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ESSU Responsibilities List
COVID-19 and Special Education
View information for educators and parents to support students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assistance for Parents
Special Education
Parents with questions about Special Education or needing assistance can contact the Office of Special Education at:
Phone: 303-866-6757
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: 303-866-6652
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
Gail Lott
Email Gail Lott
303‐866‐6721
A
Accommodations (Instructional)
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Adapted Physical Education
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303-866-6605
Adult Agencies/Interagency Collaboration
Katie Oliver
Email Katie Oliver
303‐866‐6701
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
303‐866‐6605
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Mary Anne Fleury
Email Mary Anne Fleury
303‐866‐6649
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Advisory Board
Mary Anne Fleury
Email Mary Anne Fleury
303‐866‐6649
Assessment (alternate) for Students with Disabilities (state and district)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Assessment (general) for Students with Disabilities (state and district)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
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
Audiology
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
303‐866‐6707
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Brooke Carson
Email Brooke Carson
303‐866‐6691
B
Behavior/Mental Health for Students with Disabilities
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000
Blindness / Low Vision
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs)
Brooke Carson
Email Brooke Carson
303‐866‐6691
Braille / Braillists
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
Brain Injury
Heather Hotchkiss
Email Heather Hotchkiss
303‐866‐6739
C
Career Tech Education/Vocational Education
Gail Lott
Email Gail Lott
303‐866‐6721
Central Auditory Processing/Hearing Loss
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
303‐866‐6707
Charter Schools
Kerry Whitmore*
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
Child Find (Birth through Age 5)
Mary Morin (P-3 Office)
Email Mary Morin
720-766-6507
CMAS for Students with Disabilities
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Cochlear Implants
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
303‐866‐6707
Colorado Alternate Assessment (CO‐Alt)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Colorado Autism Education Network
Brooke Carson
Email Brooke Carson
303‐866‐6691
Colorado Autism Mentoring Program (CAMP)
Brooke Carson
Email Brooke Carson
303‐866‐6691
Colorado Continuous Improvement Process (CCIP)
Kerry Whitmore*
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
Megan Tannozzini
Tannozzini_m@cde.state.co.us
Colorado Services for Children with Combined Vision and Hearing Loss Project (Deafblind Grant)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
Colorado Special Education Advisory Committee (CSEAC)
Joyce Thiessen‐ Barrett
Email Joyce Thiessen_Barrett
303‐866‐6757
Complaints Investigation (Ordered Remedies/Timelines)
Brandon Edelman
Email Brandon Edelman
303‐866‐6876
Complaints Investigation (State Level)
Brandon Edelman
Email Brandon Edelman
303‐866‐6876
Ross Meyers
Email Ross Meyers
303-866-3801
Ashley Schubert
Email Ashley Schubert
303-866-6311
Comprehensive Plan
Kerry Whitmore
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
Connect for Success
Mary Anne Fleury
Email Mary Anne Fleury
303-866-6649
Cultural and Linguistic Diversity for Students with Disabilities
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
303-866-6707
Cyber Schools
Kerry Whitmore*
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
D
Data Management System (DMS)
Melissa Chaffin
Email Melissa Chaffin
303‐866‐6819
Deaf-blindness (combined vision and hearing loss)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
Deafness/Hard of Hearing
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
303‐866‐6707
AU Determinations
Gloria Durosko
Email Gloria Durosko
303‐866‐6976
