Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Programs

Our Office

The ESEA Programs Office is a part of the the Federal Programs Unit and consists of three teams: 

•  Data, Accountability, Reporting, and Evaluation;
•  ESEA Programs; and
•  Competitive Grants and Awards.

The work of this office is to administer federally-funded programs, define program and systems quality for supporting historically underserved students, and establish standards, indicators, and protocols with which to assess local programs and systems. The goal is to help build the capacity of the field to implement higher quality programs and systems which are supported and funded under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), reauthorized as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Our office seeks to ensure that program applications, review protocols and approval criteria reflect high quality program standards and maximize efficiency, improve program design and implementation, and impact student outcomes.

Our Mission

The purpose of our work is ensure that the ESEA programs in Colorado provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education and close educational achievement gaps.

Our Stakeholders

The Every Student Succeeds Act Committee of Practitioners serves to advise the CDE in carrying out its responsibilities under the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015. It operates to identify issues across regions of the state and facilitate two-way communication between CDE and the preK-12 education community throughout Colorado.

At this time, CDE is accepting applications for the following representation on the committee:

• Charter school teacher(s)
• Career and technical education teacher(s)
• Principal(s) or other school leaders
• Specialized instructional support personnel
• Paraprofessional(s)
• Additional parents of school-age children
• Exceptional Student Services practitioner
• Geographic representation from the Southeast, West Central, and Northwest Regions of the State

To apply for a position, fill out the 2019-20 Application(DOC) and submit to Brad Bylsma. 

Nazanin (Nazie) Mohajeri-Nelson
Director, ESEA Programs Office
303-866-6205
mohajeri-nelson_n@cde.state.co.us

DeLilah Collins
Assistant Director, ESEA Programs Office
303-866-6850
collins_d@cde.state.co.us

Michelle Prael  
Program Support
303-866-6998
prael_m@cde.state.co.us

ESEA Programs Team

ESEA Programs

James (Joey) Willett
ESEA Senior Consultant, Title I and Title ID
303-866-6700
willett_j@cde.state.co.us

Barbara Vassis
ESEA Lead Consultant, Title I & Title II
303-866-6065
vassis_b@cde.state.co.us

Kristen Collins
ESEA Senior Consultant, Title I Parent & Family Engagement Specialist & Title V
303-866-6705
collins_k@cde.state.co.us

Laura Meushaw
Title I School Improvement Coordinator 
303-866-6618
meushaw_l@cde.state.co.us

Brad Bylsma
Director of Coordinated Supports, Title I 
303-866-6937
bylsma_b@cde.state.co.us

Jeremy Meredith 
ESEA Senior Consultant, Title II
303-866-3905
meredith_j@cde.state.co.us

Robert Thompson 
ESEA Senior Consultant: Title III
303-866-6842
thompson_r@cde.state.co.us

Tammy Giessinger
ESEA Consultant: Title IV
303-866-6992
giessinger_t@cde.state.co.us

Data, Accountability, Reporting and Evaluation Team

Data, Accountability, Reporting and Evaluation

Tina Negley
DARE Coordinator
303-866-5243
negley_t@cde.state.co.us

Alan Shimmin
ESEA Reporting Specialist 
303-866-6209
shimmin_a@cde.state.co.us

Mary Shen
ESEA Research Analyst 
303-866-4571
shen_m@cde.state.co.us

Competitive Grants and Awards Team

Competitive Grants and Awards

Kim Burnham
CGA Supervisor
303-866-6916
burnham_k@cde.state.co.us

Patricia Gleason
CGA Senior Consultant
303-866-6143
gleason_p@cde.state.co.us

Mandy Christensen
CGA Senior Consultant
303-866-6250
christensen_m@cde.state.co.us

Brittany Jimenez
Program Support 
303-866-6813
jimenez_b@cde.state.co.us