Director, Elementary Literacy and School Readiness - Non-Classified

Colorado Department of Education – What We Do 
The Colorado Department of Education (CDE) provides leadership, resources, support, and accountability to the state's 178 school districts, 1,888 schools, over 53,000 teachers, and over 3,200 administrators to help them build capacity to meet the needs of the state's approximately 905,000 public school students. In addition, CDE provides structural and administrative support to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and the Charter School Institute.

As the administrative arm of the State Board of Education, CDE is responsible for implementing state and federal education laws, disbursing state and federal funds, holding schools and districts accountable for performance, licensing all educators, and providing public transparency of performance and financial data.

CDE is a values-based agency that serves students, parents, and the general public by protecting public trust through ensuring adherence to laws, strong stewardship of public funds, and accountability for student performance.

CDE strives to incorporate five core values that we uphold in our work internally and externally.   If you come to CDE, be prepared to incorporate Integrity, Equity, Accountability, Trust, and commitment to Service in what you do.

Why Work For CDE
The work we do is rewarding and impacts the students, families, educators, and communities across Colorado. Our leadership also promotes a culture that puts families and self-care as a priority. Along with meaningful work and an environment that puts employees first, the state also offers rich benefits that intend to make us an Employer of Choice!
The following is a summary of the benefits we offer:

• Flexible work schedules and flexible workplace options that may include flexible working hours, working from home, working in the office, and/or a hybrid working environment.
• Premier medical, dental, vision, and dependent life insurance options. All with a generous employer contribution keeping employee costs as low as possible.
• Employer-paid short-term disability and life insurance.
• Up to 160 hours of Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML).
• 11 paid holidays per year.
• Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals.
• Retirement through the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) www.copera.org.
• Employer-paid RTD Eco Pass (certain restrictions may apply).
• Paid professional development opportunities.

A wide salary range is posted for this position, and any job offer is based upon a salary analysis to comply with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. The salary analysis considers relevant experience, education, certifications, and state seniority relative to others performing substantially similar work. While most salary offers are made within the posted range, occasionally an offer is made below or above the posted range based upon this salary analysis.

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness. The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

The Colorado Department of Education is seeking a strategic, collaborative leader to serve as Director of the Office of Elementary Literacy and School Readiness (ELSR). This position leads critical reading initiatives and other elementary programs, including implementation of the READ Act, Elementary Literacy Grant, Early Literacy Achievement Tool, Comprehensive Literacy Development Grant, CAP4K, and related initiatives. The Director supervises office staff and reporting supervisors, guides statewide strategy, oversees significant state and federal resources, informs Department and State Board leadership with data, and builds partnerships that strengthen literacy outcomes for Colorado students. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position is a full-time, hybrid, state-funded position (funding is contingent upon availability and may end at any time). 

• 20% Travel required within the State of Colorado for Meetings/Training/Site visits/Consultations
• Driving required (Please see description under Conditions of Employment).
• Required to report to the work location per business needs.
• Essential Functions (ADAAA)
  • Sedentary/Office environment: 
  •  Required to sit, view a computer screen, and utilize a keyboard and mouse for extended periods of time
  • Required lifting, bending, stooping, pushing, walking, etc.

Position Summary:

