Our Team

Ying Zhu is the founder of Primary Education Group (PEG) and the lead consultant for the Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland regions. Ying believes that every child has tremendous potential and that finding the right-fit school helps students discover and develop their strengths. Over the past seven years, she and her team have helped more than 200 families—both locally and internationally—find the right-fit schools for their children. Ying frequently speaks at international organizations about private school admissions and hosts webinars to help families better understand the admissions process. She is also actively engaged in local communities and strongly believes in giving back. Having grown up in China and studied in China, France, and the United States, Ying has a deep understanding of education systems across Asia, Europe, and North America. She often serves as a bridge between families who have recently moved to the Washington, D.C., area and the American education system, helping them better understand the U.S. K–12 school landscape. Ying earned her master’s degree in Education Entrepreneurship from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and is currently building a platform, with support from Penn GSE, to help families navigate the K–12 admissions process. Ying speaks English, Mandarin Chinese, and French. In her spare time, she enjoys trying new local restaurants, practicing Pilates, traveling with her family, and volunteering at her children's schools. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland, and both of her children attend independent schools in the Washington, D.C., area.

Lindsey Young is a K–12 admissions consultant at Primary Education Group, supporting families navigating the independent school admissions process in the New York City area. She brings a multidisciplinary background spanning engineering, education, entrepreneurship, and student mentorship. Lindsey studied Education Entrepreneurship at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, where her work focused on innovation in engineering education and expanding access to meaningful, student-centered learning experiences. She has worked with students across academic, enrichment, and mentorship settings, with experience in STEM education, robotics, classroom instruction, and individualized student support. Lindsey previously taught at a private school in New York City's UWS for many years, giving her firsthand familiarity with the culture and landscape of NYC independent schools. She holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of California, San Diego (Jacobs School of Engineering). Before joining Primary, Lindsey worked in educational consulting and strategy-focused roles supporting students and families through high-stakes academic and admissions processes. Her approach emphasizes authenticity, confidence-building, and helping students identify and communicate their unique strengths and interests. Having lived and worked in both New York City and California, Lindsey understands the competitive landscape of independent school admissions while also recognizing the importance of finding the right-fit environment for each child and family. She is passionate about helping students grow not only as applicants, but as thoughtful, curious, and self-aware learners.

Paige Guo is the Director of K–12 International Student Admissions Consulting at Primary Education Group (PEG). She brings more than 15 years of experience in international education, with a long-standing focus on admissions to top U.S. private schools and global academic planning. She previously worked at a leading educational organization in the Greater Boston area, where she represented more than 200 U.S. private schools and was actively involved in international student recruitment, school promotion, and institutional partnerships. Having personally visited more than 100 U.S. private schools, Paige has developed a deep understanding of different school communities, educational philosophies, and admissions practices. With extensive experience working with international families across both the U.S. and China, she specializes in developing thoughtful, personalized application strategies and guiding families through the admissions process with insight, clarity, and care. Paige holds a master’s degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and currently lives in Philadelphia.

Dr. Dennis is an instructor at Primary Education Group (PEG), where he teaches Latin literature, mythology, and classical languages, including Latin and Ancient Greek. He holds a Ph.D. in Classics from Cornell University. He has been studying and teaching Classics for over a decade, at levels ranging from postgraduate studies to elementary school. In his classes, he tries to make the material relevant, accessible, and, most of all, enjoyable. To this end, he inspires every student to see how, even after 2,000 years, the Classics still have as much to teach us as ever. Dr. Dennis has a proven track record of guiding students to high achievement in rigorous academic settings, including AP-level coursework and exams. He has successfully coached PEG students for the National Mythology Exam from 2023 to 2026, with 89% of participants receiving awards (most of them gold medals). Through his structured yet inspiring instruction, he helps students develop both deep content knowledge and a lasting enthusiasm for the classical world.

Melody Tan is the Office Manager and Progress Tracking Manager at Primary Education Group (PEG). She is responsible for providing administrative support to families, tracking the status of school applications, and coordinating communication throughout the admissions process. She also oversees students’ ISEE and SSAT preparation progress and coordinates online classes for families. With 16 years of experience in the U.S. education field, Melody previously served as a consultant at a major education organization and is an experienced advisor in application essays and student support. She works closely with each PEG consultant to support families throughout their education journey. Known for her patience and warmth, Melody builds strong relationships with students and parents and takes the time to understand each student’s background, interests, and goals. Over the past 16 years, she has supported more than 1,000 students in gaining admission to Top 30 U.S. boarding schools, as well as Top 30 colleges and graduate schools. She is fluent in both English and Chinese and has a strong understanding of both cultures.

Theodra Washington is the Chief Strategy Officer for K–12 Admissions consulting at Primary Education Group (PEG). She works closely with PEG founder Ying Zhu to support families throughout the K–12 private school admissions process. Theodra also plays a key role in developing PEG’s K–12 admissions consulting programs, overseeing the consulting and coaching process, maintaining high professional standards, and continuously improving the services provided to families. Having served as the Associate Director of Lower and Middle School Admission at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC for five years, Theodra brings valuable insight from the admissions office perspective. With more than twenty years of experience working with students from preschool through high school in both public and private schools, her roles have included school-wide diversity coordinator, physical education teacher and athletic department head, varsity volleyball coach, health instructor, NAACP parent representative, and parent advocate. She has also worked with schools serving students with special needs and with nonprofit organizations supporting underprivileged children. Theodra is a Certified Educational Planner (CEP) and a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). She holds a BS from Florida A&M University and is actively involved in many local education events. Together with Ying, she regularly visits independent schools in the DC area to stay informed about admissions trends and school communities, and is passionate about supporting families through the admissions journey.

