Supervisory Team

The Organizational Tutors Supervisors

Our supervisors are experts with backgrounds in psychology, literacy, cognition, and education with additional ongoing training to help our teams be at the forefront of the field. They’re responsible for matching students with their ideal tutor after assessing the student’s cognitive, developmental, and academic needs, as well as their personality and interests. Supervisors also oversee and mentor our tutors in order to help them learn and grow, and to ensure our students are receiving the most effective interventions. Get to know the people behind the Organizational Tutors supervisory team.

Anna Levy-Warren, Ph.D.

Founder, CEO, & Supervisor

Born and raised in New York City, Anna attended Bank Street School for Children and the Dalton School. She received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the City University of New York.

In 2005, she established a network of individuals with advanced degrees in cognition and education to help students and adults with executive functioning difficulties and other complex learning profiles. The student-centered aspects of this network later came to be known as Organizational Tutors. As the head of the network, Anna serves as matchmaker to connect individuals with the right tutors and actively supervises and manages the network.

Anna is published and licensed in the field of psychology and a member of the American Psychological Association. She co-founded Dwellness, which provides in-home therapy and teletherapy for individuals and families. She also offers executive functioning and leadership training for adults to executives, entrepreneurs, educational and business teams, and other professionals through an affiliated company, STEEL Advising. She enjoys giving talks to PTAs, parent groups, teachers, and learning teams.

Administrative Team

Operations Director

Katie Barzee, SHRM-CP

Katie Barzee, SHRM-CP, is Operations Director at Organizational Tutors. She is a Certified Professional by the Society for Human Resource Management. She earned her undergraduate degree at Duke University...

Katie Barzee, SHRM-CP, is Operations Director at Organizational Tutors. She is a Certified Professional by the Society for Human Resource Management. She is a graduate of the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics and Duke University where she earned a B.A. with Distinction, magna cum laude, in Earth & Ocean Sciences and Minors in Environmental Science & Policy and French Studies. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Her professional experience includes three years as a Litigation Paralegal at Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, two and a half years on the Investment Team at a Midtown hedge fund, and several years running her own business management consultancy practice. A dancer at heart, Katie teaches Zumba and group fitness classes at local gyms and at the invitation of other groups. Katie also directs Operations at OT’s sister company Dwellness In-Home Psychological Services PLLC.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR & SUPERVISOR

Samantha Fair, MA

Samantha Fair is a New York State professionally certified educator, former school administrator, and early learning consultant with over 15 years...

Samantha Fair is a New York State professionally certified educator, former school administrator, and early learning consultant with over 15 years of professional experience working with children, parents, and educators. Samantha received her MA in Early Childhood Education from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2010 and later joined Organizational Tutors in 2015 as an executive function coach. In this role, she utilizes her extensive background in progressive pedagogy to help her students gain crucial executive function skills, develop a growth mindset, and maintain their love of learning by feeling more confident at school. In 2018, Samantha became Organizational Tutors’ Program Director, working closely with Anna Levy-Warren to ensure the smooth functioning of the professional network and acting as a resource for tutors, supervisors, and families. Samantha approaches her work from a holistic perspective, taking into account a child and family’s full system: academic, social, emotional and even nutritional (as a certified child and family health coach).
PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Lauren Sawdey, MSCP

Lauren Sawdey is Program Coordinator at Organizational Tutors. She is a graduate of California Baptist University’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences...

Lauren Sawdey is Program Coordinator at Organizational Tutors. She is a graduate of California Baptist University’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology, summa cum laude, and Master of Science in Counseling Psychology (MSCP). She has several years of combined experience working in communication and program coordination at non-profit and university settings.

Most recently, she worked in a community mental health setting, providing clinical therapy as an Associate MFT, but has since transitioned to Organizational Tutors full-time and enjoys working at the intersection of education and psychology.

Outside of Organizational Tutors, Lauren seeks opportunities to explore her creativity through interior and digital design, and planning gatherings for friends and family. She enjoys cooking, reading, fashion, and experiencing new food and places with loved ones.

MARKETING COORDINATOR

Patricia Rodriguez-Diaz, MS

Patricia Rodriguez earned her Master of Science in Marketing Communication Management...

Patricia Rodriguez earned her Master of Science in Marketing Communication Management. She has tutored elementary-aged students in after-school programs and has educated learners in the environmental education landscape. Patricia has led and collaborated with college aged students through student affairs community programs, committees, and trainings. Patricia supports Organizational Tutors' marketing efforts and collaborates with the network to amplify the mission and vision of the company.
OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

Gretta Cavatassi

Gretta Cavatassi is Operations Assistant at Organizational Tutors. Gretta earned her BA in Communication from the State University of New York at Geneseo.

Gretta Cavatassi is Operations Assistant at Organizational Tutors. Gretta earned her BA in Communication from the State University of New York at Geneseo, and has several years of administrative experience in a variety of professional settings. She is a former Project Coordinator in intellectual property and international patent translation at Morningside Translations. She also spent over a year in non-profit human services as an Employment Specialist at the Arc of Monroe in Rochester, New York.

