State Teacher IV - Fort Logan

State of Colorado•Denver, CO

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The State Teacher IV serves as Director of the Education Department and Special Education Director at the Colorado Mental Health Hospital at Fort Logan (CMHHIFL). The role provides educational programming for adolescent and adult patients, with a primary focus on special education services and case management for youth ages 12–21 with disabilities. Education is integrated with patient therapy and supports learning, coping skills, and GED preparation. The position helps the hospital meet legal education obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Colorado’s Exceptional Children’s Educational Act (ECEA), including maintaining Individualized Education Plans and providing required educational programming. The position plans and oversees the education program, develops curricula and policies, ensures alignment with Colorado’s Common Core Academic Standards, and monitors student growth, achievement, and career readiness. It oversees educational assessments, quality assurance, audits, and responses to education and special education appeals and legal issues. The role also manages the education department’s budget and grants, approves expenditures and technology requests, develops business cases and funding requests, and sets and justifies salaries for new hires. The position supervises education and school library staff, including performance management, training, hiring, and participation in corrective or disciplinary processes. It represents patient education within the hospital and with external agencies, including public schools and the Colorado Department of Education. The position works at its assigned location during scheduled work times; work arrangements may change. Travel to meetings and training is required, and a driver’s license is needed to transport patients in a state vehicle between the patient unit and educational service areas.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a field related to the work assignment.
Current, valid Professional Teacher license issued by the Colorado Department of Education.
Six years of professional experience in an occupational field related to the assigned work.
Administrator License issued by the Colorado Department of Education with a Director of Special Education endorsement, or a Temporary Educator Endorsement (TEE).
Experience with the Colorado Department of Education data system, including End of Year, October Count, and December Count.
Experience with the Colorado Department of Education budget process.
Experience formally supervising and evaluating special education staff.
For academic teaching assignments, a current, valid Colorado Adult Basic Education Authorization may substitute for the Colorado Professional Teacher license; additional appropriate education may substitute for required experience year for year.
For vocational teaching assignments, a vocational credential related to the assigned work is required; additional appropriate education may substitute for the vocational credential or required experience year for year.
Meet the Colorado Department of Education requirements for eligible facilities and state-operated programs under 1 CCR 301-8, including the required special education administrator endorsement or TEE.
Maintain professional boundaries with patients and disclose relationships with current or former patients on the application.
Successfully complete all modules of CMHHIFL New Employee Orientation, including English reading comprehension, competency assessments, and written and practical Defensive Tactics exams.
Possess the physical ability to complete required verbal physical intervention training and CPR, including specified movements, strength and agility tasks, and the ability to control or subdue assaultive persons to prevent injury.
Be able to see and hear to observe, address, and respond to potential safety breaches.
Be able to read and comprehend English and communicate effectively and fluently in English, verbally and in writing.
Be able and willing to work in environments with fluctuating noise and temperatures, including possible outdoor work in inclement weather and concrete-floor or concrete-wall settings.
Be willing and able to travel; possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado driver’s license and be able to transport patients in a state vehicle.
Complete a two-step tuberculosis screening upon hire and receive annual influenza vaccination.
Meet required background and screening checks, including applicable criminal, fingerprint, court database, Medicare fraud database, reference, professional license, drug, and patient-contact checks.
Be a Colorado resident when applying and remain a Colorado resident throughout employment.

Nice To Haves

Current, valid Colorado Professional Principal License.
Current, valid Colorado Professional Teacher License with a core content endorsement in Math, Science, Social Studies, or English/Language Arts.
Current, valid Colorado Professional Teacher License with a Special Education endorsement.

Responsibilities

Provide educational programming, special education services, and case management for adolescent and adult patients, especially youth ages 12–21 with disabilities.
Direct the Education Department and serve as Special Education Director at CMHHIFL.
Develop and maintain strategic plans, policies, procedures, educational guidelines, curricula, and professional development and training.
Ensure curricula meet Colorado’s Common Core Academic Standards and determine common curriculum for the facility.
Maintain reporting systems for student growth, achievement, and career readiness; determine diagnostic educational and career assessments and related protocols.
Oversee education and special education quality assurance, monitoring, and annual audits.
Respond to education and special education appeals and legal issues, including due process complaints, state complaints, and failures to provide required services.
Prepare, monitor, and oversee education department budgets and grants, approve expenditures and IT requests, review PCard statements, and develop business cases and funding requests.
Set and justify salaries for new hires.
Supervise education and school library staff, including performance monitoring, grievance resolution, staff hiring, training, and participation in corrective and disciplinary actions.
Determine organizational structure and staffing needs as educational and business needs change.
Represent patient education at meetings and with public schools, agencies, the Colorado Department of Education, and task forces concerning education of juveniles in mental health hospitals.
Respond to stakeholder concerns and provide feedback on the effects of new legislation, policies, and procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, 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.
Eleven paid holidays per year, plus vacation and sick leave.
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center.
Employee Wellness program.
Work-life programs, including flexible schedules and training.
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions.
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.