Sunny Sun is the lead consultant for the Seattle area at Primary Education Group (PEG). She has served for many years as an alumni interviewer for Rice University and brings extensive experience in consulting and education, including senior roles at several well-known educational organizations. Based in Seattle, Sunny has visited many top West Coast private schools and built strong relationships with school communities. She has a deep understanding of different school systems and the private school admissions process, and she specializes in helping students discover their unique strengths and providing strategic, holistic guidance throughout the application journey. Sunny is also deeply committed to community service and has founded multiple nonprofits focused on student leadership and service learning. She holds an MBA from Rice University.

Dr. Ellen is the Director of Curriculum Design at Primary Education Group (PEG), where she develops curriculum for writing, reading, and vocabulary programs. She specializes in structured writing and vocabulary instruction and has developed her own writing curriculum. She has also designed writing curriculum specifically to support students preparing for the ISEE and SSAT exams. Dr. Ellen is a passionate educator with over 30 years of experience teaching vocabulary, reading, and writing to K–12 students. Since PEG was founded, she has supported PEG students preparing for the ISEE and SSAT, with outstanding results in strengthening students’ writing skills. Her classes are highly interactive and designed to encourage active student participation while building strong reading and writing foundations. She holds a Doctorate in Education, a Master’s degree in Reading, and a K–12 teaching certification.

Ms. Lu is a Chinese language instructor at Primary Education Group (PEG), where she teaches Chinese language skills—including reading, pinyin, speaking, and writing—to students from diverse backgrounds. She brings over 15 years of teaching experience in both primary education in China and international Chinese language instruction. Known for her engaging, structured, and student-centered teaching style, she is highly skilled in curriculum development, classroom management, and personalized instruction. Her lessons incorporate storytelling, interactive activities, and cultural experiences such as paper-cutting, calligraphy, and traditional festival celebrations, creating an immersive and engaging learning environment. Before joining PEG, Ms. Lu served as the Head of Chinese Language Department at a primary school in China. She has taught more than 200 students from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and other countries, bringing extensive cross-cultural teaching experience to her classroom.

Lloyd Paradiso is the Chief Strategy Officer for Boarding School Admission Consulting and College Admissions Consulting at Primary Education Group (PEG). An esteemed leader in educational consulting and admissions, he brings over 40 years of experience to PEG. He oversees PEG’s boarding school admissions consulting services and, together with founder Ying Zhu, has developed the firm’s coaching framework and advising programs for families applying to leading boarding schools. Mr. Paradiso also serves as PEG’s lead consultant for college admissions consulting, working closely with families whose children are applying to colleges and universities. Lloyd Paradiso is widely recognized as an authority in educational advising. His commitment to the highest professional standards, deep understanding of the admissions landscape, and dedication to treating every client as a top priority have made him a trusted advisor to families for more than four decades. He is a sought-after panelist and presenter on educational topics at conferences, workshops, and symposia in the United States and abroad. A product of both public and private schools and a graduate of Germantown Academy in Pennsylvania, Mr. Paradiso holds an AB from Hamilton College and a master’s degree from Middlebury College. He has also completed doctoral coursework at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. Mr. Paradiso is a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the Pennsylvania Association for College Admission Counseling (PACAC), NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the Enrollment Management Association (EMA), and several other professional organizations. A founder, past president, committee chair, and board member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), he holds the distinguished designation of Certified Educational Planner (CEP).

Phoebe Xu is the Lead Consultant for the San Francisco area at Primary Education Group (PEG). After working in the nonprofit sector for two years, she transitioned into the field of education. Known for her warmth, responsibility, and professionalism, Phoebe is highly trusted by PEG families. Having lived in the Greater Washington, Boston, and California areas for many years, Phoebe is very familiar with a wide range of private schools across the country. She has spent time visiting many private school schools and maintains strong, ongoing communication with admissions offices. Phoebe is particularly skilled at helping families identify each student’s strengths and positioning them thoughtfully in the application process, providing steady and supportive guidance every step of the way. Phoebe earned her bachelor’s degree from the National University of Singapore and a Master’s in Public Administration from Rutgers University.

Ms. Jennifer is an instructor and assessment specialist at Primary Education Group (PEG), where she teaches classic literature and vocabulary classes and conducts student assessments to support reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and overall language growth. Her teaching style is energetic, highly interactive, and well-loved by students. In addition to her work at PEG, Ms. Jennifer is a current English and ELA teacher at a U.S. public middle school, with nearly 20 years of secondary teaching experience and a strong record of student achievement. She also serves as the school’s lead teacher for IXL implementation, where she designs instructional programs and collaborates with the county school district’s education office to strengthen schoolwide curriculum and instruction. She holds a K–12 teaching credential, as well as Reading K–12 and ELA (7–8) certifications.

Dr. Anderson is a Mathematics instructor at Primary Education Group (PEG), where he teaches math courses and prepares students for the ISEE, SSAT, and AMC exams. With a strong background in competitive math, and a proven record of student success, he is known for his rigorous yet engaging teaching style and his ability to help students build both confidence and problem-solving skills. He has guided students to outstanding results - many of his students receives 9 in both ISEE Quantitative Reasoning and Math Achievement and over 98% in SSAT math. Since child, Dr. Anderson has a long-standing passion for math, and has won in many math competitions, including first place in the National High School Math Olypiad in China. He holds a Bachelor of Mathematics and a PhD in Macroeconomics from Tsinghua University. His professional experience includes serving as a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher at Columbia University, as well as working as a Quantitative Trader at various investment firms. He speaks both English and Chinese and lives in California.