Our Team
Our team at New Frontiers is committed to bringing success to you
in all of our areas of expertise.
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Our team at New Frontiers is committed to bringing success to you
in all of our areas of expertise.
As the Director, Samantha leads the programmatic development and delivery at New Frontiers.
Samantha graduated from LIU Post with a Masters Degree in Special Education and is a licensed speech therapist and special educator. She sat on the Executive Board of CHADD of Nassau County and has acted as the Co-President of the Long Island Professionals ADHD Consortium. Her professional experiences include Speech Therapist, Special Education Teacher, and Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Education at Pace University. Samantha has supported clients with various learning differences at the secondary and postsecondary levels, as well as consulted with staff, clients and families to assist in the transition process. She has presented research, workshops and professional development seminars and webinars at various national conferences, CUNY and private colleges, high schools, SEPTAs and local organizations.
On a personal note, Samantha is the proud mother of two children, and enjoys spending her free time at the beach, gardening, jogging outdoors or taking HIIT classes, and listening to a variety of genres of music, everything from indie to EDM.
Casey is responsible for analyzing organizational processes with a focus on improving the quality, productivity and efficiency of internal systems.
Casey graduated from Lafayette College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in both Government and Law and Economics, with a minor in Africana Studies. Since high school, Casey has worked with students who learn differently. He joined the New Frontiers team in the Spring of 2013, providing academic and social supports as a part-time coach to clients with diverse learning needs. Casey has played many roles at New Frontiers, both on the administrative and service-delivery sides, serving first as a Coordinator and currently as Operations Manager. Casey believes that there is no single approach to education, and that an individualized and personal approach is necessary to help people reach their potential. Casey has obtained Executive Function coaching certificates from courses with Peg Dawson and Lynda Geller, and also attends yearly conferences, such as Lynn Meltzer’s ILD Conference, to continually develop as a professional.
Casey enjoys any and all opportunities to laugh, whether it be with friends or his animals.
Victoria oversees the admissions process for families and clients, assessing individual needs and outlining goals and coaching plans.
Victoria graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from Syracuse University and continued her education earning a Master’s Degree from Academy of Art University in Interior Architecture and Design focusing in inclusive design. Victoria has worked with students in many capacities and varying abilities since high school and carried those passions into various roles in education and mental health. Victoria strives to help all families in need to realize their potential regardless of their learning differences and abilities. She firmly believes that everyone is able to find success in their own way and aims to offer them the guidance that they need to get there. Victoria holds true to the idea that everyone is different, learns differently, feels differently, and finds happiness differently and knowing this as a coach, mentor and friend can help to find the greatest success for any individual.
On a personal note, Victoria loves playing sports, Rugby being her favorite. She loves painting and drawing, crafts, and lives to host. In her free time she loves to design and create anything and everything.
Alissa works closely with both our admissions and services teams to help ensure the smoothest transition for new clients to receive coaching supports. She meets with prospective clients to develop coaching plans that fit their needs, and then matches them with appropriate coaches. Alissa helps establish a smooth transition to coaching to set up pathways to growth and change.
Alissa graduated from The College of New Jersey with Master of Arts in Teaching in the field of Special Education with a concentration in Emotional and Behavioral Challenges. Her graduate work took her to the Espoo International School in Finland to explore inquiry-based learning and student-centered approaches to teaching students of all abilities. As a certified Special Education teacher in the state of New Jersey, she has had many experiences in a wide variety of classrooms and is deeply dedicated to educating through the fostering of resilience. Realizing that there are many unexplained expectations students are held accountable for, Alissa left the traditional classroom to teach generalizable and cross-contextual skills for sustainable success. As a social coach, Alissa emboldens students to navigate the interactions they want to have while challenging themselves. Encouraging self-advocacy skills is the root of her practice and she teaches tools and strategies with each individual student in mind. While her work is generally focused on social skills, she believes that academic performance is informed by abilities to navigate the “unwritten curriculum” of society. In order to meet educational aspirations, one must feel confident in their interactions with others!
When not onboarding clients and coaches, Alissa can be found scouring the internet for cheap flights, reading anything she can get her hands on, and debating how many cups of tea is too many for the day. Her happy place is the group of nine rooms that make up The Annenberg Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
As one of the Coordinators, Patrick works with families and clients to help support New Frontiers’ mission.
Patrick is a graduate of the Macaulay Honors College at the College of Staten Island (CUNY) and Adelphi University’s Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program. He has an acute knowledge and interest in the art of writing, critical thinking, executive functions, and reading comprehension skills across all subjects. Before joining the New Frontiers team, Patrick tutored a diverse array of students in a broad range of majors, at Adelphi University’s Learning and Writing Center, including students in Adelphi’s Bridges Program. Since joining the New Frontiers team in 2016, Patrick has both directly worked with and overseen the supports of over 150 students and clients with various learning differences.
