Riebel retires from Rene Rost in Kaplan after 30-plus years as teacher

“My proudest moment as a student was receiving both the Vermilion Parish School Board Scholarship for Education majors and the Louisiana Governor’s Scholarship for Education Majors,” said now-retired teacher Jessica Riebel as she recalled one of her proudest moments as a student.
As it cannot be narrowed down to one singular event, Reibel said what makes her proudest as a teacher is that she felt privileged to have taught in her hometown of Kaplan. “It was an enormous responsibility that I never took lightly,” she said.
Having taught for over 30 years, Riebel has taught all subject areas, but the majority of her teaching career was focused on 7th and 8th grade Literature and English.
The 1987 graduate of Kaplan High School, Riebel is also a graduate of USL (UL Lafayette) graduating in 1990. Although you could hear her Pirate Pride, you could also hear her cheering on the Ragin Cajuns.
Growing up, Riebel’s parents insisted that their children achieve college degrees. “It was non-negotiable,” Riebel said. “This was their way of insuring that we could and would indeed be independent in our lives, as my parents were not afforded the opportunity of high education.
Riebel and her siblings understood that their parents worked tremendously hard, sacrificing much in order for their children to achieve higher standards of living. “Both my parents lived long enough to proudly see their dream come to fruition,” she said. “It will always be their greatest legacy.”
Knowing that teachers are undervalued, underpaid and overworked, Riebel had only one dream and that was to become a teacher. “I’ve always wanted to be one, it’s an honorable profession that affects every person on the planet,” Riebel said. “I remained in this profession because of the intrinsic award and long after I’m gone, the effects of my work will live on in the successes of my students.”
For over 30 years, Riebel has walked into her classroom, Monday through Friday, to greet her students on their very first and last days of school. From lesson plans, early mornings and late-night grading, Riebel’s first plan is to allow the clock to silently tell time. “I will not be setting my alarm clock,” she said. “I plan to relax and travel, but mostly and lastly, I will enjoy watching the lives of my own children unfold.”
The now-retired teacher has been married to her husband Duane for 27 years. “Together, we have two children, Blake, who is 25 and Scott, who is 18.” Having a generation of successful heirs, not to mention hard working, Blake works in the field of Physical Therapy and Scott is a Criminal Justice student at UL Lafayette.
For Riebel, retiring is bittersweet. The friendships forged over her years of teaching are cherishable. “I will miss the students and all of the possibilities that come with learning who they are as individuals and celebrating their daily victories with them,” she said.
With that, Riebel leaves advice for any young teacher just beginning his or her teaching career. “Be humble and be patient because you are changing the world one child at a time.”