Apr 27, 2026
Amy Jacobson is the Director of UND's Special
Education Resident Teacher Program, and on today’s episode, she
breaks down two innovative pathways that have trained roughly 600
special education teachers for North Dakota schools since 1997,
including one designed for people who don't even have an
undergraduate degree yet.
The programs combine paid, year-long internships with layered
mentorship and heavily subsidized graduate education, creating a
model with remarkable retention rates in rural communities. Whether
you're in North Dakota or not, this episode is full of transferable
ideas for any small town looking to think outside the box about
recruiting and retaining the professionals they need most.
About Amy:
Amy Jacobson, Ed.D. is the Director of both the Special Education
Resident Teacher Program and the Accelerated Bachelor of General
Studies and Master of Education in Special Education at the
University of North Dakota. With over two decades of experience in
special education, she leads statewide efforts to recruit, train,
and retain special education teachers, particularly in rural and
high-need areas.
Dr. Jacobson earned her Doctor of Education in Teacher Education from the University of North Dakota, along with a master’s degree in special education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Mayville State University.
In her role, she collaborates with school districts, state agencies, and university partners to oversee program development, funding, and teacher placement. She also coordinates an accelerated pathway program designed to support paraeducators and others in becoming licensed special educators.
Prior to her current position, Dr. Jacobson served as a special education teacher and department leader at the secondary level, where she worked extensively with students with diverse learning needs. She is also an experienced faculty member and advisor, having taught numerous graduate courses and mentored master’s students.
Her work focuses on strengthening the special education workforce through innovative preparation models, mentorship, and partnerships across North Dakota.
In this episode, we cover:
How UND's Special Education Resident Teacher Program combines grad school with a paid, year-long classroom internship and how that helps retention
The creative dual-enrollment pathway Amy built for people who want in but don't have a completed bachelor's degree that helps them earn two degrees in roughly four years
Why 75–85% of resident teacher candidates today have zero education background — and why that's a feature, not a bug
Practical ideas any community can steal: apprenticeship programs, dual credit for high schoolers, and employer-matched tuition through local economic development
Why strong special education in rural schools isn't just good for schools but the whole community
Links + Resources Mentioned:
Special Education Resident Teacher Program: https://education.und.edu/academics/tlpp/rtp-special-ed.html
General Studies Degree with Master's in Special Education:
https://und.edu/programs/general-studies-ba-special-education-med/index.html
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