Patrick enjoys writing poetry, taking photographs of local Long Island parks and natural areas, gardening, playing basketball, and going to the beach in Cape May, New Jersey in the summertime. He has been to over 50 Bruce Springsteen concerts in his lifetime, has read every one of Kurt Vonnegut’s novels, can identify many of the tree species’ of eastern North America, and has traveled to Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, and Russia.
As the Services Coordinator, Lana oversees all service delivery, helping to guarantee the highest quality supports offered to all clients. In her role, she is supporting other coordinators to continue to develop our coaches’ skillsets, gain feedback from our clients, and continually better our service offerings.
Lana is a New York dual licensed Childhood (birth-grade 6) General and Special Education Teacher. She earned her Masters of Science in Education in General and Special Education from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College. Lana has over 12 years of experience teaching, mentoring and impacting students with different needs. She has dedicated her career to working in private and public schools, agencies, as well as home based intervention sites throughout NYC. She has experience in teaching students from Pre-K to 12th grade in a variety of academic subjects. Teaching comes naturally and gives Lana a deep sense of personal satisfaction. She demonstrates attentiveness, creativity and thoroughness to the unique and individual needs of the clients in her care. Additionally, Lana consistently seeks out to better inform her teaching practices, and focuses on providing the best possible support for her clients.
Outside of the office, Lana is committed to self-development. She speaks fluent Russian and is always looking to brush up her language skills with her family and friends over coffee or sushi. She lives a sweaty life, exploring local bike and running paths and enjoys being part of the CrossFit community.
Denise wears several hats at New Frontiers and enjoys the variety of interactions each position affords her.
Denise graduated from St. Francis College (University of St. Francis) in Ft. Wayne, Indiana with a degree in Special Education K-12. She majored in Learning Disabilities and minored in Students with Disabilities. She has been in the field of Education for 34+years and has supported students and families as a teacher, a consultant, a behaviorist, an academic and athletic coach, a parent trainer, a friend and a colleague. Denise has been trained in and trained others in the methodologies of Applied Behavioral Analysis and Verbal Behaviors. She has also been certified in Crisis Prevention and Intervention and Child Abuse Recognition and Prevention.
Denise has presented in workshops and professional development seminars for Administrators, teaching staff, counselors and families in various educational settings and local organizations. She happily uses all these skills supporting those in need at New Frontiers.
On a personal note, Denise is the mother of 2, and loves to garden and relax at the beach. She enjoys exercise, travel, music, cars/driving, social media and is currently addicted to Tic Tok. In her spare time, she can be found happily encouraging others to fulfill their potential.
As a Supervising Coordinator, Lesley works with families and coaches to help support New Frontiers’ clients, providing coaching as well.
Lesley graduated with an MAT from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a certified teacher and ADHD educator who has nearly 15 years of experience teaching at the secondary and post-secondary levels. She has also worked as a professional development specialist and teacher coach, and she currently sits on the Board of Trustees at the Montclair Cooperative School.
Lesley is the mom of two school-aged boys, one third grader and one fifth grader, both whom are identified as twice exceptional. In her spare time, Lesley enjoys reading, spending time with her family and friends, being active (running, hiking, skiing, weight training, yoga) and (endlessly) walking her two-year old, highly energetic, long- haired Jack Russell Terrier, Belle.
As one of the Coordinators, Colleen works with families and clients to help support New Frontiers’ mission.
Colleen graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Honors College at Dowling College with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and received her Master of Science in Special Education (grade 7-12) from Dowling College. She also holds an Advanced Certificate in Computers in Education. Colleen has over 14 years of experience working with students with various learning needs and styles. She has experience in instructing students in many academic subject areas as well as working with college level and professional individuals. Her expertise in the area of Special Education allows her to tailor and individualize coaching strategies to meet the needs of the client so they can gain the necessary skills needed to be successful.
Colleen enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors, sitting around a fire pit, and playing with her pets. She knits adult chemo caps for local cancer centers. She also enjoys live music and going to the theatre.
In the role as the Adult Services Coordinator, Zoe has touchpoints with adult clients throughout the whole coaching process from onboarding to coaching.
Zoe has had a diversified work experience in both leadership and support roles, working for well-known companies such as British Airways and JP Morgan. She grew up in London, England where her studies focused on English and Sociology. After working as an executive sales manager at British Airways, a network technician at JP Morgan, a paralegal for an in-house legal team and becoming an entrepreneur she found the perfect place to use all her skills and experience – coaching. Her first step was to be certified through International Coaching Federation. She adds her certification as a Life Coach to her many other certifications: Couple Communication Coach, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (M.C.S.E), Paralegal, and Empowering Women. Over the years Zoe has supported individuals, couples, small groups, families and small business owners through a multitude of personal and professional situations. Her philosophy is that there is always hope and there is always a pathway to achieving a goal, no matter how great the obstacles may seem. With a belief in service and giving back to the community through volunteering as a coach at a facility that empowers women who have been incarcerated and abused alcohol and drugs, Zoe’s goal for her clients is to help them become who they want most to be and achieve even their smallest of goals.
