CDOC State Teacher I: Academic/Cognitive (Sterling)

State of Colorado

$72K — $115K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in an education-related field from an accredited college or university.
  • Colorado Initial or Professional Teacher License, Adult Basic Education Authorization, or Colorado Interim Authorization.
  • Knowledge of effective teaching strategies and methods.
  • Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
  • Ability to work effectively in high-stress environments with potential violence.

Responsibilities

  • Teach and mentor inmate students in both individual and group settings.
  • Assess educational needs and create tailored learning goals.
  • Design course content and instructional methods.
  • Develop competency-based teaching aids and materials.
  • Administer assessments to measure student progress and evaluate effectiveness.
  • Maintain accurate records of student performance and attendance.
  • Promote critical thinking and self-motivation in inmates.

Benefits

  • Opportunities for overtime compensation due to non-exempt status.
  • Participation in professional development events such as conferences and training sessions.
  • Collaborative work environment with fellow educators.
  • Ability to make a significant impact in inmates' educational journeys.
Full Job Description
Salary: $6,022.00 - $9,636.00 Monthly
Location : Sterling, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: SCF #30463 STI COG ED 10.2026
Department: Department of Corrections
Opening Date: 08/14/2026
Closing Date: 8/28/2026 4:00 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: Sterling, Colorado
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
Type of Announcement: A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Job Location:Sterling Correctional Facility, Sterling, Colorado
This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.
Description of Job
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.
Job Duties Include:
  • Teaches and mentors inmate students individually or in large and small group classrooms promoting occupational, academic and transitional performance skills;
  • Determines educational needs of inmate students to develop short and long term goals;
  • Plans course content and develops methods of instruction;
  • Develops and implements competency-based teaching aids such as instructional software, multimedia visual aids, or study materials;
  • Provides hands-on training to teach and demonstrate skills, techniques, methods and procedures;
  • Selects and administers appropriate oral, written and/or performance assessments to inmate students in order to measures progress, course completion requirements, and to evaluate training/testing effectiveness;
  • Prepares reports and maintains records such as inmate student grades, attendance rosters, and training activity details;
  • Observes and evaluates inmate students' work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement;
  • Justifies accuracy and usage of budget requests;
  • Participates in conferences, seminars, and training sessions to keep abreast of developments in the field, and integrates 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 contributes to the *safety and security of the facility through effective inmate management and promoting conflict resolution and solutions;
  • Encourages and promotes critical thinking, self discipline and self motivation for the inmate student population in order to provide the skills necessary to reintegrate into society;
  • Other duties as assigned.
*Safety & Security - position maintains safety and security by training inmates; and occasionally or in an emergent situation perform inmate counts, shakedowns, searches, escorts, movement control, and inmate access to classrooms. Through conscientious observation and adherence to agency Administrative Regulations and the Code of Penal Discipline, the position promotes a safe and secure work environment.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Ensure that the "Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. This information will be used to help determine compensation for the position. "See resume" statements cannot be accepted in lieu of the "work experience" section of the application. Additional work experience will not be accepted after the job announcement close date for compensation purposes.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
  • 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)

Out of State Applicants Minimum Qualifications
  • Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in an education related field.
  • Must possess the appropriate educator license for your state*

*A copy of your license MUST be scanned and uploaded to this application at the time your application is submitted.

Out of state applicants - you are strongly encouraged to understand the licensing requirements in Colorado. You may be eligible for the Colorado Interim Authorization click HERE
For more information about Colorado licensure click HERE
There is no substitution for the required education. It is imperative that all credentials for this position are valid at the time of application and maintained throughout employment.
A copy of your college transcripts noting type of degree and date conferred MUST be scanned and uploaded to this application at the time your application is submitted in order to receive college course work credit if you wish to use your credit in order to be considered for this position. Transcripts must include the institution name, your name, degree, date conferred, and must be in pdf or jpg format.
Experience MUST be described in detail on your application to receive credit.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:
  • 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 communications skills;
  • Proficiency in office technologies especially Microsoft Office Suite;
  • Precise attention to details;
  • Self-control, a strong sense of ability to work in stressful, potentially violent situations;
  • Ability to remain alert, emotionally stable, and mentally resilient under pressure and observant throughout their shift;
  • 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 that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.


PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • CDE endorsement in Special Education;
  • CDE endorsement in English;
  • CDE endorsement in Mathematics;
  • Masters degree in Education or related field;
  • Experience teaching and assessing high risk or incarcerated adults or youth.


ONLY APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS PROCESS.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Assessment Process: Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum Qualifications (MQ's). Applicants that meet MQ's will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, Online Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.
Be sure the "Work Experience" section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job, Minimum Qualifications, Required Competencies and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Resumes and "see resume" statements will not be accepted in lieu of the "Work Experience" section of the application. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your score, rank or inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants.
Employees who are rehired or reinstated within six months of their separation will return at either their previous pay rate if hired into the same class level or based on their time in the class series, whichever is higher. Those rehired or reinstated after six months' separation will be calculated using the same formula for new hires and promotions.
Please note that while this change in role may constitute a change in title and/or responsibility, salary adjustments are not guaranteed and may be influenced by factors such as internal pay equity, budget constraints, market benchmarks, or the individual's current compensation level. Any changes to compensation will be determined separately and communicated accordingly.
If you have transcripts, a license or other relevant documentation regarding your qualifications, upload and attach copies to your application.
If an unofficial copy of transcripts is being submitted at the time of application, transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.
Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution.
In order to process a background investigation, your application must include at least (10) ten years of the most current work experience unless experience related to the job for which you are applying is later than (10) years. Failure to provide this information could result in delays and/or elimination from the background investigation process.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.
**You are encouraged to print a copy of this announcement for your records**
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. Applicant must consent to hold harmless CDOC and its agents and staff from any liability arising in whole or in part from the testing and the use of this information in connection with CDOC's consideration of application for employment.

  • 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 motor vehicle. State drivers are expected to maintain a safe driving record consistent with Colorado Division of Human Resources Universal Policy Driving Standards. Eligibility t

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