Outside of Organizational Tutors, Gretta is also a jazz vocalist active in New York City and the surrounding areas. Gretta most often performs for swing dancers, and frequently travels to different venues performing vintage traditional jazz for communities of dancers.

INTAKE COORDINATOR for DR. ANNA LEVY-WARREN

Demi Tranchina, MS, NCC, CTP

Demi earned a B.S. in psychology and an M.S. in mental health counseling from The University at Buffalo. She is a National Certified Counselor...

Demi Tranchina, MS, NCC, CTP is an intake coordinator to Anna Levy-Warren at Organizational Tutors. She is a graduate of The University at Buffalo where she earned a B.S. in psychology and an M.S. in mental health counseling and is now based in Pittsburgh, PA. She is a National Certified Counselor through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and is certified as a Clinical Trauma Professional (CTP).

Demi also supports Organizational Tutors’ sister company, Dwellness In-Home Psychological Services, as their Clinical Intake Coordinator. She is also a healthcare navigator for a private, non-profit organization where she guides military veterans to meet their healthcare needs.

In her free time, Demi enjoys being active outdoors, trying new restaurants, and spending quality time with her loved ones.

Supervisory Team

SUPERVISOR

Julia Niego, MS

Julia Niego holds a BA in Behavioral Neuroscience and an MS in Neuroscience and Education from Columbia University/Teacher’s College, the country’s first integrative graduate program...

Julia Niego holds a BA in Behavioral Neuroscience and an MS in Neuroscience and Education from Columbia University/Teacher’s College, the country’s first integrative graduate program to link educational theory with cognitive neuroscience research. In 2007 she co-founded a private preschool in Brooklyn, New York, and spent the next eight years developing and teaching progressive curricula and working school-wide as a developmental support specialist. Since 2012 she has worked as an Organizational Tutor and consultant, supporting children in preschool through fourth grade in building executive functions, a growth mindset, and strong academic selves.
SUPERVISOR

Bari Hillman, Ph.D.

Bari (Scheckner) Hillman attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in Biological Basis of Behavior, and then went on to receive her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Health Emphasis)...

Bari (Scheckner) Hillman attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in Biological Basis of Behavior, and then went on to receive her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Health Emphasis) from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University. She has worked for Organizational Tutors since 2016.

As an Organizational Tutor, Bari tailors interventions to maximize clients’ progress, awareness of barriers, and sense of self-efficacy. Her strength-based approach highlights students' intrinsic motivations to foster rapport, confidence, independence, and increased understanding of the learning process. Similarly, Bari’s approach to supervision utilizes a problem-solving and team-based approach that supports tutors in working effectively with families, schools, and other supports and maximizes students’ success.

SUPERVISOR

Robert Cox Jr., Ph.D.

Robert (Bobby) Cox Jr. earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. There he specialized in neuropsychological testing...

Robert (Bobby) Cox Jr. earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. There he specialized in neuropsychological testing of children and adults, in providing bilingual and bicultural therapy, and in investigating and working towards the integration of physical health and mental health. Bobby holds an MA in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University and a BA in English Literature and Hispanic Linguistics, with a Minor in Psychology, from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Bobby has taught Spanish and English literacy to children in grades PK-8 in New Orleans through Teach for America and has also taught in New York City magnet elementary schools. Bobby integrates his experience as a classroom teacher and as a psychologist-in-training to tailor tutoring to the unique needs of each student, attending to psychological, biological, and academic factors that influence a student's ability to excel in educational settings.

Bobby supervises NYC-based tutoring and supervises or coordinates supervision of all tutoring in New Jersey.

SUPERVISOR

Megan Gaffney, MFA

Megan Gaffney holds a certificate in Educational Therapy from the University of California, Riverside, and is currently pursuing her third advanced degree in the Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the College of William and Mary...

Megan Gaffney is an educational therapist who works with high school, college and graduate school students to help them to effectively address the challenges that stand in the way of optimal learning. In her ten years as an organizational tutor and executive functioning/academic coach, she has employed a strength-based approach, building students’ confidence while simultaneously teaching and fine-tuning the skills that will lead to academic independence and deeper intellectual engagement. Megan employs her warmth and humor to create trust and genuine rapport with her clients, enabling them to effectively address issues including executive dysfunction, organization challenges, writing and reading weaknesses, memory deficits, and processing and attentional issues. Megan has worked with students with a range of complex neuropsychological profiles, including, but not limited to, ADHD, dyslexia and reading impairment, and processing issues. Megan holds a certificate in Educational Therapy from the University of California, Riverside. She is also currently pursuing her third advanced degree in the Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the College of William and Mary. She has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania in English and Theatre Arts and an MFA in Classical Acting from George Washington University and the Shakespeare Theatre.
SUPERVISOR

Elizabeth Geiger, Ph.D.

Elizabeth (Liz) Geiger earned a Ph.D. from the Counseling Psychology department at Teachers College, Columbia University. She has extensive training and experience working both clinically...

