Welcome To Tutoring Club

Michelle is the Owner and Director of Tutoring Club of McLean-and affectionately known around the center as the OG Michelle. A Southern California native, she earned her degree from California State University, Long Beach and moved to Northern Virginia where she eventually brought Tutoring Club to the DC metro area. Blending national curriculum excellence with a deeply personalized, community-rooted approach to student growth, Michelle takes a personal interest in each child she meets.

With nearly two decades of experience in education leadership, Michelle continues to lead with vision, heart, and high standards-mentoring her leadership and education team, guiding center strategy, and ensuring every student and family receives the care and customization they deserve. Collectively, the TCM team has succeeded in providing an environment where children succeed and where learning is fun.

Michelle has always had a passion for helping people overcome their obstacles and achieve their best. Throughout the years, she has motivated students, friends, family members, and associates of all ages to do so and feels no greater reward than helping others realize their goals. She is a strong believer in strengthening her community and giving back, and she believes we can all make a difference in the world in which we live.

“I have always wanted to build a business that strengthened my community, ever since I wrote my first business plan when I was in the fourth grade,” she says. That original plan has been preserved over the years and now hangs, framed, in the Tutoring Club’s office-a daily reminder of the mission and values that still guide her work today.

Contact Michelle at McLeanVA@TutoringClub.com.

Originally from the DMV area, Michael “Mr. D” Doerfler brings a unique blend of educational leadership, business expertise, and creative experience to Tutoring Club of McLean. He earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix and his M.Ed. from National University, combining strong operational knowledge with a deep commitment to student success. Before entering education, Michael enjoyed a career in entertainment, performing and managing productions around the world before spending six years as a headliner on the Las Vegas Strip. He also held leadership roles with major organizations, including The Walt Disney Company. After a successful career in entertainment and operations leadership, Michael followed his passion for working with children and spent a decade teaching elementary school with the Clark County School District, where he received nine nominations for the Heart of Education Award. Now serving as Assistant Enrollment Director, he is passionate about helping students build confidence, achieve their goals, and develop a lifelong love of learning while fostering strong partnerships with families and the community. In his spare time, Mr. D enjoys writing books and shows, working out, and traveling.

Contact Mr. D. at McLeanDirector@TutoringClub.com.

Originally from the St. Louis area, Ryan graduated from McKendree University in 2020 with a BA in Socio-Political History. After college, he began his career in educational leadership as an Assistant Center Director at a national learning organization. Ryan is passionate about helping students reach their full potential and fostering a love of lifelong learning. Outside the center, Ryan is an experienced soccer referee at various levels-from local high school matches to NCAA Division I games. He’s especially proud of launching a mentorship program to support new referees in a local rec league. Ryan relocated to the DC area in September 2025 with his fiancée, who works in the U.S. Senate. Together, they’re excited to get to know the community and its students. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys woodworking and pen turning, reading, and staying active.

Contact Ryan at AcademicCoachNVA1@TutoringClub.com.

Amber enjoys helping students meet their goals through thoughtful work and careful planning. She loves the idealism that students bring with them, and she helps students by celebrating successes and brainstorming through difficulties. Relentless optimism, high standards, and knowledge of options are key to her student-centered approach. Originally from Florida, Amber earned her BA in English from the University of Florida. After a year working with AmeriCorps in North Carolina, she went on to earn her MA in English from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. She taught first-year writing at UMass Boston and then went on to complete her Ph.D. in English at George Washington University, where she focused on Victorian literature of the working classes. Between teaching writing and literature and advising, Amber has worked with college students for more than a decade. In her free time, Amber enjoys running, reading, and spending time with her family, including two young children (who help keep her running!).

Contact Amber at AmberCV@TutoringClub.com.

Harrison graduated from University of Maryland, College Park in 2019 with a degree in Biochemistry. While there, he spent time as a research assistant and as a math and science tutor to students K-12. After graduation, Harrison worked at the NIH in Bethesda aiding with COVID and Tuberculosis research on mice and monkeys, but found that his true passion was working with students. He is excited to return to tutoring and works with students needing assistance in math, science, ACT/SAT/AP exam prep, reading, and writing. When not working with students, you can find Harrison cheering for the Yankees, enjoying some pizza, or hiking the local trails.

