RIVERSIDE

Emma Christensen grew up in North Liberty, attending schools in an Iowa City School District that has more than 14,000 students.

Mackenzie Streveler grew up just north of Detroit, Michigan, attending Anchor Bay High School in a school district serving more than 5,000.

Friday, they began their teaching careers at Highland Elementary School, which is the only elementary school in a rural Washington County district that has less than 600 students in three schools.

By choice, they were attracted to Highland.

“I enjoyed my time in Iowa City,” Christensen said, “but I definitely wanted something different. It’s nice to have something of a more tight-knit community.”

“Everyone I’ve met has been incredibly kind,” said Streveler, who was a student teacher in Iowa City and described its district as “massive.”

“It’s more flexible in the things that you do and there’s more faces to names than you would get somewhere else,” she said of Highland.

Both Christensen and Streveler are 2024 University of Iowa graduates and are among a group of seven new teachers this year at Highland Elementary and Junior/High School. Joining them at Highland Elementary is Derek Greene, a special education teacher. The new secondary school teachers are Lyndsey Trahan, math; Jenny Lichty, science; Barb Duder, social studies; and Jeremiah Carter, vocal music.

Last Friday, the school year actually began for all seven with a day of training for new teachers.

Streveler, who will teach the second grade at Highland Elementary, was a varsity rower and team captain for the women’s team at Iowa, and was named an Academic All-Big Ten Conference honoree. In high school, she competed in three sports and rose to vice president on Student Council.

“My heart is in lower elementary,” she said. “I love the little, they’re so fun. The stuff they learn, it’s really fun to teach them. They’re just precious. I love children.”

For Christensen, who will teach fifth grade, returning to the hallways of Highland Elementary will almost be like a trip home. She was a student teacher at Highland while completing her education degree at Iowa.

“I definitely have more confidence because I student taught at Highland and then got a job at Highland,” Christensen said. “So it’s kind of nice to go into a place where you’ve already made relationships and you kind of know how things run. … It’s definitely added a comfort to it.”

After a week of teacher meetings and development days and preparation, the doors will swing open Friday for the kids. It’ll be the first day of school. It’s nervous time for the students, no matter their age, but perhaps also for the teachers.

“I’m both nervous about the first day, but also very excited,” Christensen said. “I know that I put in the education and the work to be in this place, but I also know that more work goes into it.”

“I’m just really excited,” Streveler said. “It’s really fun to think about having your own group of kids because student teaching is such a fun experience, but there’s things that you can’t change or do.”

“Laughing with them and watching them grow is so exciting,” she said.