Entering the special education classroom confident and prepared
By Heather Schnese S’12
May 20, 2026 | 10:45 a.m.
Deer River High School special education teachers Kari Schultz, Patty Gebhart, Brittney Eastman, and Maureen Morrow have completed or are completing their licensure through Bethel.
When Patty Gebhart enrolled in Bethel’s special education licensure program in 2015, she was not just changing her own career path. She was opening the door for others in her community to follow.
Today, Gebhart teaches special education and serves as department head at Deer River High School in northern Minnesota. Over the years, she has encouraged coworkers to pursue licensure through Bethel, helping build a stronger, more stable team of educators in a rural district that once struggled to find qualified staff.
“I have been confidently able to send friends and coworkers to Bethel in order for them to achieve their goals,” she says. “Every one of them talks about how supported they felt as adult learners and how valuable the quality of learning in the program is.”
Back to school
Gebhart grew up in Deer River, a northern Minnesota community on the border of the Leech Lake Indian Reservation. “I remember things that happened to me in school, friends and family who felt discriminated against, and all the mental health issues,” she says. “I knew I wanted to come back to my community to do something.” After working for years in the service industry, she went back to school to study psychology through the University of North Dakota. Eventually—driven by a calling to support her community and encouragement from a mentor—she enrolled in Bethel’s special education program.
— Patty Gebhart
“When I started at Bethel, it was the most welcomed I had ever felt at a school,” she says. “From the first phone call through the entire process, the support was just amazing.”
At the time, the program followed a hybrid model that required students to travel to campus multiple times during each course. In response to the needs of adult learners like Gebhart—especially those in Greater Minnesota and beyond—Bethel has since transitioned the program to a mostly online format, reducing required in-person sessions to just a few Saturdays throughout the program. Now, the Academic Behavioral Strategist (ABS) license, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) license, Developmental Disabilities (DD) license, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) license, and Elementary Education K-6 license are mostly online.
“That shift made participation far more manageable and expanded access for educators across the state,” says Katie Bonawitz, program director for Bethel’s M.A. in special education. “We intentionally designed our online programs with working adult and graduate students in mind.”
This means there’s consistency across courses—every syllabus follows the same structure—allowing students to focus on learning rather than navigating logistics. It’s what Bonawitz calls “reducing structural stress.” This type of ease has been essential for teachers like Gebhart, who lives four hours north of campus and is balancing family and work on top of school. But Gebhart says flexibility never came at the cost of connection.
“You go through the program with the same group of people who are there for the same reasons, and the professors check in on you and support you,” she says. These types of check-ins are part of how faculty personalize courses through weekly video messages, video office hours, and other intentional touchpoints.
“Ultimately, our goal is to create a learning environment where students feel consistently supported, personally connected, and equipped to become exceptional special education teachers," says Bonawitz.
Sharing notes
Gebhart’s experience has had a ripple effect in Deer River. What began with one teacher has grown into a network of Bethel-trained educators. Today, four special education teachers there, including Gebhart, have completed or are completing their licensure through Bethel.
The impact is tangible at Deer River High School, where 30% of its 400 students are served through special education programs. In a region where staffing shortages are common, Deer River has built a consistent, experienced team. “We went from a high school that struggled with finding licensed staff to a school with fully licensed special education teachers,” Gebhart says.
Being able to immediately apply—and share—what they learn in their Bethel classes has been one of the program’s biggest benefits. “I was never just cramming to pass the class. I was actually applying it as I went along,” Gebhart says. “And every time someone has gone through the program, we’re always asking each other, ‘please, share everything you’re getting!’ because there’s new stuff and research all the time. It’s been fun. ”
— Maureen Morrow
Encouraged by Gebhart and her other colleagues who had gotten licenses through Bethel, Maureen Morrow enrolled in the Academic and Behavior Strategist (ABS) program. She’s a busy wife, mom, and teacher, and at the time, she was also working on completing the reading intervention program required by the state of Minnesota. The ability to take courses online was crucial. “Bethel staff and instructors have been incredibly understanding about the workload and flexible with deadlines” she says. “Being more than three hours from the Bethel campus, it really helps to have clear expectations and the many supports Bethel offers its students.”
Like Gebhart, Morrow has been able to apply what she’s learning in the classroom. “As a special education teacher, I don't necessarily know what skill I'm going to need day to day. The paperwork is pretty consistent but the kids can come in every hour needing something new from me,” she says. “I’ve learned things at Bethel that I didn't realize I’d need—it keeps the job interesting and fun.”
Morrow will receive her license this spring.
Syllabus for success
Each week, a cross-functional team—including enrollment, student success, Bethel’s licensure coordinator, and faculty—meets to discuss student progress and address any emerging needs. These conversations often lead to program improvements, proactive outreach, and coordinated support for students who may be struggling.
“What truly sets our programs apart is this collaborative team approach. It’s a shared commitment to walking alongside our students throughout their journey,” says Bonawitz. “We also extend that support beyond coursework through initiatives like our annual Refresh: A Gathering for Educators, where we intentionally care for and encourage teachers each June.”
For Gebhart, the impact is both professional and deeply personal. She continues to recommend Bethel to others, not only because of the program’s structure, but because of how it equips teachers to serve. She’s received her license and is currently working on her thesis to complete her M.A. in Special Education.
Bonawitz says stories like Gebhart’s reflect the purpose behind the program. “Patty’s story is exactly why we do this work,” she says. “It means more licensed special education teachers in Minnesota schools and more students receiving the support they need.”
As Bethel continues to expand access to its programs, Gebhart’s story offers a clear example of what happens when education meets calling: stronger schools, supported teachers, and students who are better served. “God has blessed many communities, families, and people through Bethel. It’s an investment, but it’s worth it,” she says. “You walk into your job more confident, and you know you’re prepared.”
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