Emma Hartman has dreamt of becoming a teacher since elementary school.  

“I would always imagine myself in my teacher’s place. I love working with kids and I want to make an impact on the lives of all the students in my classroom in the future,” she said. 

Hartman is a second-year education student at Missouri State University. She plans to graduate in spring 2026 with a bachelor’s in elementary education and a minor in psychology.  

Getting involved in the community 

During her first semester, Hartman joined MSU’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity.  

“I love the mission of the organization: bringing people together to help others achieve their goals,” she said.  

The organization focuses on building homes for those in need. MSU’s chapter is student-led, and Hartman serves as the secretary on the executive board.  

“We get to learn house-building skills we may not have otherwise come across, all while helping people in our own community,” she said. 

Hartman is the vice president of Bears Teach Elementary, a student organization for elementary education majors. She is also a peer reviewer of LOGOS: A Journal of Undergraduate Research.  

A well-rounded education  

As a Springfield native, Hartman chose MSU for its education program and its proximity to her friends and family.  

“My favorite part of MSU is all of the wonderful people I get to meet and spend time with every day,” she said. “In the College of Education, I have classes with a lot of the same people, and it feels like we’ve built our own community.”  

Hartman shared she has learned a lot of useful information in her program and has been able to practice her teaching.  

“I look forward to the practicums and student teaching I’ll do further into the program,” she said. “I did one practicum in high school and I’m excited to see how that experience differs from practicums at a college level.”  

After she graduates, she hopes to teach second or third grade in the Springfield area or surrounding areas. In the future, she wants to obtain a master’s degree in school counseling or another education-related field.  

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