Jennifer Degenhardt

Jennifer Degenhardt is an author and educator with more than 35 years of teaching experience, including over two decades in middle and high school classrooms. She currently teaches Spanish at the University of Connecticut.

Her journey as an author began when she recognized that many of her students, particularly those who struggled in traditional language classrooms, connected more meaningfully with language through stories. She began writing the kinds of stories she wanted her students to read: accessible, engaging, and grounded in the experiences of everyday people.

Through Puentes Language, her independent publishing business, Jennifer has written more than 50 original stories and published over 100 books in multiple languages. Her stories explore cultural, social, economic, and political themes, inviting readers to consider perspectives beyond their own and engage in meaningful conversations both inside and outside the classroom.

She believes that language learning is about much more than vocabulary and grammar. It's about understanding people, exploring the world, and finding ways to connect.

Conversations start here.

Teaching resources: Puentes Language

Books with audio: Digilangua