About the Teachers

Mr. Peterschmidt

My name is Thomas Peterschmidt and this is my first year as a home room Kindergarten teacher! I have been teaching since 2021 as a substitute teacher at Pacific Ridge School and then had the opportunity to teach English abroad in Korea for a year and a half and then in Vietnam for another year. Through this experience I fell in love with teaching and wanted to pursue this passion by getting my credential and masters in Education. This past year I was able to start my masters program and in tandem be a Teacher Resident at High Tech Elementary North Country for 4th grade and Kindergarten. Now having my credential, I am more than excited to start this year off in Kindergarten at Albert Einstein Academy. 

I was born in San Diego and raised in Carlsbad. I went on to attend Sonoma State University, where I earned my degree in Communication and Media Studies with distinction and a minor in Studio Art. Throughout my journey in education I’ve learned how to be a warm demander, how to lead with clarity and care, and how to use engagement and empathy to make learning accessible for all students.

I am the youngest of two older brothers and love to surf, draw, play piano, soccer, and video games. My favorite animal is an elephant.  I love ice cream and Pokemon too.

Ms. Johnson

My name is Nicole Johnson and this will be my 13th year teaching kindergarten, and my fifth year full-time at AEA. I was introduced to AEA nine years ago when I substituted all around the school. I fell in love with the school as I explored the campus and got to know the team.

 I was born and raised in San Diego. I received a Bachelor's Degree in Child and Adolescent Development and minor in Asian American Studies from San Jose State University. After that, I obtained my Master's Degree and Elementary Teaching Credential from UC Irvine. I started my teaching career at an IB influenced school in Mission Viejo, and fell in love with the model. I am very excited to continue teaching in an IB school as I fully believe in and love the IB philosophy which aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

I have a 4 year old son named Ethan and I spend most of my time with him exploring around San Diego. I also enjoy spending time with the rest of my family, rock climbing, camping, going to the zoo, and painting. 

Frau Van Doren (German Aide)

Growing up in Alaska for me meant 9 months of winter. The short summers were spent in a walled-in city which would one day return to being Germany’s capital and cultural center: Berlin. As a result, I grew up speaking Denglisch (Deutsch and English) and folk dancing along with the other children in our German/Austrian/Swiss and even French community. In terms of education, my father could have attended university at the age of ten and in kind treated me like an adult from a young age. Through him I learned to love cultures, history, languages and to ask lots of questions.

I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Arts and Sciences for Film and Television from San Diego State University with the dream of making documentaries. Instead, I became a news reporter and a weather anchor and producer. Then I found teaching. I obtained my Multiple Subject Credential from Point Loma Nazarene University. Now I get to investigate, create, think and learn in “realtime” alongside my students. I hope to kindle the same love of learning and critical thinking inside my students as my father did in me. For the last several years now I have been working either as a substitute, a part-time teacher, or a one on one tutor, always in the German language, and always connected with Albert Einstein Academy.

When I am not working, I am either studying through Goethe Institute or another Forum in which to further my education as a GSL (German as a Second Language) Instructor. 

TBD (English Aide)