The Elementary Literacy and School Readiness (ELSR) Director reports to the Executive Director of the Teaching and Learning Unit as part of the Student Learning Division. This position supervises, directly and indirectly, all members of the ELSR Office, including reporting supervisors. The position oversees the creation, planning and implementation of statutory guidance as well as the procedures required for the maintenance of mandated programs, including READ Act, Elementary Literacy Grant, Early Literacy Achievement Tool, Comprehensive Literacy Development Grant, CAP4K, and others. This position coordinates the efforts of individual team members and groups of team members to ensure alignment to the Office’s responsibilities and in support of the Department’s strategic plan. This position ensures the Commissioner’s Leadership Team and the State Board of Education are informed with data from across the state and contributes to strategic planning for how to achieve goals over time. This position serves as a leader and connector for literacy education across multiple platforms across national, state, and in coordination with various stakeholder groups. This position ensures sound fiscal management of significant grants and state budget allocations and collaborates across the Office as well as across the Unit, Division, and Department to ensure all professional development is high quality, impactful, and meets the needs of the participating district educators. The Director is also expected to provide direct, job-embedded instructional coaching to teachers and school and district administrators to strengthen implementation of the Colorado READ Act with fidelity, and to build the capacity of ELSR staff to provide consistent, high-quality instructional coaching in the field.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the department's literacy work group to ensure coherent, coordinated statewide implementation of the early literacy initiatives. Formulate comprehensive strategic plans for enhancing literacy across the state, aligning initiatives with state educational goals and standards, and supporting K-12 literacy through the Comprehensive State Literacy Development grant. 
• Lead the reporting and provide oversight for the annual CAP4K legislation as it relates to the kindergarten school readiness assessment. Articulate and implement a shared vision within the ELSR Office related to systems supporting the Colorado READ Act. This includes managing and supervising the following teams within the office: School Readiness, READ Act Data and Grants, READ Act Implementation, and READ Act Professional Development.
• Stay informed about relevant state and federal legislation related to literacy education, ensuring compliance and advocating for policies that support literacy development. Support literacy initiatives, ensuring compliance with state regulations and standards. Implement these policies effectively statewide.
• Manage financial resources allocated to literacy initiatives, developing budgets, and allocating funds effectively to maximize impact. Identify grant opportunities and develop grant proposals to secure additional funding for literacy initiatives. When needed, manage federal grants provided to the department related to literacy initiatives.
• Coordinate and provide professional development and job-embedded instructional coaching for educators and administrators to strengthen literacy instruction, kindergarten school readiness, and implementation of the Colorado READ Act with fidelity. Model effective coaching practices and train, develop, and support ELSR team members to provide high-quality instructional coaching to teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.
• Stay abreast of current research, trends, and best practices in, school readiness, literacy instruction, intervention, and assessment integrating this knowledge into statewide initiatives.
• Work collaboratively across the department to ensure high quality collection, analysis, and reporting of all required data related to K through 3rd grade children and children who remain on READ Plans. This includes the collection and analysis specific to children with significant reading deficiencies. Utilize available data to drive resource allocations (i.e., personnel, professional learning, technical assistance, and budgeting). 
• Effectively position and develop personnel to support the successful implementation of literacy initiatives across local districts, communities, and the state system, ensuring access for students K through 12th grade. Build the capacity of ELSR staff to coach teachers and administrators on research-proven instructional practices and READ Act implementation, including observing instruction, using data to identify implementation gaps, providing actionable feedback, and supporting continuous improvement.
• Facilitate research-based professional development to build the capacity of schools and districts to support student attainment of the Colorado Academic and English Language Proficiency Standards.
• Provide state leadership connecting assessment to standards and instruction.
• Ensure that literacy and school readiness initiatives are culturally responsive and equitable, addressing the needs of diverse learners and promoting inclusive practices that reduce achievement gaps.
• Cultivate partnerships with universities, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other entities to leverage resources and expertise in support of statewide literacy efforts.
• Prepare for and navigate work with the State Board of Education, media, and other stakeholders through presentations and interviews in planned and unscheduled circumstances throughout the year.
• Lead and partner with stakeholders and agencies supporting literacy and school readiness initiatives in Colorado and nationally. Serve in a statewide leadership role by building and maintaining effective relationships with state, county, district, community, business and national organizations and agencies.
• Lead key early literacy and school readiness metrics, initiatives, services, and support for the state, ensuring that improved early literacy outcomes for all children, kindergarten through 3rd grade, are embedded and aligned within CDE's strategic goals. 
• Function as the ELSR Office lead for negotiating and implementing interagency agreements with other state agencies.
• Function as the lead project manager for office contracts and legislative reporting.
• Consistently deliver CDE's commitment to service and support, aligning the office goals with CDE's mission and vision.
• Collaborate with other offices within the Teaching and Learning Unit, the Exceptional Student Services Unit, and other relevant units within the department. 
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM EDUCATION  AND EXPERIENCE  REQUIREMENTS: 

