Our Mission: Expert Educational Advising
Thoughtful Guidance. Stronger Educational Choices.
Laurel & Oak Education Advisors brings together educational consulting and enrollment strategy to help families find the right educational environments and schools build communities where students can thrive.
About Laurel & Oak
Founded by Melissa Kane Essman, an experienced enrollment leader, Laurel & Oak Education Advisors bridges the gap between admissions officers and families. After years of evaluating applicants and shaping classes, Melissa launched this firm to offer the insider perspective families need. We believe exceptional education begins with intentional choices. Like the laurel, we honor every student's potential, and like the oak, we build the foundations for lifelong growth. We guide you through the complex admissions landscape with expert clarity so your child finds a school where they can truly flourish.
Meet our Founder
Laurel & Oak was founded in 2026 by Melissa Kane Essman, a strategic admissions and enrollment expert with the goal of helping families navigate the admissions and school search process as thoughtfully and student-centered as possible.
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As both an experienced enrollment leader and a parent, Melissa understands that choosing a school is about far more than completing applications or meeting deadlines. It's about finding a community where a child will feel known, challenged, and supported. Her professional expertise, combined with her personal appreciation for the hopes and questions families bring to the process, allows her to provide guidance that is both strategic and deeply empathetic.
Our Vision:
What We Believe
Fit Over Prestige
There is no universally "best" school. The right educational environment is the one that aligns with a student's strengths, needs, interests, and aspirations.
Clarity Over Complexity
Educational decisions can feel overwhelming. Our role is to bring experience, perspective, and structure to the process so families and schools can move forward with greater confidence.
Relationships Matter
Enrollment is ultimately human. Behind every application, data point, and enrollment goal is a student, family, educator, or community. The strongest outcomes respect both the data and the people behind it.
Our Method:
The ROOTS Framework
R - Reflect
Understand the student, family values, goals, and learning style.
O- Organize
Develop a customized admissions strategy and timeline.
O - Optimize
Strengthen applications, essays, recommendations, and interviews.
T - Target
Build a balanced, mission-aligned school list.
S - Select & Succeed
Evaluate offers, make a confident decision, and prepare for a successful transition.