Educational Plans. 

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Description of Job

This position functions as the Director of the Education Department, the Special Education Director, and the Principal of the on-campus school, Prairie Winds at ABTU Adolescent Behavioral Treatment Unit, program at the Colorado Mental Health Hospital at Pueblo (CMHHIP). This position prepares and monitors the budget for the education department’s programs and school, including allotting instructional funds to each academic, career, and technical teachers; establishes the organizational structure for the department’s programs and school; and plans and monitors the educational program. Programmatic responsibilities include assessing program needs, developing program or school curricula, evaluating the program and making adjustments, and formulating the standards and procedures to comply with certification requirements established by other state agencies.

Job duties:

Educational Program Development and Oversight:

• Provides strategic master planning to adopt and maintain state education, mandates department requirements, write policy and procedure, and develop educational guidelines to implement the education program at CMHHIP.
• Responsible for ensuring curricula used in the facility meet Colorado Academic Standards. Decisions concerning any common curriculum for this state-operated facility are determined by this position.
• Professional Development/Training is determined by this position in order to provide training with calculated outcomes. Sustains a consistent reporting system for student growth, achievement, and career readiness for students at CMHHIP.
• Determines diagnostic educational assessment tests, career testing, and protocols used for assessment with students.
• Oversees quality assurance of monitoring and annual audits for education/special education. Responds to any appeals regarding education/special education, special education legal issues, due process complaints, state complaints, and non-provision of required special education services.
• Teach a minimum of two classes weekly

Financial Oversight: 

• Prepares, monitors, and oversees the education department budget and grants.
• Budgets include the general budget and any grants received, including Special Education.
• Budgets are developed and monitored at least monthly.
• All expenditures made through PCARD or larger purchases are approved at this level for education programming at the Institute. Business cases are developed to meet education needs for additional services.
• Business cases are developed to meet education needs for additional services.
• Completes decision items requesting additional funding for education. Salary setting and justification for salaries is completed for new hires.
• Monthly or quarterly appropriations are approved and signed. All PCARD statements are reviewed monthly by this position and require Appointing Authority’s signature if approved.

Supervision – Education and Library Staff:

• Supervise all staff in the education department and library services, which includes developing and monitoring performance, resolving informal grievances, corrective and disciplinary actions, and ensuring ongoing education and training for staff.
• In cooperation with hospital administration, initiates and participates in the hiring of all education and library staff at the Institute. This includes completing job analysis as needed, developing or reviewing all position descriptions, personal action forms, any disciplinary action of education department staff is originated by this position.

Organization Structure:

• In cooperation with the hospital determines what is needed to meet the educational needs of students as business needs change for the department. This includes the need to seek temporary staff to support an influx of students, re-evaluating job duties of current FTE, and making program changes.
• Responsible for determining the overall development of the organizational structure for the department.

Stakeholder Participation:

• Represents patient education for the Hospital.
• Attends necessary meetings; responds to concerns of public schools and other agencies; builds relationships with the Colorado Department of Education and Special Education unit.
• Works with the Colorado Department of Education when new initiatives are being developed, when mandates are being implemented, and to discuss funding for grants.
• Represents CMHHIP on task forces concerning education grants. Represents CMHHIP and the department on task forces concerning the education of juveniles in mental health hospitals.
• Responds in a timely manner and provides ongoing feedback concerning the impact of new legislation, policies, and procedures. Updates policy and procedures as needed for education in the department.

Other Duties as Assigned. 

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:

All Teaching Assignments:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a field of study related to the work assignment
• Current, valid Professional Teacher license issued by the Colorado Department of Education
• Six (6) years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the work assigned to the position

Vocational Teaching Assignments only:

• Specific vocational credential related to the work assigned to the position.

Substitutions: Academic Teaching Assignments only:

• Current, valid Colorado Adult Basic Education Authorization will substitute for the Colorado Professional Teacher license. Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Vocational Teaching Assignments only:

• Additional appropriate education will substitute for the vocational credential or the required experience a year-for-year basis.

Special Qualifications:

• Administrator License issued by the Colorado Dept of Education with Director of Special Education endorsement
• Required by the Colorado Department of Education as stipulated in
• 1 CCR 301-8, Rules for the Administration of the Exceptional Children’s Educational Act (ECEA)
• 2220-R-3.02 Standards for Eligible Facilities and State Operated Programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Additional Preferred License: a valid Colorado Professional Principal License
• Additional Preferred License: a valid Colorado Professional Teacher License with a core content endorsement (Math, Science, Social Studies, or English/Language Arts)
• Additional Preferred License: a valid Colorado Professional Teacher License with Special Education endorsement
• Experience with the Colorado Department of Education’s data system (End of Year, October Count, December Count)
• Experience with the Colorado Department of Education’s budget process
• Experience with the formal supervision and evaluation of special education staff
• Previous State Employee

Conditions of Employment:

• Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal or financial relationships with patients either during or any time after hospitalization, even if the patient requests or initiates such a relationship. All relationships with current or former patients must be disclosed on your application;
• Successfully pass all modules of the CMHIP New Employee Orientation core curriculum to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics;
• Possess the physical ability to successfully complete hospital required physical intervention training and CPR;
• Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist;
• Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled take down;
• Withstand impact on own body using an ASP shield;
• Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for using a defensive tactic;
• Kneel on one or both knees and stand up again with multiple repetitions;
• Must be able to see and hear in order to observe, address and respond to potential breaches in safety;
• Seize, hold, control or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury;
• Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently;
• Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations;
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language; effectively and fluently communicates in English, both verbally and in writing;
• Work in an environment with fluctuating noise and temperature (hot and cold) which may include working outdoors in inclement weather and/or concrete floor/wall work settings;
• Willing and able to travel;
• 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire;
• Annual influenza and other vaccinations as required by the State of Colorado.
• A pre-employment criminal background check will be conducted as part of the selection process as this position is deemed to have direct contact with vulnerable persons. Felony convictions, convictions of crimes of moral turpitude, or convictions of misdemeanors related to job duties may disqualify you from being considered for this position. Should your background check reveal any charges or convictions, it is your responsibility to provide the CDHS Background Unit with an official disposition of any charges. Additionally, you will be required to take and pass a drug screen.
• Current/Valid and Unrestricted Drivers License
• 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening.
• This position will be paid biweekly.
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must (1) disclose that information on the application (2) provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position, (3) provide the employee number from the applicant’s prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

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.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply

Need help with your application? Click here.

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact Justin.Icenhower@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
• 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 ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits 

Please note that each agency’s contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the “Print” icon.

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