Yuma Elementary School District One Adds Two Assistant Directors for Special Education

Yuma Elementary School District One is creating two new assistant director positions to address rising special education students, a move the district says aims to add program-specific leadership amid growth in its Exceptional Student Services (ESS) programs. The district has not provided names of appointees or a hiring timeline.

The district’s ESS web pages state, “Exceptional Student Services provides services for students between the ages of 3 and 14 with special needs,” and note that “All students with disabilities categorically eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), regardless of severity, may receive services.” The district lists disability categories including impairments in speech and language, hearing, health, vision, developmental delays, emotional and learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple disabilities, and other health impairments.

ESS offers preschool classes and extended-year services. The district describes preschool eligibility this way: “We offer preschool classes for eligible students from their third birthday to age five (prior to kindergarten). We determine eligibility based on a child’s developmental level by measuring for significant speech or language delays, moderate developmental delays, or severe developmental delays.” The web pages also list specialists on staff - school psychologists and assistants, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists - and state that “Approximately 50 special education teachers and paraprofessionals provide service to our Exceptional Students.” The ESS office main contact is 928-502-7800.

Named ESS staff and their contact lines appear on the district site. Stephanie Hernandez is listed as ESS Technician, 928-502-7754; Emily Anguiano is listed as ESS Budget / 504 Technician, 928-502-7751, with responsibilities noted as Budget, 504’s, Hearing and Vision Screening, DES Request; Nataly Amezcua is listed as ESS Compliance Tech / Para, 928-502-7781, with school assignments including Desert Mesa, Fourth Avenue, Gila Vista, McGraw, Palmcroft, Pecan Grove, Roosevelt, Woodard Jr. High, and Immaculate Conception; Catherine Dort is listed as ESS Technician, 928-502-7782.

District employment listings and job-board fragments reflect ongoing ESS hiring. Applitrack job-language on file includes: “Implements academic, behavior, health and nutrition plans (e.g. literacy activities, stories, songs, math/science activities, 504 goals, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, established guidelines, and performance standards and encouraging parent involvement.” The same Applitrack text adds, “Instructs students for the purpose of improving their success in academic, interpersonal and daily living skills through a defined course of study,” and “Manages student behavior in a variety of educational environments (e.g. classroom, playground, field trips, hallways, cafeteria, etc.) for the purpose of providing a safe and positive learning environment.”

Current district job postings listed on the employment page include Special Education Teacher (K-12), Special Education Para Professional, and other vacancies; the listing notes, “We will consider part-time candidates for the YMS teacher openings. Teachers that work at least 20 hours per week also qualify for full benefits package.” The substitute-teacher guidance on the employment page instructs applicants to “Please visit the Colorado Department of Education website to apply for a Substitute Teacher Authorization” and to email hr@yumaschools.net for next steps.

Key facts remain unpublicized in the material provided: the district has not supplied job descriptions, salary ranges, posting dates, or enrollment figures quantifying the described rise in special education students. For more information, the ESS office can be reached at 928-502-7800 and human resources at hr@yumaschools.net.