Salary : $101,182.08 - $112,236.00 Annually
Location : Denver Metro, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 01719-UtDir-SL-0826
Department: Department of Education
Division: Student Learning
Opening Date: 09/10/2026
Closing Date: 9/25/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: Downtown/Denver Metro/Eligible for a hybrid (office/remote) work environment.***
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
Salary Note: Although the full salary range for this position is provided, appointments are typically made at or near the range minimum.
Type of Announcement: This announcement is not governed by the selection processes of the classified personnel system. 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.

Department Information
This position is not part of the classified personnel system; applications will be accepted from Residents and Non-Residents of Colorado.
Incumbent will be required to live in and complete work for CDE within Colorado.

Description of Job
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 Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

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 com