Developmental Delay
Marcia Blum (P-3 Office)
Email Marcia Blum
720-799-4015
Directors of Special Education Meetings
Faye Gibson
Email Faye Gibson
303-866-6887
Dispute Resolution General Information
Jenny Woods*
Email Jenny Woods
303‐866‐6889
Brandon Edelman
Email Brandon Edelman
303‐866‐6876
District-Wide Alternate Assessment
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Due Process Decision Monitoring
Becky O'Malley
Email Becky O'Malley
303-895-5108
Due Process General Information
Jenny Woods
Email Jenny Woods
303‐866‐6889
Dynamic Learning Map (DLM) ‐ Instruction
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Dyslexia
Ellen Hunter
Email Ellen Hunter
303‐866‐6244
Veronica Fiedler
Email Veronica Fiedler
303‐866‐6863
E
Educational Interpreters
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
303‐866‐6707
Educational Surrogate Parents (Coordination and Training)
Mary Anne Fleury
Email Mary Anne Fleury
303-866-6649
Educational Surrogate Parents (Database)
Brittany Deyoe
Email Brittany Deyoe
303-866-3895
eLearning Products and Procedures
Amanda Timmerman
Email Amanda Timmerman
303-866-6969
Kathy Wheatley
Email Kathy Wheatley
303‐866‐6986
Eligibility of Students with Disabilities
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
English Learners with Disabilities
Shauna Moden*
Email Shauna Moden
303-866-6641
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI)
Michael Ramirez
Email Michael Ramirez
303-866-6991
ESSU Statewide Data Management System (Includes Electronic IEP)
Kerry Whitmore
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
Extended Evidence Outcomes/EEO’s (see also Alternate Achievement Standards)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Extended School Year (ESY)
Heather Hotchkiss
Email Heather Hotchkiss
303‐866‐6739
F
Facility Schools
Judy Stirman*
Email Judy Stirman
303‐866‐6684
Lori Kochevar
Email Lori Kochevar
303‐866‐6799
Facility Schools Assessment/Data
Erik Hilton
Email Erik Hilton
Facility Schools Curriculum
Wendy Dunaway
Email Wendy Dunaway
303‐866‐6995
Facility Schools Graduation/Diplomas
Lori Kochevar
Email Lori Kochevar
303‐866‐6799
Facility Schools Induction Programs
Judy Stirman
Email Judy Stirman
303‐866‐6684
Facility Schools Monitoring
Robin Singer
Email Robin Singer
303‐866‐5509
Ann Symalla
Email Ann Symalla
303‐866‐6473
Facility Schools Student Data System
Brittany Hanley
Email Brittany Hanley
303‐866‐6892
Family‐School Partnering
Mary Anne Fleury
Email Mary Anne Fleury
303‐866‐6649
Family‐School Partnering- Data
Pahmela Mendoza
Email Pahmela Mendoza
303‐866‐6771
Family‐School-Community Partnership (FSCP)
Joyce Thiessen‐ Barrett
Email Joyce Thiessen_Barrett
303‐866‐6757
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)/Prenatal Substance Exposure
Heather Hotchkiss
Email Heather Hotchkiss
303‐866‐6739
G
General Supervision and Monitoring (CCIP)
Kerry Whitmore*
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
Megan Tannozzini, Program
Email Megan Tanozzini
Moira Blake
Email Moira Blake
303-866-6639
Gifted Education – Data/Monitoring
Terri Loiselle
Email Terri Loiselle
Gifted Education – Professional Learning/Monitoring
Miles Skoog
Email Miles Skoog
Gifted Education- Program Support/Data Management System (DMS)
Diane Barranco
Email Diane Barranco
303‐866‐6631
Gifted Education- Twice Exceptional
Cynthia Rundquist
Email Cynthia Rundquist
303‐866‐6232
H
Hearing Screening (includes newborns)
Shauna Moden
Email Shauna Moden
303‐866‐6707
Higher Education (IHEs)
Faye Gibson
Email Faye Gibson
303‐866‐6887
Home Schooling
Kerry Whitmore*
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
I
IDEA Federal Application Budget System
Lauren Rossini
Email Lauren Rossini
303‐866‐6688
IDEA Federal Application Narratives
Kim Boylan*
Email Kim Boylan
303‐866‐6690
Vicki Graham
Email Vicki Graham
303‐866‐6442
IDEA Part B Monitoring
Kerry Whitmore*
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐604
IDEA Part C
Heidi White* (P-3 Office)
Email Heidi White
303-501-0837
Mary Morin (P-3 Office)
Email Mary Morin
720-766-6507
IEP Facilitation
Mary Anne Fleury
Email Mary Anne Fleury
303‐866‐6649
IEP Facilitator Trainings/Coaching
Mary Anne Fleury
Email Mary Anne Fleury
303‐866‐6649
IEP Forms
Kerry Whitmore*
