Where Students Rise

Collette Bowers Zinn has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of education, equity, and access - connecting children and families to high-quality educational opportunities with care and intention. A fifth-generation educator, school leader, social responsibility practitioner, and parent, she brings both lived understanding and strategic insight to the daily realities of schools and classrooms. Originally trained as a litigator, Collette chose to bring her advocacy, analysis, and voice into the education space, where those skills could directly support students and families. The synthesis of legal training and educational leadership continues to shape her approach: thoughtful, solutions-oriented, and grounded in the belief that every child deserves to thrive. Collette is the founder of Zinn Education Management, The Onyx Movement, and the nonprofit Private School Axis. Across each of these platforms, she has built trusted pathways for schools, families, and students to navigate education with clarity, confidence, and belonging.

Mary O'Malley, M.A., ET/P, is the founder of Green Door Learning, LLC, an educational therapy and executive functioning coaching practice she started in 2007. Mary has taught for LAUSD (middle school special day classes), Wildwood School (Organization and Study Skills, Writing Lab), and served as the Learning Specialist at Oakwood Secondary School and the interim Support Services Coordinator at Oakwood Elementary School. With credentials including a College Counseling Certificate from UCLA and a certificate in Neurodiversity and Learning Disabilities with a specialization in Executive Functioning from Landmark College, she works with school-age children to adults navigating work and life. Mary has been a guest professor at LMU and is currently an instructor for Landmark College’s LCIRT program, and she remains an active member of the Association of Educational Therapists. When she's not helping clients build skills and systems, she's raising two elementary school kids in Los Angeles, which keeps her executive functioning strategies well-tested at home.

Julian brings a wealth of knowledge from over 20 years in the education industry as well as a proficiency for storytelling and personal empowerment developed through varied experiences traveling the world as an entertainer, writing copy for several brands, and earning a life coaching credential. He leverages his unique expertise and perspective to help students hone their passions, their writing ability, and their sense of self. Julian served as an admissions officer at Amherst College, his alma mater, and a college counselor at several U.S. high schools, before joining Wise World Prep, a boutique independent education consulting firm which provides high-level support for families, as their senior education consultant. Julian loves helping students maximize their college options while bringing a sense of calm and possibly even fun to a stressful process. He enjoys helping students tell their stories in the most captivating way and uses his positive attitude, efficient workflow, and diverse experience to help families embrace the admissions journey with a greater sense of calm and understanding. Originally from Los Angeles, Julian earned a B.A. from Amherst College and his passions outside of education include writing and entertainment, especially stand-up comedy.