From nervous beginners to confident drivers: One NICC instructor’s impact on the road

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Getting behind the wheel and out on the roads can be nerve-racking for any new driver—especially anxious teens and adult learners facing the road for the first time. 

At Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), Driver Education instructor Marlene Ahouse understands those anxieties well. Since 2019, she has helped NICC students turn fear into confidence through patience, adaptability and a deep commitment to meeting students where they are. Her approach plays a critical role in preparing safer, more self-assured drivers for northeast Iowa’s roads. 

“Almost every student is nervous when we first start driving,” Ahouse explains. “I like to start very slowly so I can assess how much experience a student has and then build from there. We start driving in the parking lot to learn how to control the car before we head out on the street.”

Her approach helps reassure her students. “I remind them that if they could drive perfectly, they wouldn’t need to be in Driver Education! I encourage students to ask their parents what they remember about learning to drive. Most parents have some vivid memories about learning to drive and remember how anxious they were about driving with the Driver Education teacher.”

Throughout her years of teaching, Ahouse has worked with a wide variety of students and learning styles. Her goal is always to understand how each student learns best and adapt her teaching to meet their needs. She has taught students with hearing impairments as well as students for whom English was not their first language. To ensure clear communication while on the road, Ahouse learned terms in both sign language and Spanish and utilizes apps that convert speech to text for hearing-impaired students. 

The Driver Education program at NICC equips novice drivers with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to become safe, responsible drivers. To meet Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements, the program includes 30 hours of face-to-face or online instruction, six hours of behind-the-wheel driving and six hours of observation.

Ahouse provides classroom, virtual and hands-on instruction to high school students, primarily in the Waukon area, and she also provides driving lessons for adult students. She has been instrumental in serving 500 students through the program. 

“I have always preferred the practical behind-the-wheel portion of Driver Education,” says Ahouse. “It is where the rubber really meets the road—both metaphorically and literally. Applying what students learn in the classroom can be scary, but it is also where I see the greatest improvement in a student. The increase in skill level from the first drive to the last drive is dramatic and very rewarding to see.”

In addition to behind-the-wheel instruction, Ahouse provides instruction for the classroom portion of Driver Education courses. “Class discussions are a big part of class as we discuss recent traffic events, changes in laws and experiences from the behind-the-wheel portion of class.” While virtual learning can present challenges, Ahouse notes its advantages. “Online instruction is more convenient for students and parents. When students are sick they can still join the class, which is important so they can meet the state mandate of 30 classroom hours.” 

Learning to drive is an important life skill. Driver Education goes far beyond just making the car move. The program covers laws, physics, decision making, distractions, city and interstate driving and how to handle emergencies. Ahouse even spends time with her students outside the vehicle learning practical skills such as checking fluids, locating fuses, jump-starting a car and changing a tire. 

Her students value her personalized approach. “I appreciated the instructor’s flexibility–she took her time and made sure the lessons fit with our schedules. She was also very nice, helpful and respectful,” states Makenzie Livingston. 

For Ahouse, there hasn’t been just one moment that has been most rewarding but rather she finds value in all her students’ success. She states, “The stories I treasure the most are the ones that start with a student being very anxious about driving to seeing them cruising confidently around town and knowing I played a part in making that happen.”

Her advice for drivers of all ages?  “Ninety percent of problems on the road can be solved by slowing down,” Ahouse says. “That applies to adults as well. The most important habit I try to instill is limiting distractions while driving, whether that be food, music or technology.”

Through her adaptability, expertise and commitment to student success, Marlene Ahouse exemplifies the high-quality instruction that defines the College’s Driver Education program—and helps shape safer, more confident drivers for northeast Iowa.

To learn more about Driver Education classes, contact Martin Hemann at hemannm@nicc.edu or click here.