FOUNDER & LEAD TUTOR

Ellen was asked to start tutoring her peers in high school French and discovered an unexpected passion for educational analysis and one-on-one academic support. She has since spent more than one-third of her life tutoring professionally, specializing in foreign languages, writing, and executive function support. Ellen graduated Magna Cum Laude from UCLA in 2022 with a degree in English, a minor in Theater, and a certificate in Creative Writing. She spent a summer post-grad teaching French in Paris and now personally case-manages and supports all families who work with Gold Standard.

In addition to her work in tutoring, Ellen acts and dances ballet professionally, takes photos, and works in the meditation and wellness space.

TEST PREP & MATHEMATICS TUTOR

Petra was raised in Berkeley and graduated from UCLA in 2021 with an undergraduate degree in sociology. She loved UCLA and was very involved with UCLA Radio, UCLA alumni groups, the Cultural Affairs Commission, and the STAND peer counseling group. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University to become a Marriage and Family Therapist.

She was a camp counselor and a peer counselor in college, and she has always enjoyed working with kids and teenagers. She loves the learning process and is excited to help students connect with new material!

K-8TH SPECIALIST

Rachel holds a Bacheor’s degree from UCLA and has two years of experience teaching pre-school. She is particularly interested in supporting and nurturing young students developing consistent learning and studying habits.

Rachel is also a working actress passionate about coaching young performers. Known for her intelligence and insightful approach to the process of acting, Rachel is adept at guiding young actors through auditions and scene work, drawing on her own professional experience.

MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL TUTOR

Ava grew up in Manhattan Beach, where she first discovered her passion for tutoring while helping classmates in math and science, all while maintaining a 4.1 weighted GPA. She graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a degree in Theater and has more than six cumulative years of experience working with kids, specializing in creative learning approaches that make subjects engaging. Ava is dedicated to fostering a positive environment for her students, helping them build confidence and critical skills. Outside of tutoring, she is a dancer, camera operator (photo and video!), and director, always looking for creative outlets to explore in community.

MATH TUTOR

Originally from Chicago, Joe is a senior aerospace engineering student at Case Western Reserve University, with minors in Economics and Spanish. He spent a semester studying at the University of Carlos III in Madrid.

With a 4.0 GPA, Joe is deeply passionate about the real-world applications of mathematics and engineering. He is the president of both the grappling club and the vertical takeoff and landing design team. With two years of tutoring experience in calculus and engineering, he excels in helping students understand complex concepts through tangible and visual methods. Joe also has four years of experience as an assistant wrestling coach for middle school students.

Outside of academia, Joe enjoys music, cooking, and exercise. He is dedicated to sharing his enthusiasm for math and engineering with his students.

COLLEGE COUNSELOR

Julia began her educational journey attending a private K-12 private college preparatory school located in Edison, New Jersey and was part of the National Society of High School Honors. She also achieved awards in theatre, choir, varsity athletics and community service.. She was accepted to all six colleges and universities she applied for, and ultimately attended Emerson College. During her time at Emerson College  she was part of the National Communications Association's Honor Society: Lambda Pi Eta, as well as president of the community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. Julia's current goal is to pet every rescue pug she meets. 

HUMANITIES SPECIALIST & VOICE TEACHER

Ililta is a graduate of the prestigious Greens Farms Academy in Westport, CT, and has a BA in Jazz Vocal Performance from UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music. She specializes in teaching English and history to students from early years through high school. She also has experience in early childhood development and loves to teach reading through a phonetic approach.

Ililta also offers voice lessons, integrating her expertise in vocal performance to help students develop their musical talents. Dedicated to fostering both academic and artistic growth, Ililta provides a supportive and creative learning environment tailored to each student’s needs.