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
IEP Interchange for Data Pipeline
Kerry Whitmore
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
IEP Training
Megan Tannozzini
Tannozzini_m@cde.state.co.us
Kerry Whitmore
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
Indicator 1: Graduation
Gail Lott
Email Gail Lott
303‐866‐6721
Indicator 2: Dropout Rates
Gail Lott
Email Gail Lott
303‐866‐6721
Indicator 4: Suspension/Expulsion Rates of Students with Disabilities
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000
Indicator 8: Parent Surveys
Joyce Thiessen‐Barrett
Email Joyce Thiessen_Barrett
303‐866‐6757
Indicator 13: Transition IEPs
Gloria Durosko
Email Gloria Durosko
303‐866‐6885
Indicator 14: Post School Outcomes
Gail Lott
Email Gail Lott
303‐866‐6721
Intellectual Disability (ID)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Interveners (for children with deaf‐blindness)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
L
Learning Media Assessment / Learning Media Plans
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
Licensure (Special Education only)
Lauren Rossini
Email Lauren Rossini
303‐866‐6688
Literacy Initiatives
Ellen Hunter
Email Ellen Hunter
303‐866‐6244
Low Performing Systems
Wendy Sawtell
Email Wendy Sawtell
3030-866-6749
M
Manifestation Determination
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000
Mediation for Dispute Resolution and Requests for Mediation Services
Jenny Woods
Email Jenny Woods
303‐866‐6889
Mental Health for Students with Disabilities
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000
Krista Klabo
Email Krista Klabo
720-284-2524
Monitoring of Ordered Remedies on State Complaints
Candace Hawkins
Email Candace Hawkins
303‐866‐6213
Becky O'Malley
Email Becky O'Malley
303-895-5108
Moodle Courses (CDE’s Learning Management System)
Amanda Timmerman*
Email Amanda Timmerman
303-866-6969
Kathy Wheatley
Email Kathy Wheatley
303-866-6986
Multiple Disabilities
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Multi-tiered System of Supports (PBIS for SWD)
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000
Veronica Fiedler
Email Veronica Fiedler
303-866-6863
N
National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC)
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standards (NIMAS)
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
New Special Education Directors' Orientation
Faye Gibson
Email Faye Gibson
303‐866‐6887
O
Occupational Therapy
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303-866-6605
Online Programs
Kerry Whitmore*
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialists
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
Orthopedic Impairment
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303-866-6605
Other Health Impaired
Heather Hotchkiss
Email Heather Hotchkiss
303‐866‐6739
P
Parent Phone Calls
Joyce Thiessen-Barrett
Email Joyce Thiessen_Barrett
303-866-6757
Parent Training - Skills for Resolving Conflict
Mary Anne Fleury
Email Mary Anne Fleury
303‐866‐6649
Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP)
Joyce Thiessen‐Barrett
Email Joyce Thiessen_Barrett
303‐866‐6757
Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP)- Conferences and Website
Pahmela Mendoza
Email Pahmela Mendoza
303‐866‐6771
PEAK Parent Center- ADR work
Mary Anne Fleury
Email Mary Anne Fleury
303‐866‐6649
Preschool Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Heidi White (P-3 Office)
Email Heidi White
303-501-0837
Preschool Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS)
Marcia Blum (P-3 Office)
Email Marcia Blum
720-799-4015
Preschool Response to Intervention (RtI)
Marcia Blum (P-3 Office)
Email Marcia Blum
720-799-4015
Preschool Special Education
Heidi White* (P-3 Office)
Email Heidi White
303-501-0837
Marcia Blum (P-3 Office)
Email Marcia Blum
720-799-4015
Private Schools
Kerry Whitmore
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
Professional Development for Directors, Families, and Higher Education
Faye Gibson
Email Faye Gibson
303‐866‐6887
R
Read Act/Differentiated Pathways for Students with Disabilities
Ellen Hunter
Email Ellen Hunter
303‐866‐6244
Recruitment and Retention
Faye Gibson
Email Faye Gibson
303‐866‐6887
