About Señorita

(ME IN FRONT OF THE CATEDERAL IN SEVILLA SPAIN)

I grew up in Davenport, Iowa until middle elementary school when my family moved to Lake Delhi. I then graduated from Maquoketa Valley High School. I attended Central College in Pella, Iowa. While at Central I went abroad and studied two separate semesters. I studied in Merida, Mexico first and then the following fall I studied in Granada, Spain.

2025, starts my 17th year teaching at Maquoketa Valley, which is as many of you may know, my alma mater. I am a Wildcat through and through. 

I officially have my Bachelors in Spanish and Secondary Education (4 years of college). I started my Masters of Education (1 year) with a focus in Technology. I finished my Masters of Education Arts May of 2020. I also have my ELL endorsement, and am the ELL teacher one period a day on top of teaching Spanish 1,2,3 and 4.

June 29, 2013 I FINALLY got married to my high school sweet-heart, Joe Ries. I say FINALLY, even though its been a few years because we were together for 12 before we got married.  So I am a Señora. But technically Señora is for old ladies, and I'm not old so, Señorita Ries. We've been together 24 years  this October.

We had our first daughter, Evelynn Christina, October 21, 2014. And then we were then joined Janurary 23, 2016 by our second daughter Mabelynn Marie. we welcomed our THIRD daughter, Tinlee Mary to our clan on July 14, 2018 by suprise 12 weeks too early (due date Oct. 6). She spent 64 days in the NICU growing and is healthy and happy girl! Last school year we added yet ANOHTER child to our clan, ROSS, born Feb 22. FOUR, yes FOUR childrnen. What are my hobbies you ask? My children.

I have taken SEVEN trips with Maquoketa Valley High School students, Summer 2011 we went to Mexico: Chichen, Merida, Campeche, Isla Mujeres, Palenque. Summer 2013 we went to Costa Rica: San Jose, Isla tortuga, Alejuela. And then Summer of 2015, Back to MEXICO! Summer 2017 the Spanish Club traveled to the Dominican Republic, which was a first for me! We had 17 in our group to Mexico this July 2019 and had the best time eating, learning, and enjoying the sun. We went again to Costa Rica in 2021, with 12 in our group and partnered with North Linn.  Spain, 25 people , July 2025. Where is the next trip, you ask?  Vamos a Costa Rica July 2027 !!

In my spare time ( that I do have), I like to spend time with my husband-Joe, my children, and I also like to go clean, organize, drink coffee, talk on the phone and watch movies. Oh, yes, and of course, Speak Spanish :) I LOVE Macaroni and cheese, really CHEESE, chocolate, and COFFEE!! This last summer I studied to get my Iowa Real Estate liscense and work it as a side gig. 

You can reach me anytime at:

jenniferries@maquoketa-v.k12.ia.us

and you SHOULD follow my Spanish Teacher Instagram account

cosas_divertidas_ries