ASPIRE Special Education Licensure Scholarship (2025-2026 School Year)
DSST Public Schools
POSITION: Special Education ASPIRE Pathway (Teacher Licensing Scholarship)
GRADE LEVEL: Hiring for both middle school and high school positions
LOCATION: Currently hiring at multiple locations. See which campuses are currently hiring for Special Education Teachers here.
SALARY: $60,000-$80,000 based on aligned years of experience up to 10 years. We also offer a relocation stipend for anyone joining us from 75 miles or more from Denver!
SCHOLARSHIP: This year, DSST has a set number of scholarships to support aspiring special education teachers. In exchange for a two year commitment working at DSST, we will pay for your full tuition to CU Denver’s ASPIRE to Teach Program. This one year program allows you to work full time with us as a Special Education Teacher while completing the licensure program at CU. For more detailed information about ASPIRE, see this FAQ. Interested candidates would complete a brief application and interview with the scholarship committee and scholarships will be awarded on a rolling basis.
STATUS: Full time school year, benefits eligible, exempt, in-person position
START: First day of new SpEd Teacher staff training will be in July. You can view the current DSST School Year Calendar here.
THE ROLE
Our Mild/Moderate Special Education Teachers are leaders who play an integral role in ensuring that students with disabilities are welcomed, known, and challenged to achieve their most ambitious post-secondary path. Learn more about a Day in the Life of a Special Education Teacher and why you should choose to grow your career at DSST here.
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 Support Team: Based on a student’s services in their IEP, you may also supervise and develop paraprofessionals that serve as 1:1 support for that student.
Deliver Rigorous & Engaging Content: In partnership with your general education teaching partner(s), utilize DSST’s curriculum resources to plan, intellectually prepare, and teach rigorous, culturally responsive, and grade level aligned content in co-taught/push-in settings.
Track and Support Student Growth: Prioritize students’ intellectual growth by holding high expectations for academic success including monitoring and assessing the performance of all students through a variety of assessment tools and resources to guide instruction and support individual student proficiency.
Promote Positive Culture: Employ DSST culture and support systems while validating students’ cultural identities. Actively promote a unified and positive classroom and school culture. Cultivate 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, 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:
Minimum: Bachelor's Degree in any field. Demonstrated content knowledge (known as in-field status) via various qualifications (see qualification options here). In accordance with the Colorado READ Act, all Special Education Teachers will be expected to complete additional evidence based reading training (read more here).
Ideal: Proven commitment to and experience with serving students of color, students with disabilities, and/or multilingual students. A Colorado teaching credential is preferred but not required for most opportunities.
WHO WE ARE
At DSST Public Schools, we are proud to be the largest and highest-performing network of public charter schools in Denver and Aurora with 100% of our students having been accepted into college or post secondary programs since our inception in 2004. When you join DSST, you play a part in ensuring ALL students at our 16 schools have access to a transformational and joyful education. We encourage you to visit our website to learn more about why we’ve been selected as the 2018 Broad Prize Winner and as a Denver Post “Top Place to Work”.
INTERVIEW EXPECTATIONS
For most of our positions, we hire on a rolling basis. Therefore, we recommend that you submit your application as soon as you are able! You can learn more about what to expect in our interview process here.
TOTAL REWARDS
At DSST, we know that our people are the greatest asset we have in reaching our mission of eliminating educational inequity. We work hard to build a work culture that allows our staff to not only feel fulfilled by the work they do but also feel supported to live a joyful, healthy life. We want this work to be your life’s work. Check out our website and benefits highlight guide to learn how we deliver on our commitment to the human condition.
Some Highlights:
Excellent Healthcare Plan: We encourage you to check out our benefits guide to see the ways we are committed to the wellness of our staff. We are always looking to improve how we care and, through staff feedback, we’ve been able to implement innovative new benefits such as Fertility Benefits as well as staffing a Mental Health Counselor that is dedicated solely to DSST Staff.
Time Off: DSST Staff enjoy 11+ weeks off per year + paid PTO (from Day 1!)
Career Development: In addition to weekly coaching from a designated coach, you’ll have access to internal training and development pathways designed by our Professional Development & Training Team as well as external development opportunities.
REFERRAL
Know someone who would be a great fit? Refer them here! Anyone can refer a candidate and we offer a $500 referral bonus for every successful referral.
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.