Emma Riessen did not need years to figure out what she wanted to do. She just needed the right classroom. 
A sophomore at EICC’s Clinton campus, Riessen is graduating in May with an elementary education transfer major. She plans to continue her education at Upper Iowa University while working in an elementary school, a path that already feels like a natural fit. 

“I’m meant to be here,” she said. “This is where I’m supposed to be.” 

That clarity came after some trial and error. During her senior year of high school, Riessen first job shadowed a pediatric occupational therapist. It did not click. Then she shadowed a fourth-grade teacher.  

“I fell in love with it right then and there,” she said. 

Now, she is getting an even closer look at the work through her job as a paraeducator. After completing two courses and field hours, she was academically qualified to work with students across grade levels. That experience has confirmed her career choice and given her practical skills, perspective, and confidence. 

“Being in the field, getting real world experience and tools to put in my toolbox when I have my own classroom someday, is very rewarding,” she said. 

Hands-on work matters. Students considering early childhood or elementary education often know they enjoy being around children. Working as a paraeducator lets them test that instinct in a real classroom, learn how students respond, and start building the judgment that strong educators need. 

Riessen said the job has shown her how much range the role requires. Some students need encouragement. Some need structure.  

“You have to be a listening ear. You have to be a comfort,” she said. “But then other times you have to know when it’s like, okay, you need to also be stern with them.” 

That balance is one reason paraeducator work can be such meaningful preparation for future teachers.  
“When you actually step into the role of an educator and you have to control the students and you have to act on their actions, that was a little difficult for me at first,” she said. “But now that I’ve been doing it for a little while, I love it. I love every aspect of it.” 

At EICC, Riessen said she has found the kind of support that helps students grow. She chose the Clinton campus because it was close to home, affordable, and came highly recommended by her brother. She stayed because of the small classes and faculty relationships. 

“I love the class sizes. When it comes to learning, I like to be as close to one-on-one as possible,” she said.  

She especially credits education instructor Kasey Lueders Jennings with helping her connect what she learns in class to what happens at work. After a tough day at school, Riessen can come to class, talk through a situation, and leave with a better way to approach it next time. 

That connection has shaped her in other ways, too. In one of her classes, she began thinking differently about how children learn and respond. She laughed while describing herself as “square-minded,” then admitted that working with students is teaching her that not every child fits neatly into a box. 

It’s the kind of insight that is hard to get from a textbook alone. 

Riessen sees clear value in starting at community college. She took concurrent enrollment classes in high school, earned a strong scholarship, and chose a path that let her save money without sacrificing quality. She said EICC helped her line up courses for transfer and build a strong foundation before moving on. 

“I don’t think community college is a fallback at all,” she said. “I think it’s a great place to first go, save your money, get the feel of college, get close with your professors, and kind of get a good head on your shoulders of what college is like.” 

For students considering early childhood education, elementary education, or paraeducator work, Riessen reminds them that the path into teaching doesn’t have to wait until after graduation. It can start now, in local classrooms, with real students and real responsibilities. 

For her, the early start made all the difference. 

“When they learn something new and you see that light bulb go off, there’s no better feeling than that,” Riessen said. 
 
EICC plans to launch a new paraeducator certificate program in Fall 2026. Complete two courses and two practicums, and you earn an EICC certificate and are academically qualified to apply for an Iowa Paraeducator Generalist Certificate and work in a K-12 classroom. If you’re enrolled in EICC’s Elementary or Secondary Education Transfer Major, you already complete these two courses as part of your degree.