• Master’s degree in literacy, reading, elementary education, or other related field with coursework to support expertise in literacy aligned with scientifically based reading instruction.
• Five (5) plus years of experience in public education, including classroom experience. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS: 
Qualifications for Success in the Position: 

• Experience with management expectations of the Department, including internal and external communication, budgeting and expenditure procedures, paperwork approval and reduction requirements, other written departmental procedures.
• Ability to manage other supervisors to ensure program execution and personnel management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Google.
• Exceptional organizational skills, including ability to multi-task, balance competing priorities, track and meet deadlines. Manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Experience developing and providing professional development and job-embedded instructional coaching for teachers and administrators, including demonstrated ability to build the coaching capacity of other staff and leaders.
• Ability to work independently, in a team environment, and across teams throughout the Department.
• Ability and willingness to travel as required during the performance of assigned tasks (travel may include overnight stays for 1-3 nights at a time).
• The ability to pass a background check.  

Preferred Qualifications (Preferred/Not Required):

• Firsthand experience in literacy instruction (K-3). 
• Knowledge of READ Act (or similar legislation) including data collection, approved curricula and assessments, and supports.

Conditions of Employment (Required):

• Must be willing and able to submit to the pre-screening process and pass a background check.
• Ability and willingness to independently determine, obtain means, and complete required travel (20%).
  • Must be able and willing to complete approximately 20% position-related travel, including overnight travel within the State of Colorado and occasional out-of-state travel (Conference/Training/site visits).
• Extended hours during the evening or the weekend may be required by business needs.
• Report to work location per business needs
  
• Valid Colorado Driver's License Required: Required to safely operate a motor vehicle to complete travel requirements.
• Driving Required: To ensure the safety and efficiency of CDE operations, certain positions are designated as "Driving Required." These positions are required to safely operate a motor vehicle or a State of Colorado Fleet motor vehicle to complete the travel requirements. These positions are subject to a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check and a valid driver’s license requirement if it meets the following criteria:
  • Travel Threshold: The position requires business-related travel at least 20% or more of standard working hours; AND
  • Operational Necessity: The travel requirements cannot be reasonably or efficiently met by alternative transportation (e.g., public transit, ride-sharing, or rail) due to:
    • Significant travel distances or out-of-state requirements.
    • A high frequency of stops at multiple locations throughout the workday.
    • The need to transport equipment or travel to areas where public transportation is unavailable or impractical.

Complete Applications must include:

• Completed Online Application: Required - Submitted through our ATS.
• Cover Letter: Required - Attached separately
• Resume: Required - Attached separately
• Transcript: Required if using education to meet MQs - Attached to the online application and meeting requirements as described under "College Transcripts".

College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify, a legible copy of your official or unofficial college transcript(s) or a foreign credential evaluation report must be submitted with your application. Transcripts must show the name of the school and that a degree was conferred. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or foreign credential evaluation report may result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

**Failure to submit a complete application as defined above by the announcement close may result in your application being removed from consideration.**

** Resumes and Cover Letters WILL NOT be reviewed for minimum qualification screening. 

FOR CURRENT OR FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE STATE OF COLORADO:
Per the requirements of the Step Pay Program implemented on July 1, 2024, any State employee must be paid a rate that is equal to or greater than the appropriate step pay rate within their classification’s pay range based on completed years in their current class series as of June 30. All current and former State employees must ensure that your entire work history within the State Classified System, including at Institutions of Higher Education, is indicated in your application so that your time-in-series can be calculated accurately. 
 
Email Address:
All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be conducted via email.  Include a working email address on your application; one that is checked often as time-sensitive correspondence such as exam information or notification will take place via email.  Please set up your e-mail to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "[email protected]" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam-filtered email.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and Equal Employment Opportunity
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, a medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
 
The Colorado Department of Education is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to [email protected].