CDOC-State Teacher I: JCAP Instructor

This position is with the State of Colorado, offering distinctive career advancement opportunities, strong retirement benefits (including PERA Defined Benefit or Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans), medical and dental health plans, disability coverage, paid life insurance, 11 paid holidays per year, vacation and sick leave, wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and training opportunities. A residency waiver has been granted for this position, and the resulting eligibility list may be used to fill future vacancies at Canon City Correctional Facilities.

About the Role

This position exists to provide tailored classroom and individualized instruction in academic subjects, cognitive life skills, and re-entry programming. The role prepares offenders to earn Independent Living certifications and successfully reintegrate into society as self-sufficient community members. The DOC Educational Department aims to reduce offender recidivism by delivering outcome- and evidence-based Academic, Social Science, and Career and Technical Education programs.

Responsibilities

• Instruct inmate students toward achieving completion of Independent Living-based competencies.
• Provide classroom and individualized instruction in academic, cognitive education/life skills, and re-entry programming to assist inmates in obtaining an Independent Living certificate of completion and/or successful reintegration back into society.
• Determine educational needs of inmate students to develop short and long-term goals.
• Develop lesson plans utilizing approved curriculum, materials, and strategies designed to improve student academic progression.
• Offer four phases of mastery-based instruction covering topics such as Healthy Living, Life Skills, Career Development, Technology, and Financial Literacy.
• Teach lessons through immersion-based instruction utilizing Chromebooks, virtual reality equipment, classroom, and clinician-led instruction.
• Create individualized instruction plans (IIP) for new inmates following initial educational assessments.
• Provide educational guidance and counseling to individual offenders through one-on-one interviews and collaborate with other relevant staff to refer students to other correctional areas.
• Work collaboratively with the Social Worker to deliver the curriculum, ensuring all aspects of the inmate's mental health and educational needs are met.
• Properly submit and maintain all educational records such as grades, test scores, attendance, progression, and assessment scores.
• Work cooperatively with supervisory personnel to ensure responsible and appropriate management of supplies and equipment.
• Actively contribute to the safety and security of the facility through effective inmate management and promoting conflict resolution and solutions.
• Encourage and promote critical thinking, self-discipline, and self-motivation for the inmate student population to provide the skills necessary to reintegrate into society.
• Maintain safety and security by training inmates; perform inmate counts, shakedowns, searches, escorts, movement control, and inmate access to classrooms as needed.
• 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 must obtain the Colorado Professional Teacher License within three years of hire).
  • Adult Basic Education Authorization (ABE).
  • Colorado Interim Authorization (out-of-state applicants may be eligible).
• Out-of-state applicants must possess the appropriate educator license for their state and provide a copy of the license with their application.
• Significant knowledge of effective teaching strategies, methods, and techniques.
• Exceptional interpersonal and 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

• 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.

This position is compensated on a bi-weekly pay cycle.