Phil – Business Owner

Phil studied his undergraduate degree in Linguistics, specializing in second-language acquisition. In 1995, he did a practicum at the Language Training Institute of Ottawa. He was offered a permanent position there, but had to turn it down to continue his education.

Phil did in-home tutoring for several years before establishing his first tutoring centre in Richmond in 2000. This quickly led to an opportunity to establish and run a centre in Shenzhen, China, where he spent nearly two years. Upon returning to Canada, Phil was recruited to manage two different centres until 2008, when he established Potts Education Studio.

Phil holds a Master of Education, with designation in Digital, Open, and Distance Learning. That puts Potts Education Studio in a unique position to offer its classes online as well as in the classroom. What’s more, Phil speaks several languages, including English, French, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and a handful of others. He continues to learn more, believing there is no end to education.

Joyce – Director of Education Consulting

NACAC, IECA Associate

Since graduate school, Ms. Joyce has been providing academic guidance and college advising for students in BC. With over 10 years of cumulative experience in college planning and applications for renowned institutions in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Singapore, she has provided professional undergraduate consulting and planning services to thousands of families in British Columbia. 

With a “best fit” philosophy, her planning focuses on uncovering students’ potential & empowering each planning student so that they can find their niche while pursuing their dream schools. She also helps students develop an organized application plan, timeline and school list during the G11-12 application season and patiently counsels them step-by-step to obtain their desired admission offers.

Joyce is currently a member of NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling), an associate member of the IECA (Independent Educational Consulting Association), and a member of the IECA College Committee. She also served as a research assistant at UBC and a lecturer at the University of Mississippi’s flagship and the Columbia University-Shanghai Jiaotong University summer program.

Joyce has achieved a 100% acceptance rate to UBC and U of T for the past three years with her clients. Here are some of her students’ past university matriculations: UBC, U of T, Waterloo, UPenn, Columbia University, USC, Cornell University, UC-Berkeley, UCLA, NYU, Boston University, University of Rochester, CMU, UW in Seattle, and more.​

Ken

Mr. Ken has graduated locally with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Legal Studies, focusing on legal proceedings and administrative law. Over the past decade, his experiences have surrounded extensive hours in the capacity of Head English Tutor at tutoring schools and as a consultant for students who seek matriculation to Canadian and American institutions. In his earlier days, he has also written as a student editor for several news agencies briefly, including the South China Morning Post and school editorials for Wah Yan College, Kowloon, a Band-1 school in Hong Kong. His approach revolves around reinforcing fundamentals, encouraging creative elaboration, and organizing the future in a desirable yet pragmatic manner.
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Ken believes that the cornerstone of education is to spark interest, and in order to achieve long-standing success, an educator ought to be passionate in a relentless search for improvement. By routinely polishing and redefining his methods on a case-by-case basis, he has counselled students to eventually exceed their goals, whether it be in the art of language, academic advancements, or overall life planning. His students include many families in the lower Mainland, with a 100% success rate for UBC, SFU, McGill, U of T, UVic, and more.

Steven

Steven holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. Over the years, Steven has dedicated his career to working with elementary and high school students in both Canada and the U.S., helping them find their voice in the face of mental health challenges. His experience spans a variety of educational settings, including high schools, youth counseling ministries, and tutoring agencies.

After spending five years in the U.S., Steven returned to Vancouver to continue his passion for supporting children and adolescents who often feel unheard or invisible. Whether these struggles stem from cultural stigmas, societal expectations, or a lack of emotional support, Steven provides a unique blend of mental health counseling and educational guidance. His extensive background in both fields allows him to deeply empathize with the academic and emotional challenges students face.

As a first-generation immigrant and former international student who has studied in China, Canada, and the U.S., Steven understands the pressures that young people face while transitioning into new environments. He strives to create warm, authentic relationships with his clients, helping them feel confident, capable, and equipped to achieve their personal and academic goals.

With a firm belief in the power of vulnerability and resilience, Steven is committed to fostering safe spaces for students to explore their mental health, while also working closely with parents to support their child’s growth.

Emily

Emily has a Bachelor of Arts, with a double major in Political Science and Asian Studies from UBC. With a robust background in teaching math and experience working for the federal government, Emily brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to her role in education. In addition, she has also provided conference and registration support at UBC, which has enriched her understanding of academic environments and student needs. 

Passionate about student success, Emily is dedicated to helping students navigate their academic journeys, identify their strengths, and unlock their full potential. Combining a keen understanding of educational systems with a love for learning and travel, Emily brings a global perspective and a personalized approach to supporting students. Whether guiding them through the complexities of university applications or providing tailored advice, Emily strives to make every student’s path to higher education both clear and rewarding.

Aria

Aria holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Science degree in Urban Planning from Columbia University. With a background in both STEM fields and social sciences, she excels in education and is highly trusted by students and parents.

Through years of mentoring students, Aria has developed her own methodology. She emphasizes cultivating students’ study habits and encourages reading; helps students set goals from a professional perspective; actively communicates with students to stimulate their interests and unlock their potential; and strengthens their communication and time management skills. She believes these are equally important as academic performance and is confident that students will benefit from this comprehensive and systematic guidance.

In the past five years, she has helped over 100 students gain admission to their dream programs, receiving offers from top universities worldwide, including Columbia, UPenn, NWU, Cornell, UChicago, Michigan, UCB, IC, UCL, LSE, NUS, NTU, UBC, UT, Waterloo, McGill, and the University of Hong Kong.

Katherina

​Katherina graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Knox College, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States, majoring in Business Administration and Philosophy. She then completed her master’s degree in Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia. Katherina’s liberal arts background has provided her with a more comprehensive cross-disciplinary education, stronger writing and communication skills, and a deep understanding of small-class teaching and personalized education. This invaluable experience has become a key strength in helping students develop differentiated application strategies.

Before joining Palette Education, Katherina worked in government, college, and non-profit organizations. She has the experience as a Student Development Advisor and Co-op Coordinator, providing academic planning, background enhancement, application writing, and interview coaching to local and international students. She focuses on creating personalized strategies based on each student’s personality, strengths, and long-term goals, rather than relying on generic templates. She helps students discover their own unique strengths instead of following the same path as everyone else. She believes that truly successful applications come from understanding and amplifying students’ uniqueness.

Outside of work, Katherina enjoys snowboarding, surfing, tennis, soccer, and traveling. She looks forward to helping more students find their direction on the path to higher education and truly see the broader possibilities the world offers.