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ESSU Responsibilities List
Assistance for Dispute Resolution Options
Dispute Resolution & Due Process
Alternate Dispute Resolution Project
How to Request Help through Mediation
How to File a Special Education State Complaint
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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