CDOC State Teacher I - High School Equivalency (HSE/GED) - Arkansas Valley

This position is compensated on a bi-weekly pay cycle. A residency waiver has been granted; applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

About the Role

The position provides High School Equivalency (HSE) Instruction within an adult educational correctional system/facility by delivering instruction, training, and assessments. Instruction is in accordance with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) approved Certificate of Accomplishment Curriculum for appropriate Adult Basic Education levels. This position will also provide oversight of the Cognitive Education Program.

Responsibilities

• Teach and mentor inmate students individually or in large and small group classrooms promoting academic performance skills.
• Determine educational needs of inmate students to develop short and long-term goals.
• Develop and implement competency-based teaching aids such as instructional software, multimedia visual aids, or study materials.
• Lecture on theories, concepts, and terminology.
• Select and administer appropriate performance assessments to inmate students to measure progress, course completion requirements, and to evaluate training/testing effectiveness.
• Prepare reports and maintain records such as student grades, attendance rosters, and training activity details.
• Observe and evaluate inmate students' work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement.
• Document inmate achievements, competencies, and contact hours towards completion of certificate requirements.
• Justify accuracy and usage of budget requests.
• Participate in conferences, seminars, and training sessions to keep abreast of developments in the field and integrate relevant information into training programs.
• Commitment to teamwork and collaboration with fellow teachers in a cooperative effort to promote mutual and continued guidance and improvements.
• Actively contribute to the safety and security of the facility through effective offender management and promoting conflict resolution and solutions.
• Endorse and adhere to the CDOC Mission and Vision promoting commitment and integrity.
• Maintain safety and security by training inmates, working security posts, performing inmate counts, shakedowns, searches, escorts, movement control, and inmate access to classrooms.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in an education-related field.
• Must possess at least one of the following credentials:
  • Colorado Initial or Professional Teacher License (Individuals with a Colorado Initial License upon hire must obtain the Colorado Professional Teacher License within three (3) years of date of hire).
  • Adult Basic Education Authorization (ABE).
  • Colorado Interim Authorization (out-of-state applicants may be eligible).
  • Appropriate educator license for your state (out-of-state applicants).
• A copy of your license and college transcripts noting type of degree and date conferred must be scanned and uploaded with your application.
• Transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service.

Skills

• Significant knowledge of effective teaching strategies, methods, and techniques.
• Exceptional interpersonal/customer service skills.
• Effectual conflict resolution skills.
• Strong self-motivation skills.
• Highly effective organizing, planning, and prioritizing skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in office technologies, especially Microsoft Office Suite.
• Precise attention to detail.
• Self-control and ability to work in stressful, potentially violent situations.
• Ability to remain alert, emotionally stable, and mentally resilient under pressure.
• Tolerance to stress, confinement, and high-stakes interaction.
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language.
• Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to create accessible documents and technical content following plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.

Preferred Qualifications

• CDE endorsement in Special Education.
• CDE endorsement in English.
• CDE endorsement in Mathematics.
• Master's degree in Education or related field.
• Experience teaching and assessing high-risk or incarcerated adults or youth.

Benefits

• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system.
• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans. Correctional Officers I-IV qualify as "Safety Officers" and are eligible for increased PERA benefits.
• Medical and dental health plans.
• Short and long-term disability coverage.
• Paid life insurance.
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave.
• Wellness program, tuition reimbursement, training opportunities, and more.

Conditions of Employment

• All job offers are contingent upon a successful medical screening by a healthcare professional, certifying the candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position.
• Must be 21 years of age.
• Possess a valid driver’s license. Drivers must maintain a valid, non-restricted Colorado driver’s license, obey traffic laws, and be able to safely operate a vehicle.
• Applicants must consent to hold harmless CDOC and its agents and staff from any liability arising from testing and use of this information in connection with CDOC’s consideration of application for employment.