ESSU Responsibilities List

Assistance for Dispute Resolution Options

Assistance for Parents

Special Education

Parents with questions about Special Education or needing assistance can contact the Office of Special Education at:

Phone: 720-926-1453
Email: Parents_ESSUquestions@cde.state.co.us

Young Children (Birth to age 5) or Preschool

For parents with questions about their young children (birth to age 5) or Preschool Special Education please contact the Preschool Team:

Phone: 303-501-0837
Email: White_H@cde.state.co.us

Preschool Special Education and Child Find Contacts

Gifted Education

For parents of students in Gifted Education, please contact Gifted Education Team:

Phone: 720-774-0908
Email: McKinney_R@cde.state.co.us

This page lists contacts for content areas within the Exceptional Student Services Unit. Click on any letter from the alphabet to jump to a section.

* Indicates when there is a main contact.

18-21 - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

18-21

18‐21-Year-Old Transition Services
Kacy Little Owl
Email Kacy Little Owl
720-827-8283

A

Accommodations (Instructional)
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303-253-0451

Adapted Physical Education
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Adult Agencies/Interagency Collaboration
Katie Oliver
Email Katie Oliver
720-413-4006

Affective Needs of Students with Disabilities
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000

Alternate Achievement Standards (see also Extended Evidence Outcomes/EEO’s)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Katherine Rains
Email Katherine Rains
720-990-1464

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Advisory Board
Katherine Rains
Email Katherine Rains
720-990-1464

Assessment (alternate) for Students with Disabilities (state and district)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Assessment (general) for Students with Disabilities (state and district)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Assistive Technology (SWAAAC) Training and Support
Maureen Melonis
Email Maureen Melonis
303‐315‐1283

Assistive Technology Loan Bank
Maureen Melonis
Email Maureen Melonis
303‐315‐1283

AU Determinations
Orla Bolger
Email Orla Bolger
720-921-0524

Audiology
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
720‐413-0179

Autism Spectrum Disorders
Brooke Carson
Email Brooke Carson
720-215-8647

Rhonda Danner, M.A.
Email Rhonda Danner
720-460-8368

B

Behavior/Mental Health for Students with Disabilities
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000

Blindness / Low Vision
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs)
Brooke Carson
Email Brooke Carson
720-215-8647

Braille / Braillists
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Brain Injury
Jody Dickerson, RN, BSN, MN
Email Jody Dickerson
(720) 795-2273

C

Career Tech Education/Vocational Education
Kacy Little Owl
Email Kacy Little Owl
720-827-8283

Central Auditory Processing
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
720-413-0179

Charter Schools
Hannah Prokop
Email Hannah Prokop
720-284-8144

Child Find (Ages 3 through 5 years old)
Melissa Taucher
Email Melissa Taucher
720-822-6239

CMAS for Students with Disabilities
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Cochlear Implants
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
720-413-0179

Colorado Alternate Assessment (CO‐Alt)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Colorado Autism Education Network
Brooke Carson
Email Brooke Carson
720-215-8647

Colorado Autism Mentoring Program (CAMP)
Brooke Carson
Email Brooke Carson
720-215-8647

Colorado Services for Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss Project (Deafblind Grant)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee (CSEAC)
Beth Donahue
Email Beth Donahue
720-926-1453

Complaints Investigation (State Level)
Brandon Edelman, Esq.
Email Brandon Edelman
303-704-9138

Rachel Dore, Esq.
Email Rachel Dore
720-951-8457

Nick Podsiadlik, Esq.
Email Nick Podsiadlik
720-916-5266

Ashley Schubert, Esq.
Email Ashley Schubert
720-788-0576

Nick Butler, Esq.
Email Nick Butler
720-402-0333

Lee Sosebee, Esq.
State Complaints Officer
Email Lee Sosebee
720-926-7945

Tiera Brown, Esq.
State Complaints Officer
Email Tiera Brown
720-813-2281

Comprehensive Plan
Kerry Whitmore
Email Kerry Whitmore
720-456-0397

Connect for Success
TBD

Cultural and Linguistic Diversity for Students with Disabilities
Hunter Smith
Email Hunter Smith
720-202-2623

