2026/2027 Special Education Instructional Specialist, Durango School District, 1.0 FTE

Durango School District is accepting applications for a Special Education Instructional Specialist. Existing Durango School District 181 Day Licensed Staff hired into this position will be placed on the Cell they currently reside on times 1.05 index plus an additional 22 days for the total salary, per the Licensed Compensation System guidelines. New hires to the District will be placed within the range below. Begins August 3, 2026.

Job Title: Special Education Instructional Specialist Pay Grade: Licensed Salary Schedule

Job Family: Licensed FLSA Status: Exempt

Department: Student Support Services Prepared Date: July 2023, Revised 3/12/2026

Typical Work Year: 181 days 22 additional days to support ESY Program

SUMMARY: Provide training and coaching to special education teachers and providers with a focus on the continued development and enhancement of our continuum of special education services from resource to specialized programs from PreK-12th grade, early literacy skills, elementary reading interventions, written language instruction, math intervention, and social-emotional interventions to support district approved curriculum and special education compliance.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work collaboratively with principals, assistant principals, counselors, teachers, and service providers to plan, develop, and deliver professional learning designed specifically to increase capacity in teachers, special service providers and administrators as it relates to Special Education.
• Provide professional development in partnership with Special Education Director, Special Education Coordinator, Special Service Providers, and school teams that is in alignment with the current district mission and vision.
• Assist Special Education teachers in understanding the IEP process and data collection with progress monitoring, including writing specific targeted IEP goals, how to create and implement progress monitoring systems, and a comprehensive understanding of instructional delivery related to IEP goals.
• Assist in ensuring all components of Special Education teachers' IEPs and associated documents are comprehensive, defensible, and comply with district, state, and federal regulations in relation to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• Assist in developing and implementing accommodations, and when appropriate, modifications for students with IEPs.
• Collaborate with the Director of Special Education, the Coordinator of Special Education, building principals, special education teachers, general education teachers, and general education instructional specialists in reading, writing, math, and social-emotional interventions for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
• Facilitate discussions about data from progress monitoring, benchmark, and district assessments to assist the teacher in determining action plans in their practice to provide appropriate programming for students' reading and written language, math, and social-emotional needs.
• Assist in training and supporting special education teachers and special education paraeducators in the creation and refinement of special education services. Assist schools in the development of school schedules that provide for the delivery of special education services.
• Conduct classroom visits with principals and assistant principals and assist in providing instructional coaching to staff responsible for delivering services to special education students.
• Understand student-centered coaching cycles with special education teachers. Partner with building administration to plan and implement student-centered coaching cycles with special education teachers. Student-centered coaching cycles may take place in a variety of settings within the school including general education settings, special education settings, and non-instructional settings such as lunch and recess areas.
• Assist in providing support and coaching of high-quality, research-based reading and written language intervention(s) such as Orton Gillingham and Wilson's Foundations in collaboration with the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment staff, and with the District Dyslexia Specialist as appropriate.
• Assist with training and supporting Special Education teachers in administering formal assessments such as the KTEA, along with district assessments.
• Provide ongoing training and support to all special education teams, to include the special education staff, general education staff, counselors, service providers, and building administrators on best practices in establishing and maintaining positive and collaborative partnerships with students, staff, and families. Provide assistance and guidance to schools on how to support the parents/guardians of special education students.
• Assist in disaggregating special education student data and providing reports to building and district leadership.
• Assist with the Extended School Year (ESY) program for the school district.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

ADDITIONAL JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Ensure the safety and welfare of students at all times.
• Demonstrate faithfulness and promptness in attendance at work.
• Submit required reports at the times specified.
• Demonstrate care of and protection of School District property.
• Report suspected child abuse or neglect as required by law.
• Use the District's internet and E-mail system as specified in Policy.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned by the Principal, Superintendent or their designees.
  
  

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

Minimum: Bachelor's degree from accredited university. Extensive education and/or training in working with Special Education. Master's Degree in Special Education from accredited university preferred.

EXPERIENCE: Three to five years of successful teaching experience required. Knowledge of, and experience with Special Education learners, characteristics, identification techniques, learning strategies and program models.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS

Colorado Teaching License required. Colorado Teaching License with an endorsement in Special Education preferred. Valid Driver License or self-secured motor transportation.

Technical Skills, Knowledge, & Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal relations and oral and written communication skills.
• Strong decision making, analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to work with students with diverse needs at various levels.
• Ability to develop and implement lessons and programming for students with IEPs.
• Ability to lead others.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Ability to promote and follow Board and District policies, Superintendent policies and building/ department procedures.
• Ability to communicate, interact and work effectively and cooperatively in a team setting.
• Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator.
• Ability to utilize formative and summative assessments to assess student learning.
• Ability to develop and implement IEPs.
• Ability to implement IEPs and behavior support plans for students.
  
  

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT OPERATING KNOWLEDGE:

• Computers and general office equipment.
• Microsoft Office applications.
• Student Information Systems.
  
  

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS & DIRECTION/GUIDANCE:

• Reports to: Director of Special Education
• Direct Reports: None
  
  

BUDGET AND/OR RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY: None

Durango School District is an equal opportunity educational institution and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to treatment, or employment in educational programs or activities which it operates, or any other applicable status protected by federal, state or local law. For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, contact Laura Galido, Compliance Officer, Durango School District, 281 Sawyer Drive, Suite 100, Durango, CO 81303, (970) 247-5411, lgalido@durangoschools.org, or the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 Spear Boulevard, Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204-3582, (303) 844-5695.