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
Brooke Carson
Email Brooke Carson
303‐866‐6691
Residential/Day Treatment
Judy Stirman
Email Judy Stirman
303‐866‐6684
RtI/MTSS Family and Community Partnering Online Classes
Joyce Thiessen‐Barrett
Email Joyce Thiessen_Barrett
303‐866‐6757
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
303‐866‐6701
School-to-Career Initiatives
Katie Oliver
Email Katie Oliver
303‐866‐6701
Secondary Transition Assessments
Gail Lott
Email Gail Lott
303‐866‐6721
Secondary Transition Training
Gail Lott
Email Gail Lott
303‐866‐6721
Serious Emotional Disabilities (SED)
Bill Brown
Email Bill Brown
720-603-3000
Significant Disproportionality
Miki Imura*
Email Miki Imura
303‐866‐6976
Michael Ramirez
Email Michael Ramirez
303‐866‐6991
Significant Support Needs Network- SSN Sites
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Significant Support Needs/Intellectual Disabilities
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
Social Workers
Krista Klabo
Email Krista Klabo
720-284-2524
Special Education Data
Miki Imura*
Email Miki Imura
303‐866‐6976
Orla Bolger
Email Orla Bolger
303‐866‐6896
Alyssa Ohleyer
Email Alyssa Ohleyer
303‐866‐6308
Special Education Director Mentor Project
Faye Gibson
Email Faye Gibson
303‐866‐6887
Special Education Directors' Meetings
Faye Gibson
Email Faye Gibson
303‐866‐6887
Special Education Finance
Vicki Graham*
Email Vicki Graham
303‐866‐6442
Moira Blake
Email Moira Blake
303‐866‐6639
Special Education Fiscal Advisory Committee (SEFAC)
Moira Blake*
Email Moira Blake
303‐866‐6639
Vicki Graham
Email Vicki Graham
303‐866‐6442
Special Education Fiscal Advisory Committee High-Cost Student Reimbursement
Moira Blake*
Email Moira Blake
303‐866‐6639
Kim Boylan
Email Kim Boylan
303‐866‐6690
Vicki Graham
Email Vicki Graham
303‐866‐6442
Special Education Personnel Data Reporting
Lauren Rossini
Email Lauren Rossini
303‐866‐6688
Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
Veronica Fiedler
Email Veronica Fiedler
303‐866‐6863
Speech or Language Impairments
Tami Cassel
Email Tami Cassel
303‐866‐6114
Speech‐Language Pathology (SLP)
Tami Cassel
Email Tami Cassel
303‐866‐6114
Speech‐Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs)
Tami Cassel
Email Tami Cassel
303‐866‐6114
State Alternate Assessments (DLM, CoAlt)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
State Assessments (CMAS Science & Social Studies)
Gina Herrera
Email Gina Herrera
303‐866‐6605
State Assessments (CMAS Science & Social Studies)
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
State Complaint Monitoring- Ordered Remedies
Candace Hawkins
Email Candace Hawkins
303‐866‐6213
State Directors' Leadership Team (SDLT)
Paul Foster
Email Paul Foster
303‐866‐4093
State identified Measurable Result (SiMR) Structured Literacy Project
Ellen Hunter
Email Ellen Hunter
303‐866‐6244
State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR)
Miki Imura
Email Miki Imura
303‐866‐6976
State Special Education Directors' Meetings
Faye Gibson*
Email Faye Gibson
303-866-6887
State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP)
Wendy Sawtell
Email Wendy Sawtell
303‐866‐6749
State‐Level General Supervision System
Candace Hawkins
Email Candace Hawkins
303‐866‐6213
Statewide Data Management System
Kerry Whitmore
Email Kerry Whitmore
303‐866‐6604
Strategic Partnerships
Faye Gibson
Email Faye Gibson
303-866-6887
SWAAAC (Assistive Technology Teams)
Maureen Melonis
Email Maureen Melonis
303‐315‐1283
T
Traumatic Brain Injury
Heather Hotchkiss
Email Heather Hotchkiss
303‐866‐6739
Tuition Rates for Approved Facility Schools
Lauren Rossini
Email Lauren Rossini
303‐866‐6688
Tuition Rates for Charter Schools
Lauren Rossini
Email Lauren Rossini
303‐866‐6688
Tuition Rates for Online Schools
Lauren Rossini
Email Lauren Rossini
303‐866‐6688
Twice Exceptional (gifted + disability)
Cynthia Rundquist
Email Cynthia Rundquist
303‐866‐6232
U
US Department of Education/OSEP Requests
Paul Foster
Email Paul Foster
303‐866‐4093
V
Vision Screening (0‐5)
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
Visual Impairment, Including Blindness
Tanni Anthony
Email Tanni Anthony
303‐866‐6681
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