Cyber Schools
Hannah Prokop
Email Hannah Prokop
720-284-8144

D

Data Management System (DMS)
Josh Fails
Email Josh Fails
720-618-0538

Deaf-blindness (combined vision and hearing loss)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Deafness/Hard of Hearing
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
720-413-0179

Developmental Delay
Marcia Blum
Email Marcia Blum
720-799-4015

Dispute Resolution General Information
Brandon Edelman
Email Brandon Edelman
303-704-9138

District-Wide Alternate Assessment
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Due Process Decision Monitoring
Becky O'Malley
Email Becky O'Malley
303-895-5108

Due Process General Information
Brandon Edelman
Email Brandon Edelman
303-704-9138

Dynamic Learning Map (DLM) ‐ Instruction
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Dyslexia
Ellen Hunter
Email Ellen Hunter
720-512-8614

E

Educational Interpreters
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
720-413-0179

Educational Surrogate Parents (Coordination and Training)
Katherine Rains
Email Katherine Rains
720-990-1464

Educational Surrogate Parents (Database)
Katherine Rains
Email Katherine Rains
720-990-1453

eLearning Products and Procedures
Amanda Timmerman
Email Amanda Timmerman
720-916-4481

Cindy Petersen
Email Cindy Petersen
720-760-0506

Eligibility of Students with Disabilities
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

English Learners with Disabilities
Hunter Smith*
Email Hunter Smith
720-202-2623

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI)
Michael Ramirez
Email Michael Ramirez
720-460-6251

Extended Evidence Outcomes/EEO’s (see also Alternate Achievement Standards)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-4647

Extended School Year (ESY)
Vacant

F

Facility Schools
Judy Stirman*
Email Judy Stirman
303-476-1880

Facility Schools - Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment
Tara Butler
Email Tara Butler

Facility Schools - Induction/Finance/Policy
Wendy Dunaway
Email Wendy Dunaway
303-726-2209

Facility Schools Data Systems Specialist
Lori Kochevar
Email Lori Kochevar
720-557-0618

Facility Schools IEP Administrator/State Assessment
Annie Haskins
Email Annie Haskins
303-859-4406

Facility Schools Online System/Transcripts
Lori Kochevar
Email Lori Kochevar
720-557-0618

Facility Schools Monitoring
Robin Singer
Email Robin Singer
720-454-6229

Facility Schools Monitoring
Ann Symalla
Email Ann Symalla
720-527-2214

Facility Schools Technical Assistance Center Coordinator
Allie Miller
Email Allie Miller
720-661-2981

Family‐School Partnering
Beth Donahue
Email Beth Donahue
720-926-1453

Family‐School Partnering - Data/Website
Pahmela Mendoza
Email Pahmela Mendoza
720-237-4600

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)/Prenatal Substance Exposure
Jody Dickerson, RN, BSN, MN
Email Jody Dickerson
(720) 795-2273

Fiscal Monitoring, Special Education
Email the General Supervisor and Monitoring Team
Vacant

G

General Supervision and Monitoring
Kerry Whitmore*
Email Kerry Whitmore
720-456-0397

Erin Frank
Email Erin Frank
720-812-3207

Rebecca O'Malley
Email Rebecca O'Malley
303-895-5108

Hannah Prokop
Email Hannah Prokop
720-284-8144

Nick Smosna
Email Nick Smosna
303-548-5597

Zack Van Sant
Email Zack Van Sant
720-668-2609

Gifted Education Assistant Director
Heather Baskin
Email Heather Baskin
720-557-4528

Gifted Education – Data/Monitoring
Terri Loiselle
Email Terri Loiselle
720-245-1316

Gifted Education Director
Rebecca McKinney
Email Rebecca McKinney
720-774-0908

Gifted Education – Professional Learning/Monitoring
Michael Scott
Email Michael Scott
720-948-6333

Gifted Education- Program Support/Data Management System (DMS)
Diane Barranco
Email Diane Barranco
303‐866‐6631

Gifted Education- Twice Exceptional
Connolly Sherwood
Email Connolly Sherwood
720-215-8842

H

Hearing Screening (includes newborns)
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
720-413-0179

