Humboldt County Office of Education: Teacher Residency Program

photo of teacher and students
A teacher engaging with a student in the classroom

Special Education Teacher Residency Program

The Humboldt Office of Education (HCOE) and Cal Poly Humboldt are pleased to announce that there is funding to support up to 7 Residency Program candidates to obtain their special education credential through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). Each selected candidate will receive $13,000 to cover costs associated with:

  • Program tuition
  • Program fees
  • Textbooks
  • Assessment/Testing fees

Residency candidates can be hired to be a paraprofessional while simultaneously enrolled in Cal Poly Humboldt’s Education Specialist Credential Program allowing selected participants to obtain their preliminary Education Specialist teaching credential

Program Details

The eligible candidates in a teacher residency program shall agree in writing to work as an education specialist serving a caseload of pupils who receive special education services in a special education setting.

Further, the sponsored candidate will serve in a district for a period of at least four school years, which may begin with the school year after the candidate successfully completes the initial year of preparation and obtains a preliminary teaching credential.

A candidate who fails to complete the period of placement shall reimburse HCOE the amount of funding that was invested in the candidate’s residency training.

Eligibility Requirements
  • Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree or higher.
  • Candidates have to be accepted to Cal Poly Humboldt’s Education Specialist Credential Program. Apply at  https://education.humboldt.edu/content/special-education
    (Early application priority deadline April 12th, 2024. All others open until full.)
  • Candidates may work as a paid paraprofessional and agree to remain with that district as a special education teacher for four years upon completion of the credential.
  • Candidates must participate in ongoing surveys throughout service years.
  • Candidates must meet subject matter requirements prior to fall 2024.
Application Process
  1. Please meet with administration from prospective school site(s) to determine if there is a clear need for special education teachers within that district for the 2024/25 academic year. Visit our Schools & Districts page for a map and list of schools.
  2. Complete the special eduation program application on the Cal Poly Humboldt School of Education Website.
  3. Complete the HCOE Teacher Resident Eligibility Application by April 12, 2024.

Program Information

Sheila Rocker Heppe, Ed.D.
Teacher Residency Program Development Manager
707-441-3912
Argelia Munoz
Teacher Residency Program Secretary
707-582-3285