Our Mission - Personalized Educational Strategy and Plan
Our mission is to meet students where they are and help them rise — academically, personally, and strategically — from foundational learning through college readiness. Through personalized instruction, meaningful enrichment, and thoughtful mentorship, we help students build the confidence, capability, and direction they need for the next stage of their journey.
Meet the Team
Our dedicated educators and leadership team are committed to providing the academic excellence and personal growth that every student deserves. Discover the expertise and passion behind Elevate Education.
Jennifer Lee, Ed. M
CEO/Founder, Education Consultant
Jennifer Lee, Principal at Elevate Education, is a dedicated educator with an Ed.M. from Harvard and a B.A. from UC Davis. Her extensive background includes years teaching K-8 English at Genius Academy and serving as a college prep counselor at Elevate College Prep, where she balances high academic standards with the joy of learning through fun, meaningful programming.
Her mission focuses on developing 21st-century skills like leadership and critical thinking, believing education must go beyond test scores to prepare students for life. Through her various initiatives, Jennifer aims to shift the community focus toward raising confident, curious, and capable young people.
Sarah Jensen
Counselor, Essay Writing Coach, Tutor
Sarah Jensen joined Elevate in 2021 and supports high school students in Chemistry, Math, Physics, English, college essays, and academic counseling. A UCLA graduate with a B.A. in English, Sarah also brings a background in Chemical Engineering that helps her guide students through advanced STEM coursework. In college essay work, she focuses on helping students express their individual voices and experiences with clarity and authenticity. Her creative writing background also informs her approach to narrative and analytical writing. Sarah’s literary interests include modern Asian American writing, author-narrator relationships, mythology, and queer coming-of-age fiction.
Laurie Lande
Counselor, Essay Writing Coach
Laurie Lande brings a strong background in writing, editing, and college counseling to Elevate. She developed her communication skills over a decade as a journalist with The Wall Street Journal in Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, and Singapore, as well as with Bloomberg News. Her experience in interviewing, collaborative writing, and editing helps students navigate the college application process with clarity and confidence. Laurie earned her Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA Extension in 2020 and stays current by attending annual UC and WACAC counselor conferences, while visiting at least 10 new college campuses each year.
Riya Shrivastava
Project manager, SAT/ACT Tutor
Riya joined Elevate in 2025 as a Project Manager and SAT/ACT Tutor, bringing a passion for personalized guidance and a strong track record of helping students improve test scores and build confidence in the college application process. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Human-Computer Interaction, and has professional experience in marketing and project management. At Elevate, Riya specializes in one-on-one SAT tutoring and helps students brainstorm, develop, and launch meaningful personal projects that strengthen their applications through both authenticity and strategy.
Erik Wang
Tutor
Erik Wang is a current undergraduate at UCLA studying Political Science and Psychology. He primarily works to tutor history and English, and he enjoys helping students gain stronger writing skills and build critical thinking. Erik is very passionate about watching students grow academically and develop confidence in their educational abilities. Outside of tutoring, Erik loves playing basketball, listening to music, and eating different cuisines.
Eddy Eskandari
Tutor
Eddy Eskandari is an experienced Physics and Calculus educator with over 40 years of teaching experience in the U.S. and internationally. He specializes in AP Physics, AP Calculus AB/BC, Pre-Calculus, Algebra, and Geometry, working with students from middle school through college. Eddy is passionate about making advanced STEM concepts clear, logical, and engaging while helping students build problem-solving skills, confidence, and exam readiness. He currently teaches mathematics at Stratford Preparatory School, teaches summer mathematics at The Harker School, and tutors students in AP Physics and advanced math. Eddy holds a B.S. in Physics and is a published author in physics education.
Christine Lee
Head of Chinese Department
自小,家裡的教導就是要以誠心(待)人,很幸運的,我的第一份工作在建築師事
務所,也碰到一位非常好的建築師,她教導我以心(帶)人,後來到了美國參與教
育界職場,深深地受到校長(俞老師)如同家人般的帶領與相處,這所有的一切
我感受到如何用心與學生一起相處並教育他們。
我在2012年踏入教育界,成為一位老師時,與其說我班上的學生時,我更愛稱
呼他們為(孩子們)! 在我的內心世界裡,我感同他們像我孩子一樣,一起渡過下
午的每分每秒的時光。
我秉持的教育觀點是在中文課程中, 循序漸進一點一滴讓孩子在求學過程裡,
接受正向品格引導與塑造他們不怕難的心,並適時的鼓勵與稱讚,來幫助孩子
學習過程中的低谷時期,並不斷持續省察孩子學習過程中,喜怒哀樂情緒上所
需的支持與愛的關懷,進而以適合孩子本身學習方式,來添加孩子獨特所需的
進深課程內容。
平常我很喜歡閱讀有關孩童心理教育與輔導書籍,對自己的期許是,幫助孩子
在品德上獲得眾人肯定,來邁向人生求學時期。
Joseph Kim
Teacher
Joseph Kim is a science, English, and math tutor at Genius Academy. He graduated from California Baptist University with a degree in Biology and a Master’s in Education, giving him a strong foundation in both subject knowledge and teaching practice. Joseph is currently a middle school science teacher in San Jose and brings real classroom experience to his work with students. He believes knowledge is one of the most powerful tools a student can develop and wants to help younger learners use education to reach their goals. Joseph is especially passionate about STEM and helping students understand the world around them.
Tiffany Shi
Teacher
Tiffany Shi teaches Math at Genius Academy and graduated from UC Berkeley with a double major in Statistics and Data Science. She brings a strong academic foundation and a clear passion for helping students build confidence in math. With three years of teaching experience across elementary, middle school, and college students, Tiffany understands the importance of developing strong fundamentals early. Her teaching emphasizes curiosity, critical thinking, and flexible problem-solving. She encourages students to explore multiple approaches so they can master not just one problem, but entire types of problems. Tiffany hopes to help students discover the joy of learning and become self-motivated scholars.
Madhumanti Palit
Teacher
Madhumanti Palit, known to students as Ms. Madhu, teaches Reading for grades 2–5 at Genius Academy. She earned her Master’s degree in History in India and brings a deep appreciation for learning, language, and social science to her classroom. After years of supporting her own daughter’s English and social science education through elementary and middle school, she was inspired to share her love of teaching with more students. Madhumanti especially enjoys working with young learners, guiding them with patience, encouragement, and care. For her, the greatest reward is seeing students grow academically and succeed with confidence
Kevin Chen
Teacher
Kevin Chen teaches Innovation Lab, Math, and Public Speaking at Genius Academy. He is currently studying Earth Science at San Jose State University and brings a strong interest in science, learning, and student growth to his classroom. Kevin first discovered his passion for teaching in college, where he formed study groups and tutored classmates in biology. Seeing others improve through his support inspired him to continue teaching. His academic interests include climate change, environmental awareness, and preparing students to think critically about the future. Kevin hopes to help students strengthen their academic skills, expand their knowledge, and become thoughtful, observant learners.
Julia Wei
Teacher
Sophie believes that the arts are fundamental to a holistic education. As our Creative Arts Director, she curates programs that foster visual and expressive creativity. Her philosophy centers on art as a medium for self-expression and cultural dialogue. Sophie works with students on portfolio development, ensuring they have the technical skills and thematic depth required for specialized college programs. Her sessions include workshops on digital media, traditional painting, and art history. Sophie is committed to providing a space where students can explore their creative identities, building aesthetic awareness and artistic discipline that enriches their academic lives and personal maturity.