What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Network Evaluation Specialist position at DSST Public Schools?
POSITION: Lead Network Evaluation Specialist (2025-2026 School Year)
GRADE LEVEL: Middle and High School
LOCATION: 16 DSST schools across Denver and Aurora
SALARY: $70,000-$$85,300 for up to 10 years of aligned experience. We also offer a relocation stipend for anyone joining us from 75 miles or more from Denver!
STATUS: Full time, benefits eligible, exempt, in-person position (Denver, CO)
START: First day of new staff training July 23, 2025.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
Our Network Evaluation Specialists 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. DSST’s LeadNetwork Evaluation Specialist will play a critical role in ensuring all students with disabilities in the network receive high quality and legally defensible evaluations for special education eligibility. In collaboration with the network Exceptional Learner Team, the Lead Network Evaluation Specialist will create and implement a strong, comprehensive vision to support DSST schools with completing special education initial evaluations and reevaluations including completing academic assessments, drafting evaluation reports, and facilitating evaluation meetings.
The Network Evaluation Team will evaluate students with disabilities from all eligibility categories. This position will include working closely with the school based team to seek consent from families for evaluations, completing the necessary assessments and summarizing results in holistic, comprehensive evaluation reports. Additionally, they will project manage the evaluation process to ensure all participants complete evaluation components by deadlines and can ensure a strong, collaborative process. The Network Evaluation Team will support student cases across the DSST network at both the Middle School and High School levels and may include students who receive mild/moderate support as well as center programming. This role requires significant interpersonal skills given the collaboration between families, school teams and special service providers as well as strong communication, organization and time management.
NETWORK EVALUATION TEAM: (15%)
Not a best fit role for you but know someone else who would be a great fit? Refer them here and earn $500 if they are hired!
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.
GRADE LEVEL: Middle and High School
LOCATION: 16 DSST schools across Denver and Aurora
SALARY: $70,000-$$85,300 for up to 10 years of aligned experience. We also offer a relocation stipend for anyone joining us from 75 miles or more from Denver!
STATUS: Full time, benefits eligible, exempt, in-person position (Denver, CO)
START: First day of new staff training July 23, 2025.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
Our Network Evaluation Specialists 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. DSST’s LeadNetwork Evaluation Specialist will play a critical role in ensuring all students with disabilities in the network receive high quality and legally defensible evaluations for special education eligibility. In collaboration with the network Exceptional Learner Team, the Lead Network Evaluation Specialist will create and implement a strong, comprehensive vision to support DSST schools with completing special education initial evaluations and reevaluations including completing academic assessments, drafting evaluation reports, and facilitating evaluation meetings.
The Network Evaluation Team will evaluate students with disabilities from all eligibility categories. This position will include working closely with the school based team to seek consent from families for evaluations, completing the necessary assessments and summarizing results in holistic, comprehensive evaluation reports. Additionally, they will project manage the evaluation process to ensure all participants complete evaluation components by deadlines and can ensure a strong, collaborative process. The Network Evaluation Team will support student cases across the DSST network at both the Middle School and High School levels and may include students who receive mild/moderate support as well as center programming. This role requires significant interpersonal skills given the collaboration between families, school teams and special service providers as well as strong communication, organization and time management.
NETWORK EVALUATION TEAM: (15%)
- Develop and lead on the network vision for evaluating students for special education including systems, processes for communication, and cross-team collaboration.
- Plan and facilitate monthly/bi-monthly Network SpEd & Evaluation Team meetings to foster collaborative practices and build a strong, effective team.
- Serve as a network leader on the Home Exceptional Learner Team and maintain a strong and effective team culture.
- Coach, manage, and develop Network Evaluation Specialists and Network School Psychologists serving on the Network Evaluation Team through weekly coaching meetings and development opportunities.
- Spend, on average, 3 to 4 days per week in the school setting assessing students, working with IEP teams and facilitating evaluation and eligibility meetings.
- Project manage the evaluation process, ensure strong collaboration across multiple providers and facilitate evaluation and eligibility meetings to ensure all students with disabilities have strong, comprehensive special education evaluations.
- Assignments will include working on several special education evaluations simultaneously and supporting multiple schools throughout the course of a week.
- Build strong, collaborative relationships with members of the school Special Education Team including special service providers.
- Communicate with General Education Teachers, Special Education Teachers, and Special Service Providers about information needed and timelines for special education evaluations.
- Communicate regularly with families, outside providers, and comprehensive IEP teams in a collaborative and student focused manner.
- Communicate regularly with the Home Office Exceptional Learner and Home Office Mental Health Team as needed.
- Coached and managed by a member of the HO Exceptional Learner team including weekly or bi-weekly coaching and development meetings.
- Because of the unique nature of this role, we are seeking an experienced, certified Special Education Teacher or licensed School Social Worker or School Psychologist who is flexible and has strong skills in communicating and building relationships with adults and students.
- Strong candidates for the Lead Network Evaluation Specialist role should have a demonstrated ability to respond flexibly to a changing work environment, strong organizational skills and ability to work on multiple workstreams at once; in addition to the ability to build positive relationships with a variety of stakeholders, and communicate clearly both verbally and in writing. Most importantly, strong candidates will have a strong vision for leading and developing a team of professionals towards a common goal and in pursuit of strong outcomes for students.
- Special Education Experience:
- 6 Years serving as a Special Education Teacher, School Social Worker or School Psychologist at the middle school or high school level
- Extensive experience administering a variety of standardized assessments, conducting root cause analysis and writing holistic, comprehensive evaluation reports.
- Special Education Leadership Experience:
- 4 Years experience in a leadership role at a school or network level (i.e. SpEd Administrator, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Manager of Special Education etc.)
- 3 Years experience managing and coaching other Special Education professionals.
- Desire to personally and professionally grow in their practice of becoming an anti-racist and anti-ableist educator.
- Proven commitment to and experience with serving students of color, students with disabilities, and/or multilingual students.
- Self-awareness, a regular practice of reflection, and a desire to continuously improve their practice, communication, and leadership skills.
- Education & Licensure:
- Bachelor's Degree required from accredited university and advanced degree for School Social Work or School Psychologist Candidates.
- Hold a valid Colorado special education or special service provider endorsement. You can read more about obtaining a Colorado Special Education Endorsement here. We recommend reaching out to CDE directly for information on transferring your out of state credentials.
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 7,500 students at our 16 schools have access to a transformational and joyful education.
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.
WHY JOIN DSST?
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 why our teachers love working at DSST as well as our benefits website to learn how we deliver on our commitment to the human condition.
- Health and Supplemental Insurance: DSST staff have access to comprehensive medical benefits, including fertility benefits and 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!)
- Professional Development: As a learning organization, DSST values both internal and external development opportunities for staff. See some examples below:
- DSST Back to School Development Series including New Staff Institute, New Educator Institute, New Leader Institute, Leader You, and Teaching & Learning Institute.
- Weekly 1:1 Coaching from a School Administrator at your campus.
- Clear internal career pathway opportunities such as our Apprentice Teachers, Emerging Leaders, and School Director in Training Programs. Read more here.
- And more!
Not a best fit role for you but know someone else who would be a great fit? Refer them here and earn $500 if they are hired!
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.
Salary : $70,000 - $85,300
