MEET THE FOUNDER
CELIA ZHAO
Founder & Educational Consultant
Celia has supported local and international families navigating education and relocation in the Bay Area for more than a decade. Her professional background includes experience as a language teacher, a public school district enrollment specialist, and an independent educational consultant.
With a master’s degree in TESOL, Celia brings a strong understanding of language development, multilingual learners, and the academic and cultural transitions experienced by international families. Her work within a Bay Area public school district also gave her firsthand knowledge of enrollment procedures, residency requirements, course placement, student records, and the ways local school systems support newly arriving families.
For the past seven years, Celia has guided families through school research and placement, independent and boarding school applications, course selection, enrichment planning, and transitions into new communities.
As a Bay Area parent of two, she also understands these decisions from a family’s perspective. Celia believes that choosing a school is not only about rankings or admissions—it is about finding an environment where each child can feel supported, engaged, and able to grow.
A COLLABORATIVE TEAM
Each family’s needs are different. In addition to working directly with Celia, families may receive support from a trusted network of educators, admissions professionals, writing specialists, and child-development experts.
CATHY
Boarding School Admissions Advisor
Cathy earned her bachelor’s degree from Zhejiang University and her master’s degree in Communication from the University of Southern California. She brings years of experience supporting students and families through the boarding school admissions process, including school selection, application strategy, and interview preparation.
JULIA
Writing & Academic Editor
A Stanford graduate with research experience at NASA, Julia supports students with independent school and college application writing. Her work focuses on helping students develop clear, authentic, and compelling essays while preserving each student’s individual voice.
SPECIALIST NETWORK
Petite Recolte also collaborates with experienced professionals in psychology, student assessment, school admissions, language education, and independent schools. When appropriate, we connect families with specialists whose expertise aligns with the student’s individual needs..
Have a Question? Let’s Talk
Fill out our quick form—we’ll get back to you within one business day and start mapping out the best learning solutions together.