Elizabeth (Liz) Geiger earned a Ph.D. from the Counseling Psychology department at Teachers College, Columbia University. She has extensive training and experience working both clinically and educationally with individuals with learning disabilities, executive functioning difficulties, as well as more generalized academic struggles, which she brings to her work with Organizational Tutors. Throughout her academic tenure, Liz has focused her research on understanding the lived experiences of students with learning disabilities/differences and how these experiences are linked to psychological distress such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. She recently completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Action Potential, where she developed expertise in neuropsychological evaluations for students with learning difficulties and provided individualized remediation planning to optimize learning.

Liz is trained in the Wilson Reading System, which targets areas of phonological awareness, spelling, and reading comprehension. She previously worked at Montefiore Hospital’s adult learning center where she taught individuals with severe dyslexia how to read and conducted neuropsychological testing batteries to provide specific treatment recommendations. In addition, Liz uses her experience as a psychologist to understand how mood symptoms can interfere with academic success and provides an integrative psychological approach to her work with students.

Liz’s approach with clients is also informed by her lived experience of struggling with and overcoming challenges posed by learning disabilities. She brings a unique perspective to this work, as she understands the importance of cultivating these skills on both a professional and personal level. In her spare time, Liz enjoys painting, reading, fashion, traveling, and going on hikes with her dog.

SUPERVISOR

Sarah Alsaidi, Ph.D.

Sarah earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has an extensive background in neuropsychological assessment...

Sarah earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has an extensive background in neuropsychological assessment and experience working with individuals with learning and executive functioning difficulties across the life-span. Sarah specializes in reading differences and is trained in the Wilson Reading System designed to improve phonological awareness, reading comprehension, and spelling. She has worked with elementary through high school age students as well as college-age adults. In both her individual and supervisory roles, she takes an empathic and collaborative approach that integrates multicultural and feminist principles. Sarah tailors her interventions to each individual and their unique style to help them build confidence and realize their potential. In her free time, Sarah enjoys non-fiction writing, photography, and quality time with family over a cup of Yemeni tea.

Sarah provides executive functioning and literacy tutoring and provides supervision to NYC-based tutors.

SUPERVISOR

Amy Strekas, MA

Amy Strekas has over 18 years of experience as a special education teacher, speech-language pathologist, and private tutor...

Amy Strekas has over 18 years of experience as a special education teacher, speech-language pathologist, and private tutor. She is a New York State licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and a certified Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities (TSSLD) with a bilingual (English/Spanish) extension. Having grown up in a Cuban-American bilingual household, Amy is very passionate about dual language development. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Wesleyan University and her master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

As an Organizational Tutor, Amy understands that true change occurs when she has earned the trust of her clients. She utilizes an individualized approach to help students with their planning, problem solving, and organization skills. Amy has experience with a wide range of learning challenges, including dyslexia, ADHD, auditory processing deficits, and autism spectrum disorder.

SUPERVISOR

Tyner Gordon, MSEd, EdM

Tyner earned her BA at Wesleyan University and earned her EdM in mental health counseling at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she is currently completing her doctorate in counseling psychology.

An independent and public school veteran teacher and administrator, Tyner Gordon has spent over 15 years working with children, families, and educators to cultivate academic and personal curiosity and critical teaching practices. Tyner has taught various elementary and middle school students, worked in the capacity of psychological counselor-in-training and executive functioning support for 2e high school students, and served as academic dean and assistant director, helping families and students negotiate pivotal educational transitions. The support she provides is grounded in examining habits and interests, discovering and experimenting with organizational practices, and crafting individualized routines and systems to meet specific academic, social, and personal achievement goals. Her curiosity about students’ aspirations and experiences has helped Tyner forge meaningful and collaborative relationships with students and their families throughout her career, especially in her work over the last three years as an active tutor with Organizational Tutors.

Tyner earned her BA at Wesleyan University, where, as a student, she discovered her love of teaching and creative exploration with children of all ages. She then went on to teach in both public and private school settings in NYC while working toward her master’s degree in education. After a 12-year stint at The Dalton School, Tyner pivoted to expand and differentiate her ability to work with children and adults, earning an EdM in mental health counseling at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she is currently completing her doctorate in counseling psychology.

SUPERVISOR

Samantha Adelsberg, PhD

Samantha Adelsberg earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Fordham University. She has worked for Organizational Tutors since 2017...

Samantha earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Fordham University. She has extensive experience working with adolescents and young adults in both clinical and educational environments, with a specific focus on teaching organizational and executive functional skills for those struggling with anxiety, attentional difficulties, substance use and other emotional and neurocognitive complexities. Samantha has worked for Organizational Tutors since 2017.

As an Organizational Tutor, Samantha specializes in creating personalized academic plans that meet each student's cognitive abilities, psychological needs, and learning style. She believes each student’s circumstances are unique which inspires her to think out of the box. Samantha employs her compassion, patience, and imagination to create novel treatment plans for each student. She emphasizes working in collaboration with teachers, therapists, and parents to provide integrative care and ensure her students’ academic success. Samantha’s clinical experiences have highlighted the importance of approaching her work with flexibility and openness, patience in the process, and creativity in the application in order to maximize benefits of academic interventions. In her free time, Samantha enjoys cooking, hiking, pilates and spending time with family.

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