Supervisory Team

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.

Megan Gaffney (she/her) is a clinical mental health counselor and educational therapist who works with high school, college and graduate school students, as well as adults, to help them to effectively address the challenges that stand in the way of optimal learning and functioning. In the thirteen years she has been working as an executive functioning coach with Organizational Tutors, she has employed a strength-based approach, building students’ confidence while simultaneously teaching and fine-tuning the skills that 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 clients with a range of complex neuropsychological profiles, including, but not limited to, ADHD, dyslexia and reading impairment, processing issues, autism spectrum disorder, and mental health challenges that impact learning.

Megan has also acted as a supervisor for tutors within the OT network for the last five years, and has relished the opportunity to share her expertise and learn through the collaborative relationships she builds. She holds a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the College of William & Mary, a post-graduate certificate in Educational Therapy from the University of California, Riverside, an MFA in Classical Acting from George Washington University and the Shakespeare Theatre, and a BA from the University of Pennsylvania in English and Theatre Arts.

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.

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.

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.

Seung (she/her) earned her MS in Computer Science from New York University. She has Data Science and Analytics experience through her academic and professional career and provides analytical support to the Organizational Tutor's team. Previously, Seung has tutored and coached international students in Seoul and is an advocate for student success.

Ryan (he/him) earned his BA in Economics and is pursuing his MS in Data Science from Fordham University. He has Data Science and Analytics experience through his academic and professional career and provides data entry and analytical support to the Organizational Tutors' team.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.