Magic Apple Staff
Our staff is comprised of individuals who are passionate about education, learning, and providing children with the opportunity to identify, grow, and foster their unique strengths and talents. We also care deeply about the families of our children and work to create a strong sense of community and spirit.
Cisco Jiménez |
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Cisco Jimenez is the founder of our immensely popular camp, Extreme Science. Our ES students will be most fortunate to actually have him as their instructor as just this last semester he taught chemistry classes for Cabrillo College students.. Cisco was also consistently recognized as an outstanding teacher (selected by university students in his chemistry classes) while earning his masters of Physical Science as well. At Magic Apple's Extreme Science Camp, students have been treated to a remarkable selection of science experiments and love learning with Cisco at the helm. He is known affectionately for his renegade experiments as well where students get to watch chemistry magic in action.
Cisco also holds a fondness for Camp Western Town and loves presenting exciting (and always funny) lessons on the wild life of miners during the California Gold Rush. In his free time Cisco enjoys working out, singing and composing (he directed the Magic Apple choir in our winter and spring shows), hiking, biking and photography. Cisco also shares his love of poetry with students and will encourage the writing and reading of Cowboy Poetry during Camp Western Town. Cisco also shares his favorite technology toys during Extreme Science Camp and the students have thoroughly enjoyed a myriad of experiences including his assortment of drones as well as his large 3-D and laser printers.
Minh Jimenez
Minh has two bachelors of science degrees, one in Bio-Chemistry and a second in Micro-Biology! She also loves to conduct "magical experiments" during Extreme Science camp and dazzle students with her many creative math and science based art projects. During Camp Western Town, Minh's alter ego appears (students get to pick their own western names and quite honestly their were many "salty" characters in the California Gold rush) where she is known as "Manical Minh"--and students' so enjoy her adventures! Minh also enjoys sharing literature with students and is also appreciated for her vast collection of multi-cultural tales as well as her wonderful British accent when reading from her beloved Harry Potter collection. Students enjoy Minh's cooking (and eating) projects and also love challenging her to a game of four-square as she is known for not only her athletic skills but also her competitive style
Fran Jimenez
Fran Jimenez is the founder of Camp Western Town and is affectionately known by hundreds of Aptos kids over many years as Flumin' Fran. He is the creative force behind Camp Western Town--from gold rushes, spirit awards, crazy competitions (miner's Olympic Games Western Idol talent show, to town laws debates and more. Fran is also noted for his humorous and inspirational style of teaching often using "hands on" experiences to insure student comprehension and retention. Fran also enthralls students as a master story teller, and whether it's true stories about famous characters of the old west or his own stories about going up as a migrant child, his students are often on the edge of their seats with laughter, concern, and smiles. Fran also has always loved science and has inspired many Magic Apple alumni who let him know that their college majors and science related careers were influenced by his contagious enthusiasm for science. Fran also brought mindfulness and meditation to our students and facilitates a remarkable environment of support where students feel comfortable in sharing and helping one another. Fran earned a Masters Degree and worked as an administrator for Pajaro Valley Unified School District before co-founding Magic Apple
Janice Jimenez
Jan Jimenez is the co-founded of Magic Apple, graduating with a degree in Social Science and a Standard Elementary credential. Jan is noted for her love of the arts and drama and can often be found creating and casting plays with students on Magic Apple's stage. Jan also loves music and has contributed songs and dances to both Magic Apple's holiday and spring shows. Magic Apple students love running for cooking helpers to assist Jan with her delicious cooking projects--from fresh Apple Crisp (made with just picked Apples) to a variety of chocolate recipes (Jan's favorite). Jan is also a gardener and students love working with her in our school greenhouse. Jan's favorite classes are Heroes of History. She has taught about many great heroes from all different walks of life including Ruby Bridges, JK Rowling, Booker T Washington and Wilma Rudolph. Jan also loves unique experiences for her students, including the I CANT funeral where students bury all the things they think they can't do to BABY EGG's (students carefully parent hollowed and decorated babies made of eggs). Typical of Jan is the serendipitous classes that become legendary as with Baby Egg World where student's design and create service businesses for the baby egg community :
Zach Morgan
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Zach Morgan is much beloved teacher by his students because of his many talents. Having once been a student at Magic Apple, Zach is particularly valued for ensuring that all the great experiences he recalls are able to continue. Zach is also appreciated by students for his athletic prowess and his ability to make sports less intimidating. He frequently shares his skill set from football to soccer to volleyball but is equally talented in an orchard game of Capture the Flag, Beckon and some of the original epic games he also creates. As a student he was an outstanding dancer and his skills have only grown stronger as he teachers complex choreography in a variety of styles from hip hop to Camp Western Town western line dance and intermediate student's all time favorite, Wild Wild West.
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