Rosann Jacobs-Fode, a Bismarck resident for 32 years, has received the North Dakota Democratic-NPL endorsement for North Dakota House Representative in District 47.
“Over the last 20 years I have watched the state legislature prioritize partisan policies that restrict our freedoms rather than being focused on what matters most: rising costs for North Dakota families, cuts to critical healthcare programs, increasing rates of homelessness, and ongoing reductions in public education funding,” Jacobs-Fode said. “Working families are struggling, and that is where our government needs to focus. Our personal freedoms are not toys, and the things we have earned should be protected.”
“I am running to protect our freedoms, to be your voice, and I would appreciate your vote,” Jacobs-Fode said.
Jacobs-Fode, born in Dickinson, spent her formative years on a farm on the Standing Rock Reservation before her family moved to Bismarck. She earned her Bachelor of Science in English education from the University of Mary, graduating magna cum laude in 2005. She returned to school and earned her Master of Education from the University of North Dakota in 2013 and her Secondary Principal Credential in 2014. In 2018, she completed additional English-focused coursework at Valley City State University, qualifying her to teach college-level English courses.
Jacobs-Fode is in her 21st year of teaching, including her 19th year at Bismarck High School. She began teaching Advanced Placement English Language and Composition in 2013 and has been a College Board exam scorer each summer. She was instrumental in launching Dual Credit English Composition 110 and 120 at Bismarck High School, expanding college credit opportunities for students, an initiative that helped spark growth in dual credit offerings across the district. She is a member of the Guiding Coalition, currently writing curriculum for the district, and serves on the Vital Leadership Team.
Her commitment to students extends beyond the classroom. In 2013, Jacobs-Fode worked with students to establish the Gay Straight Alliance at Bismarck High School, providing LGBTQ+ students and supporters a safe and inclusive space, an effort that has since expanded district-wide.
Jacobs-Fode said her motivation to run is deeply personal. “My focus for the last 23 years has been on raising my children,” she said. “But when I look at everything happening around me – the division, the rising costs for families, the lack of adequate healthcare coverage, the slow decline of educational outcomes – I know I need to step up and be the change that I raised my children to be.”
Jacobs-Fode said her platform centers on strengthening public education funding, expanding career and technical education pathways, supporting competitive teacher pay, protecting access to affordable healthcare and mental health services, defending personal freedoms, and ensuring responsible and transparent government spending.
Jacobs-Fode said her background as an educator uniquely positions her to serve. “Since education and the state budget are among the primary functions of the legislature, my experience leading curriculum development, expanding student opportunities, protecting the environment and advocating for families makes me well-suited to represent District 47,” she said.
Jacobs-Fode and her husband Shaun Fode, Deputy Warden at the North Dakota State Penitentiary, have been married for nearly 27 years. They have three children: Rylie, who is in medical school at the University of North Dakota; Brennen, a member of the North Dakota National Guard pursuing a career in law enforcement; and Reagan, a senior at Century High School involved in theater and community singing.