On a personal note, Zoe has traveled the world while she worked both in London and New York for British Airways. Her travel highlight was to experience a round-trip transatlantic flight on the Concorde. What she loves most is connecting with friends and family in conversation. Her ways to energize are kayaking, playing tennis, taking on new adventures, sitting in silent meditation and talking to her coach. These activities bring her back to a balanced state of being, mentally, emotionally and physically. Being in a balanced state helps her to make good decisions along her own life journey.
Michael Morgan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in environmental sciences and policy at Northwestern University. Following his dad’s passing of cancer, Michael stopped pursuing a legal career in favor of art and art education. He began working at the New York Academy of Art, where he served as Director of Students for three years. Michael has recently completed a fine arts degree at Columbia University, where he was also a researcher and graphic designer for the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, a joint research center between Columbia Law School and the Earth Institute. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Columbia and was initiated into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Morgan was a finalist for the 2020 Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics for his writings on environmental theory and environmental art. He has also completed coursework at New York University, University College London, and the New York Academy of Art.
Michael’s multifaceted background in environmental sciences and fine arts allows him to advise students considering STEAM programs, multiple or diverse disciplines, and is also a reflection of his ability to work within disparate academic fields. The insight he gained from varied college experiences could help students as they search for a school that suits their specific needs or for those who are considering changing careers. His passion is helping students pursue their path through college admissions or career counseling.
Michael has been with New Frontiers since 2019 where he has helped students foster skills necessary for excelling in college and beyond. As a coach, Michael provides content support, development of organizational and study strategies, and an accountability structure for pursuing individualized academic and executive functioning goals.
Marissa graduated with a MA from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Her past work experience has included working with infants, youth and adults. She has helped families advocate in the school systems and for entitled services.
She is a certified mediator, has developed and taught parent education workshops and has sat on various development committees and boards.
Her motto is to work with families at where they are. Marissa enjoys working on executive functioning skills and helping students get organized.
On a personal note, Marissa lives in upstate NY with her husband. They own and run multiple after-school enrichment programs. She has two amazing, fun, active boys, two birds, an Eastern Painted turtle and fish. She has a great passion for all animals.
Jessica graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Ashford University and continued with her education completing a Master’s Degree from Northcentral University in Forensic Psychology. Jessica has worked with individuals in many areas of mental health in a variety of roles since High School. Jessica has also participated in different awareness projects for sexual assault and mental health beginning in college. Jessica focuses on the importance of helping everyone find and complete their goals based on their needs and wants. Jessica believes that everyone is capable of finding happiness and succeeding in their own way, it is just a matter of finding the right methods and skills for each person.
On a personal note, Jessica loves spending time with her family, including two young sons. Jessica spends a lot of time outdoors and playing sports, including rugby, roller derby, and ice hockey.
Elisa Butrym is an Executive Life Coach trained at The Life Coach School and is an alumnus of the Neuroscience for Business Executive Program at MIT Sloan School of Management. She works with corporate executives, entrepreneurs and creative artists struggling with perfectionist tendencies such as overthinking, procrastination and overwhelm. As a former media marketing professional juggling a full-time job and a full-time family, she understands that time management really means knowing how to manage your mind and energy. With that, she also teaches her clients techniques for how to focus better, limit procrastination, manage discomfort and achieve good sleep hygiene to feel more energized and productive.
Offering a combination of mindset work, science-based protocols and self-directed behavioral modification practices, Elisa aims to help her clients succeed in finding the right strategies that empower them to reach their goals with genuine self-trust and confidence.
Elisa was born and raised in New York City and is the daughter of Costa Rican and Chilean immigrants. She is married, speaks fluent Spanish and, when she is not coaching or chasing her two kids, she is writing or working out at CrossFit for fun!
As a Supervising Coordinator, Lindsay works with families and coaches to help support New Frontier’s clients while providing direct client coaching as well.
Lindsay graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor in Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. She then received her Master’s Degree from Towson University. She has a wealth of experience in executive functioning skills and has certificates in trainings from professionals like Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC-SLP. She joined the New Frontiers team in 2020, providing academic and life skills support as a part-time coach to clients with a variety of learning needs. She has coached clients in planning, prioritizing, scheduling, task initiation, sustaining focus, project management, balancing work and home responsibilities, and much more. She believes that each client is different and learns differently as well. With each and every client and family, Lindsay strives to help everyone reach their full potential.
Lindsay is married and is the mom of a four-year-old daughter, who keeps her very busy. She also has a new mini-goldendoodle puppy, named Dunkin, who is full of energy! In her free time, Lindsay enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going to the beach, hiking, traveling, and trying new restaurants!
One-to-one coaching sessions follow a set but flexible as-needed schedule developed collaboratively between the client and coach. Clients have the option of utilizing one of our offices or sessions can be provided at work, home, school, somewhere in between or virtually.