K-5 Special Education Teachers (Signing Bonus Available)

UNIVERSITY PREP
Position: K - 5 Special Education Teacher

Our Mission: 

Building a foundation of skills, knowledge and character, University Prep educates every scholar
for a four-year college degree and life of opportunity.

Why You’ll Love Us:

"We have been a part of the University Prep family from the beginning. Over the past school years, I've been
so proud to see my child grow, learn, and get the support that I feel every child should receive.” – U Prep Parent

In 2011, University Prep opened the doors to its first elementary campus. Fast forward 14 years and our founding scholars are now enrolled in their first and second year of post-secondary programming. With nearly 90% of U Prep alumni on track for post-secondary success, U Prep is living its mission. Our scholars represent a 3X difference when compared with their peer group statewide (less than 30% are earning a degree or certificate following high school graduation). Our alumni are beating the odds and pursuing their dreams and ambitions as they enter adulthood and make choices about their futures. We couldn’t be prouder of our now college-going alumni, but more importantly, they couldn’t be prouder of themselves. Watch this video to hear from them directly and learn more about who we are as an organization and why we exist.

While you may love us because of the depth of our commitment to our mission and the integrity we carry each day to bring it to life, we believe your initial love will come from the investment we make in our people.

Everything starts with our care and commitment to the adults who lead our work. They are the game changes who make everything possible.

Our Investment in You:
Our compensation and benefits package includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Up to $ 8,000 in moving stipends and signing bonuses.
• Highly competitive salary within the local market.
  • $60,000 – $80,000 starting salary.
  • New to U Prep teachers have a starting salary dependent on years of teaching experience prior to joining the organization. We honor up to 10 years of previous teaching experience.
• 100% of medical benefit covered for all employees, and options to elect dental, vision, critical illness and accident benefits.
• Up to $600 in contributions to a personal wellness account.
• Participation in the Colorado PERA retirement program, including PERA 401K option.
• Weekly personalized coaching and supports from and instructional coach.

Why We’ll Love You:
Do the following must haves resonate with how you’re wired? If so, we invite you to apply and can’t wait to learn more about you!

You're mission and values-driven. You believe education can be a true equalizer and are devoted to all children, from all backgrounds, receiving an exemplary education. You’re fully aligned with the core values that drive our organization.

You love working with people.  While you adore little people, you love big people too. You proactively build meaningful and healthy relationships with your colleagues, and carry a ‘team beats individual’ attitude,
recognizing that united teams produce amazing results.

You want to be great.  You’re invested in mastering your craft and take full ownership over your growth and
development. You get a little better every day because you are committed to truly becoming great at what you
do.

You carry deep humility while remaining results-oriented.  You bring skill and experience to the role while
remaining genuinely open to new ideas and approaches all while keeping the end goal in sight.

You never give up. When things feel impossible, you roll up your sleeves, stay calm and level-headed, and
carry an unyielding sense of optimism. You take on challenges and find a way to get to the finish line.

What You’ll Do:

• Embody mission and vision of University Prep along with the organization’s core values.
• Intellectually prepare for and implement cohesive, rigorous, and standards-aligned instruction tailored to meet the diverse needs of scholars with disabilities.
• Engage in deliberate practice with leaders and colleagues to ensure full preparation before delivering specially designed instruction and support services.
• Leverage daily, weekly, interim, and end-of-year assessments to consistently capture student learning, growth, and understanding, using multiple measures to inform instruction.
• Analyze student work, academic data, and IEP goals in collaboration with team members and leaders, and action plan to drive accelerated growth for all scholars.
• Provide engaging, motivating, and rigorous instruction in whole-class, small group, and individual settings, ensuring appropriate scaffolds and accommodations are embedded throughout.
• Plan for and deliver targeted academic and behavioral supports aligned to each scholar’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 Plan, or intervention plan.
• Actively engage with families, scholars, and community members to understand their backgrounds and experiences, building strong partnerships to support a welcoming, inclusive school environment.
• Communicate regularly and proactively with colleagues, scholars, and families about scholar progress, services, and supports, ensuring alignment between school and home.
• Play a direct role in developing and strengthening a warm, consistent, and focused school culture where every scholar feels valued, safe, and empowered to achieve.
• Draft progress reports, IEP documentation, and report cards, intentionally planning for family meetings to ensure meaningful collaboration and shared ownership of scholar success.
• Actively participate in all professional development and learning opportunities, demonstrating a continuous growth mindset and a desire for continual improvement.
• Continuously use feedback from leaders, colleagues, families, and scholars to make productive changes in instructional practices and overall performance.
• Complete all compliance-related and administrative requirements—such as IEP paperwork, service logs, and progress monitoring—accurately and on or before deadlines.
• Participate in additional activities including field trips, academic support sessions, family engagement events, and other required programs throughout the year to best serve our scholars and community.

Position Preferences & Requirements:

• Full commitment to, belief in, and alignment with the mission and vision of University Prep, with a particular focus on serving scholars with exceptionalities.
• Full commitment to the organization’s core values and core identity, modeling these in all interactions with scholars, families, and colleagues.
• Unyielding optimism that all children, regardless of disability status or starting point, can achieve ambitious academic and personal growth.
• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree required.
• Hold “Highly Qualified” status as defined by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for Special Education.
• Minimum of one year working in urban education and/or with a diverse student population; experience supporting students with disabilities strongly preferred.
• For those with teaching experience: a demonstrated track record of leading significant gains in scholar performance, including academic growth and/or IEP goal attainment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with families, colleagues, and external partners.
• Experience or familiarity with analyzing academic and behavioral data and using it to inform instruction, interventions, and IEP goals.
• Strong organizational skills, including exceptional time and task management, especially in balancing instructional and compliance-related responsibilities.
• Ability to work full-time, including some evenings and weekends, with a “whatever it takes” mindset to meet scholar needs.
• Ability to work in person/in the school building; this is not a remote or telecommuting role.
• Openness to feedback and a strong desire for continual growth and development as a professional educator.
• Willingness to take full ownership of scholar outcomes and achievement without excuses, holding high expectations for self and students.
• Demonstrated track record of operating with a growth mindset, deep humility, and a relentless belief in the potential of every scholar.
• Bilingual strongly preferred (English/Spanish).

As an equal opportunity employer, University Prep hires without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.