Hello. My name is Zenaida Jones and this is my fifth year teaching at Albert Einstein Academy.  I have been teaching for over 16 years and I absolutely love my job!  I graduated from San Diego State University with my B.A. in Liberal Studies, a Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential, and a M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Literacy.  I also have my Reading Specialist Certification from University of California, San Diego.  I have experience teaching all grade levels (K-6), but I love fifth grade the most!    I LOVE teaching because I LOVE learning!  

I was born in the Philippines, but grew up in Pacific Beach most of my childhood. Although I love living in San Diego, I have always wanted to travel around the world.  Places I plan to go are Australia, Egypt, China, Brazil, and of course, Germany. This beautiful world is waiting for me!  In the meantime, my family keeps me very busy. We love going to parks, movies, community events, and all of the beaches!

As an educator, I am very passionate about the education of my students as well as their overall well-being.  I strongly believe in planning and preparing a rigorous curriculum that will address all 5th grade California Common Core standards, while simultaneously providing support and enrichment activities.  I have high expectations for my students and will hold them accountable - I hope they expect the same from me.  Although I expect a lot, I make it easy because I am consistent with rules, expectations, rewards, and consequences but mostly because I'm a loving teacher.

Hallo!  I was born in California but mostly raised in Northern Arkansas in the Ozark Mountains.  I had the best of both worlds!!  Summer in California and lots of outdoor activities in Arkansas such as water skiing, fishing, and swimming in the lake.  I have lived in Carlsbad for the past 20 years except for two years I spent in Germany.

This will be my 8th year at Albert Einstein Academies.  Before I came here I taught German, History, and Theory of Knowledge for 12 years at Guajome Park Academy in Vista.  After that I spent two years in Stuttgart, Germany teaching History and German.  Frau Saba and I decided to come back to California and we have been here ever since with our 16 year old son Finn.  

I have taught all grades from 4th to 11th.  5th grade is my favorite grade level of all!!!!!

I am originally from New York and moved out to sunny San Diego in 2001. I began teaching elementary in 2007, and I taught for four years in San Diego before I left for Qingdao, China. While in China, I taught fourth grade at the Qingdao No. 1 International School. Accordingly, it was my first introduction to the I.B. curriculum.

I liked working in China very much, but I decided to move the following year and broaden my teaching and traveling experiences to Panama. In Panama I crossed over the canal for two years to teach 5th graders. Living there was also a great adventure, but my heart belonged to San Diego. After three years abroad, I returned.

This will be my tenth year teaching at Albert Einstein Academy, and I love working with such a compassionate and industrious group of people. Most importantly, I enjoy educating ten and eleven year old students to help prepare them for middle school and beyond.

Welcome! My name is Martin Huschke and I was born and raised in a small town in the southwest of Germany before moving to the United States in 1998. I started at Albert Einstein Academies Elementary School in 2010 after receiving my teaching credential from San Diego State University. I am very excited to be your child’s fifth grade teacher.

Before I decided to change my profession, I worked for several years in finance and international sales. I earned my Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Julius-Maximilians University of Wuerzburg (Germany) and was fortunate to have the opportunity to work in the U.S. after graduation. During my time in business, I was responsible for sales to Europe and also for financial analysis/venture capital and customer service.

After my daughter was born, I decided to follow a path I always wanted to go but never did: to become a teacher. My wife and I added a son to our family in 2009. I am excited that they are now both students at AEA and also benefit from the unique education this school offers.

I love sports of all kinds. I played competitive soccer and tennis when I was in Germany. I was also a children’s soccer coach and a swim coach in the DLRG (German Lifeguard Association). Since I moved to the U.S., I have really gotten into triathlons and completed Ironman Germany in 2005. I also enjoy golfing, swimming at La Jolla cove (when there aren’t any sharks) and scuba diving. My family and I enjoy traveling and spending time in the outdoors, going camping, hiking or just playing at the beach. I feel lucky to live in San Diego.

Living and working in two countries and learning the language and the culture has been challenging and rewarding. Because of this, I will bring a high level of openness, energy, enthusiasm and understanding to the classroom.

Hello! My name is Amy Erps and I am very excited to be a part of AEA community for the 2023/24 school year! This will be my tenth year teaching and third year at AEA! After I received my undergraduate degree in Middle Childhood Education from the University of Dayton, I started my teaching career in Recife, Brazil at an IB PYP school. I have been fortunate to combine my passion for global education and the IB philosophy through my experiences teaching in the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, as well as most recently in Monterey, California! I have taken my knowledge from my Master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and applied it to my experience working with language learners. 

As a teacher, I take a compassionate and nurturing approach and hold high expectations for my students' learning. Outside of teaching, I love running and being outdoors! I am looking forward to growing with the students this year and creating a classroom community together!

Frau Callan grew up in El Cajon and moved to Germany in 1989 where she

taught English as a Second Language for the next 28 years. After

raising her three children, she returned to California. She enjoys

gardening, playing the piano, east coast swing dancing and playing

pickleball.

Hello! My name is Karin Aguirre and I'm looking forward to the new school year!  I was born and raised just outside of Detroit, Michigan and have lived in San Diego for just over 30 years.  I am married to my husband, Cosme and have two children.  My oldest son is Carlos and he is a senior at UC Santa Cruz and my youngest son, Andres is a senior at Kearny High School.  Both of my boys attended Albert Einstein Academy Elementary and Middle School. 

I was a long and short term substitute for five years at AEA before I became the 5th grade aide.  I did a long term sub job for Ms. Blackman and never wanted to leave!  I have been firmly planted in 5th grade for the past four years and love working with the kids helping them grow both academically and social/emotionally.   When I'm not here at work you will find me with a paintbrush in my hand doing art and crafts or spending time with family and friends.