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ESSU Responsibilities List

Need Help? Assistance for Parents or Families about...


Content Areas

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 B C D E F G J K L N O Q T W X Y Z

18-21

18‐21-Year-Old Transition Services

Kacy Little Owl
Email Kacy Little Owl
720-827-8283

A

Abbreviated School Day

Amber Pryor
Email Amber Pryor
720-921-1218

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

 

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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 

 

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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

Nadine Penn
Email Nadine Penn
720-795-2352

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

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

Tara Carone, Esq.
State Complaints Officer
Email Tara Carone
720-812-1348

Comprehensive Plan

Nick Smosna
Email Nick Smosna
303-548-5597

Connect for Success

TBD

Cultural and Linguistic Diversity for Students with Disabilities

Hunter Smith 
Email Hunter Smith
720-202-2623

Cyber Schools

Nadine Penn
Email Nadine Penn
720-795-2352

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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

Tamara Viehl
Email Tamara Viehl
720-799-3722

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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

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)

Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Extended Evidence Outcomes/EEO’s (see also Alternate Achievement Standards)

Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐253-4647

Extended School Year (ESY)

Vacant
Email the General Supervisor and Monitoring Team

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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

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)/Prenatal Substance Exposure

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

Fiscal Monitoring, Special Education

Karen Brif
Email Karen Brif
720-910-0309

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G

General Supervision and Monitoring

Kerry Whitmore*
Email Kerry Whitmore
720-456-0397

Nick Smosna
Email Nick Smosna
303-548-5597

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

Erin Frank
Email Erin Frank
720-812-3207

Amber Pryor
Email Amber Pryor
720-921-1281

Teresa Ashton
Email Teresa Ashton
720-916-7548

Nadine Penn
Email Nadine Penn
720-795-2352

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

Hannah Prokop
Email Hannah Prokop 
720-284-8144

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)

Heather Baskin
Email Heather Baskin
720-557-4528

Gifted Education- Twice Exceptional

Connolly Sherwood
Email Connolly Sherwood 

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H

Hearing Screening (includes newborns)

Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
720-413-0179

Home Schooling

Nadine Penn
Email Nadine Penn
720-795-2352

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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

Karen Brif
Email Karen Brif
720-910-0309

IDEA Part B Monitoring

Nick Smosna
Email Nick Smosna
303-548-5597

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

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

IEP Interchange for Data Pipeline

Lindsey Heitman
Email Lindsey Heitman
816-729-4680

IEP Training

Nick Smosna
Email Nick Smosna
303-548-5597

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

Erin Frank
Email Erin Frank
720-812-3207

Amber Pryor
Email Amber Pryor
720-921-1281

Teresa Ashton
Email Teresa Ashton
720-916-7548

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

Kacy Little Owl
Email Kacy Little Owl
720-827-8283

Amber Pryor
Email Amber Pryor
720-921-1218

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

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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

Tamara Viehl
Email Tamara Viehl
720-799-3722

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M

Manifestation Determination

Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000

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

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

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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

Julie Rottier-Lukens
Email Julie Rottier-Lukens
303-829-9221

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O

Occupational Therapy

Hannah Mackie
Email Hannah Mackie
720-697-4545

Online Schools

Nadine Penn
Email Nadine Penn
720-795-2352

Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialists

Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

Orthopedic Impairment

Hannah Mackie
Email Hannah Mackie
720-697-4545

Other Health Impaired

Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐503-4647

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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)

Hannah Phillips
Email Hannah Phillips
720-556-7538

Physical Therapy

Hannah Mackie
Email Hannah Mackie
720-697-4545

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

Nadine Penn
Email Nadine Penn
720-795-2352

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R

Read Act/Differentiated Pathways for Students with Disabilities

Tamara Viehl
Email Tamara Viehl
720-799-3722

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
 

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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

Annie Haberkorn
Email Annie Haberkorn
720-968-0425

Special Education Director Mentor Project

Julie Rottier-Lukens
Email Julie Rottier-Lukens
303-829-9221

Special Education Finance - AU Level

Karen Brif
Email Karen Brif
720-910-0309

Evan Davis (Grants Fiscal Office)
Email Evan Davis
720-616-9183

Vicki Graham
Email Vicki Graham
720-237-7541

Special Education Finance - State Level

Karen Brif
Email Karen Brif
720-910-0309

Evan Davis (Grants Fiscal Office)
Email Evan Davis
720-616-9183

Vicki Graham
Email Vicki Graham
​​​​​​​720-237-7541

Special Education Fiscal Advisory Committee (SEFAC)

Vicki Graham
Email Vicki Graham
720-237-7541

Special Education Fiscal Advisory Committee High-Cost Student Reimbursement

Vicki Graham
Email Vicki Graham
720-237-7541

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

Hannah Mackie
Email Hannah Mackie
​​​​​​​720-697-4545

Speech‐Language Pathology (SLP)

Hannah Mackie
Email Hannah Mackie
720-697-4545

Speech‐Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs)

Hannah Mackie
Email Hannah Mackie
​​​​​​​720-697-45451

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

Tamara Viehl
Email Tamara Viehl
720-799-3722

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

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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 (she, her)
Email Connolly Sherwood

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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

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Y

Youth in Correctional Facilities (excluding Approved Facility Schools)

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

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