Center Program Special Education Teacher

POSITION: Center Program Special Education Teacher

GRADE LEVEL: Hiring for both middle school and high school positions

LOCATION: Hiring at multiple locations. You can view the current openings at this link. We encourage you to apply even if your preferred position is not listed as we will be posting new roles throughout the year.

SALARY: $64,000-$82,000 based on years of aligned experience up to 10 years. We also offer arelocation stipend for anyone joining us from 75 miles or more from Denver!

STATUS:Full time school year round, benefits eligible, exempt, in-person position

START: First day of new staff training at the end of July. You can view the current school year calendarhere. 

THE ROLE

Our Center Program Special Education Teachers are essential to creating inclusive, rigorous, and supportive learning environments for students with disabilities across DSST. Each teacher leads instruction and case management within one of DSST’s nine center-based programs, serving students with a range of disabilities and learning needs.

Teachers in these programs design and deliver targeted academic, behavioral, and life-skills instruction, collaborate closely with general education staff and families, and lead a team of paraprofessionals to ensure every student is known, supported, and celebrated.

Learn more about a Day in the Life of a Special Education Teacher and why you should choose to grow your career at DSSThere.

DSST CENTER PROGRAMS

• Cross-Categorical Center Program: Serves students with a variety of disabilities and focuses on grade-level academic instruction, executive functioning, and personal development. Located at DSST: Cedar Middle & High School

• Affective Needs Center Program: Supports students whose primary disability is social, emotional, or behavioral. Programming includes direct instruction in SEL skills and integration into general education classes as appropriate. Located at DSST: Cole High School

• Multi-Intensive Center Program: Serves students with intellectual disabilities through functional academics, adaptive and vocational skill development, and independence-building. Located at DSST: Green Valley Ranch Middle & High School

• Multi-Intensive Autism Center Program: Supports students with Autism Spectrum Disorder using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) strategies and techniques such as reinforcement, prompt fading, and incidental teaching. Located at DSST: Montview Middle & High School

• Multi-Intensive Severe Center Program: Serves students with at least two disabilities, one of which must be an intellectual disability. Focuses on functional communication, self-care, and environmental access through sensory-rich experiences. Located at DSST: Conservatory Green Middle & High School

• 18–21 Transition Program: Serves students ages 18–21 with diverse disabilities, focusing on pre-employment and independent living skills through job site coaching and community-based instruction. Located at DSST: Montview High School

Key Responsibilities:

• Be an IEP Case Manager: Serve as case manager to a portfolio of students; completing tasks such as writing data driven IEPs, developing goals, monitoring progress, delivering targeted academic & behavioral interventions, and celebrating success with each student’s team of teachers and family along the way. 

• Ensure Students Receive Accommodations/Modifications: Partner with general education teachers to appropriately implement accommodations and modifications with intentionality and consistency. Advocate for and champion all diverse learners in the school by participating on the MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) Team.

• Manage a Team: Supervise and develop a team of Paraprofessionals

• Deliver Rigorous & Engaging Content: Utilize DSST’s curriculum resources to plan, intellectually prepare, and teach rigorous, culturally responsive, and grade level aligned content  to 3-5 classes daily depending on campus and content area.

• Track and Support Student Growth: Monitor and assess the performance of all students  through a variety of assessment tools & resources  to guide instruction and support individual student growth.

• Promote Positive Culture:Employ DSST culture systems to promote a unified and positive classroom and school culture as well as build and maintain trusting relationships with students and families.

• Pursue Professional Development:Engage in professional growth opportunities, including regular coaching, feedback, and development, with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

• Contribute to School Community: Undertake additional duties as needed, such as supporting student recruitment, running a small group advisory class, after school tutoring, etc. Explore more potential duties here.

THE PERSON

We value staff with diverse backgrounds, talents, and ideas. Our most successful employees share the following characteristics: 

• An unwavering belief that all students can succeed in school and reach their most ambitious post-secondary goals.

• A proactive approach to learning and growth, welcoming feedback to enhance your teaching practice.

Qualifications:

If you are passionate about working with students with disabilities and you don’t currently have a teaching credential or have a teaching credential and would like to obtain your SpEd endorsement, we’d love to connect with you! Please email [email protected]. 

• Minimum:Has both a teaching license and a special education endorsement. You can read more about obtaining a Colorado Special Education Endorsementhere. We recommend reaching out to CDE directly for information on transferring your out of state credentials.

• Ideal: Proven commitment to and experience with serving students of color, students with disabilities, and/or multilingual students. Experience in teaching and implementing positive behavior supports to facilitate learning in the areas of academic, communication, executive functioning, behavioral, and social-emotional regulation.

Who We Are

At DSST Public Schools, we are proud to achieve transformational results for our 7,500+ students — 97% of whom attend a Green (top-rated) school. Just as important is how we achieve them: values-centered, human-focused, and together.

We invite educators and leaders who share our belief that there is more in us — more brilliance, more courage, more possibility — to join us.

Our Impact

• 100% of DSST graduates have been admitted to college or a postsecondary program

• 15 of 16 schools rated Green on the 2024–25 SPF

• 9 out of 10 DSST families would recommend DSST to a friend

• 95%+ of staff say their managers check in regularly and care about them as people 

Why Work at DSST?

At DSST, our Quantum 5 Culture defines how we help every team member grow, belong, and thrive.

• Comprehensive Compensation & Benefits: Competitive pay and a Total Rewards package that includes fertility and adoption support, educator-focused mental-health care, and everyday perks like Safeway grocery discounts.

• Growth & Opportunity: Weekly 1:1 coaching, data-driven feedback, and clear career pathways such as Apprentice Teacher and Emerging Leader.

• Rewards & Recognition: Core Value and TOAST Awards, milestone celebrations, and the signature Flower Person Award honoring staff who help our community flourish.

• Whole Human Wellness: Access to the Therapist of Color Collaborative, Wellness Wednesdays, comprehensive health coverage, and six weeks of paid parental leave.

• Thriving in Colorado: Time to recharge with 11+ weeks off each year, relocation support for out of state applicants, and local discounts that help you enjoy life in our beautiful sunshine filled state.

Learn more about ourQuantum 5 Culture and Compensation & Benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

DSST Public Schools is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not exclude participation in, deny benefits to or discriminate on the basis of, race, color, religion, National origin, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity), Age (40 and older), Disability, Genetic information (including employer requests for, or purchase, use, or disclosure of genetic tests, genetic services, or family medical history), retaliation for filing a charge, reasonably opposing discrimination, or participating in a discrimination lawsuit, investigation, or proceeding in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities. 

Physical Demands

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is active and may require standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching throughout the day. The employee must lift and/or move items up to 30 pounds. The employee must have sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.