Home Schooling
Hannah Prokop
Email Hannah Prokop
720-284-8144

I

IDEA Federal Application Budget System - Staff and Contract Approvals
Vacant
Email the General Supervisor and Monitoring Team

IDEA Federal Application Budget System - All Other Approvals
Evan Davis (Grants Fiscal Office)
Email Evan Davis
720-616-9183

IDEA Federal Application Narratives
Email the General Supervisor and Monitoring Team
Vacant

IDEA Part B Monitoring
Kerry Whitmore
Email Kerry Whitmore
720-456-0397

IDEA Part C
Heidi White
Email Heidi White
303-501-0837

Melissa Taucher
Email Melissa Taucher
720-822-6239

IEP Facilitation
Katherine Rains
Email Katherine Rains
720-990-1464

IEP Facilitator Trainings/Coaching
Katherine Rains
Email Katherine Rains
720-990-1464

IEP Forms
Kerry Whitmore
Email Kerry Whitmore
720-456-0397

IEP Interchange for Data Pipeline
Lindsey Heitman
Email Lindsey Heitman
816-729-4680

IEP Training
Rebecca O'Malley
Email Rebecca O'Malley
303-895-5108

Hannah Prokop
Email Hannah Prokop
720-284-8144

Nick Smosna
Email Nick Smosna
303-548-5597

Zack Van Sant
Email Zack Van Sant
720-668-2609

Indicator 1: Graduation
Kacy Little Owl
Email Kacy Little Owl
720-827-8283

Indicator 2: Dropout Rates
Kacy Little Owl
Email Kacy Little Owl
720-827-8283

Indicator 4: Suspension/Expulsion Rates of Students with Disabilities
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000

Indicator 7: Preschool Outcomes
Marcia Blum
Email Marcia Blum
720-799-4015

Indicator 8: Parent Surveys
Beth Donahue
Email Beth Donahue
720-926-1453

Indicator 13: Transition IEPs
Orla Bolger
Email Orla Bolger
720-921-0524

Indicator 14: Post-School Outcomes
Kacy Little Owl
Email Kacy Little Owl
720-827-8283

Intellectual Disability (ID)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Interveners (for children with deaf‐blindness)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

L

Learning Media Assessment / Learning Media Plans
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Licensure (Special Education only)
Vacant
Email the General Supervisor and Monitoring Team

Literacy Initiatives
Ellen Hunter
Email Ellen Hunter
720-512-8614

M

Manifestation Determination
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000

Mediation
Maria Fenton
Email Maria Fenton
720-237-1610

Mental Health for Students with Disabilities
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000

Krista Klabo
Email Krista Klabo
720-284-2524

Moodle Courses (CDE’s Learning Management System)
Amanda Timmerman*
Email Amanda Timmerman
720-916-4481

Cindy Petersen
Email Cindy Petersen
720-760-0806

Multiple Disabilities
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Multi-tiered System of Supports (PBIS for SWD)
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000

N

National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC)
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards (NIMAS)
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

New Special Education Directors' Orientation
Vacant

O

Occupational Therapy
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303-253-0451

Online Programs
Hannah Prokop
Email Hannah Prokop
720-284-8144

Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialists
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Orthopedic Impairment
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303-253-0451

Other Health Impaired
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

P

Parent Phone Calls
Beth Donahue
Email Beth Donahue
720-926-1453

Parent Training - Skills for Resolving Conflict
Katherine Rains
Email Katherine Rains
720-990-1464

Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP)
Pahmela Mendoza
Email Pahmela Mendoza
720-327-4600

PEAK Parent Center- ADR work
Katherine Rains
Email Katherine Rains
720-990-1464

Physical Therapy
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303-253-0451

Preschool Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Heidi White
Email Heidi White
303-501-0837

Preschool Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS)
Marcia Blum
Email Marcia Blum
720-799-4015

Preschool Response to Intervention (RtI)
Marcia Blum
Email Marcia Blum
720-799-4015

Preschool Special Education
Heidi White*
Email Heidi White
303-501-0837

Marcia Blum
Email Marcia Blum
720-799-4015

Private Schools
Hannah Prokop
Email Hannah Prokop
720-284-8144

R

Read Act/Differentiated Pathways for Students with Disabilities
Ellen Hunter
Email Ellen Hunter
720-512-8614

Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
Brooke Carson
Email Brooke Carson
720-215-8647

Results Matter Preschool
Marcia Blum
Email Marcia Blum
720-799-4015

Residential/Day Treatment
Judy Stirman
Email Judy Stirman
303-476-1880

RtI/MTSS Family and Community Partnering Online Classes

S

School Mental Health Services
Krista Klabo
Email Krista Klabo
720-284-2524

School Psychologists
Krista Klabo
Email Krista Klabo
720-284-2524

School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP)
Katie Oliver
Email Katie Oliver
720-413-4006

School-to-Career Initiatives
Katie Oliver
Email Katie Oliver
720-413-4006

Secondary Transition Assessments
Kacy Little Owl
Email Kacy Little Owl
720-827-8283

Secondary Transition Training
Kacy Little Owl
Email Kacy Little Owl
720-827-8283

Serious Emotional Disabilities (SED)
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000

Significant Disproportionality
Orla Bolger
Email Orla Bolger
720-921-0524

Nicholas Smosna
Email Nicholas Smosna
303-548-5597

Significant Support Needs Network- SSN Sites
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Significant Support Needs/Intellectual Disabilities
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

Social Workers
Krista Klabo
Email Krista Klabo
720-284-2524

Special Education Data
Orla Bolger*
Email Orla Bolger
720-921-0524

Josh Fails
Email Josh Fails
720-618-0538

Sarah Tarus
Email Sarah Tarus
720-765-0361

Special Education Director Mentor Project
Vacant

Special Education Finance - AU Level
Evan Davis (Grants Fiscal Office)
Email Evan Davis
720-616-9183

Special Education Finance - State Level
Vicki Graham
Email Vicki Graham
303‐866‐6442

Special Education Fiscal Advisory Committee (SEFAC)
Vicki Graham
Email Vicki Graham
303‐866‐6442

Special Education Fiscal Advisory Committee High-Cost Student Reimbursement
Vicki Graham
Email Vicki Graham
303‐866‐6442

Special Education Personnel Data Reporting
Vacant
Email the General Supervisor and Monitoring Team

Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
Emily Ottinger
Email Emily Ottinger
720-456-5301

Speech or Language Impairments
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303-253-0451

Speech‐Language Pathology (SLP)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303-253-0451

Speech‐Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303-253-0451

State Alternate Assessments (DLM, CoAlt)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

State Assessments (CMAS Science & Social Studies)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-0451

State Assessments (CMAS Science & Social Studies)
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

State Complaint Monitoring- Ordered Remedies
Becky O'Malley
Email Becky O'Malley
303-895-5108

State Directors' Leadership Team (SDLT)
Paul Foster
Email Paul Foster
720-926-4033

State-identified Measurable Result (SiMR) Structured Literacy Project
Ellen Hunter
Email Ellen Hunter
720-512-8614

State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR)
Orla Bolger
Email Orla Bolger
720-921-0524

State‐Level General Supervision System
Kerry Whitmore
Email Kerry Whitmore
720-456-0397

SWAAAC (Assistive Technology Teams)
Maureen Melonis
Email Maureen Melonis
303‐315‐1283

T

Traumatic Brain Injury
Jody Dickerson, RN, BSN, MN
Email Jody Dickerson
(720) 795-2273

Tuition Rates for Approved Facility Schools
Lori Kochevar
Email Lori Kochevar
720-557-0618

Tuition Rates for Charter Schools
Lisa Schmit
Email Lisa Schmit
720-916-6123

Tuition Rates for Online Schools
Lisa Schmit
Email Lisa Schmit
720-916-6123

Twice Exceptional (gifted + disability)
Connolly Sherwood
Email Connolly Sherwood
720-215-8842

U

US Department of Education/OSEP Requests
Paul Foster
Email Paul Foster
720-926-4033

V

Vision Screening (0‐5)
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Visual Impairment, Including Blindness
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Y

Youth in Correctional Facilities (excluding Approved Facility Schools)
Zack Van Sant
Email Zack Van Sant
720-668-2609

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