Laura graduated from American University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a minor in Psychology. Growing up in Vienna, Austria, and later moving back to McLean, VA, Laura attended McLean High School where she was on the leadership team of the National Honor Society. Her love for working with and teaching kids stemmed from a young age. Throughout high school, she worked as an assistant at the Sunday School at Temple Rodef Shalom and later worked as a Head Counselor for several years. When she’s not working, you can find her hanging out with friends, trying new restaurants, and traveling!

Contact Laura at SchedulingNVA@TutoringClub.com.

Anne grew up in Arlington, Virginia, and graduated from the Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Maryland. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics while making the Dean’s List and later completed her MBA at Cornell University as both a Forté Fellow and Roma Scholar. For the past decade, Anne has worked as a Data Scientist in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence defense startups, applying her strong analytical and problem-solving skills to complex challenges. Anne enjoys helping students build confidence in mathematics and critical thinking and has quickly become a favorite among many of her students. Outside the center, she enjoys spending time with her pet bunny, working out, and playing video games.

Bill’s life has been focused on teaching and writing. He earned his BA in Philosophy with a minor in Mathematics and English at the University of Illinois, and both his M.Sc. in History and Philosophy of Science and his Ph.D. in Philosophy at the London School of Economics, under the late, great Sir Karl Popper. He taught at the college-level for five years, and then became a homemaker, raising his three children while his wife was a World Bank economist. In 1994, he started the Jewish Institute for Youth & Family, where he taught in religious schools, and developed and published materials on Jewish values for use in his teachings to middle and high schoolers. Bill has also written three published books and countless articles, and has designed a font for sale on Font Bureau. Bill loves to teach and to write and looks forward to making a difference in his students’ academic journeys.

Originally from Tennessee with strong family roots in Mississippi, Brianna holds a master’s degree in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in Biology with a Chemistry minor from the University of Memphis. She brings a blend of Southern warmth and a deep passion for the health sciences to every tutoring session. As a former chemistry lab teaching assistant and an aspiring physician, Brianna understands the challenges students face when learning STEM subjects and is dedicated to making science engaging, approachable, and confidence-boosting. Outside the center, she enjoys hiking, biking, working out, traveling, and getting lost in a good book. Brianna is excited to share her love of learning and support students in reaching their full academic potential.

Originally from Northern Virginia, Elspeth (who goes by Elle) has called NoVA home since the age of nine, with time spent living both inside and outside the Beltway-as well as three years in Southern California while attending a Claremont college. She got her start tutoring local students while in high school in Fairfax County and has continued to enjoy working with children of all ages. Before joining the team, Elle worked as a front desk and administrative assistant at a family medical practice, where she supported families and young patients-from newborns to teens. Elle brings warmth, energy, and a love of connection to her work with students. Outside the center, she enjoys exploring her favorite social media site, Recess Therapy, and spending time with family and friends.

For years, Joe has held a deep fascination for social studies. This inspired him to pursue a degree in anthropology, a pursuit that he followed at James Madison University for his undergraduate degree. A Northern Virginia native, Joe grew up in Vienna, VA and went to Madison High School where he participated in his school’s varsity crew team. He is currently pursuing his graduate degree at University of Maryland Baltimore County Graduate School. While in school, Joe worked a variety of fun summer jobs – as a sports videographer, as a mascot for Wolf Trap National Park of the Performing Arts, and as an associate at the Vienna Woods Swim and Tennis Club, to name a few. He found his joy for teaching others when he became a student teaching assistant while at JMU. In his spare time, Joe enjoys taking care of his dog, Onyx, and playing video games.

Karlos is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Secondary Education at George Mason University. A military brat who grew up in various parts of the country, he considers both California and North Carolina home. Karlos began his journey as an educator during his freshman year of college as an AVID tutor for Fairfax County Public Schools, and he currently serves as a substitute teacher for FCPS. Before joining our team, he worked as a shift supervisor at the Starbucks next door, where he developed strong leadership and communication skills. In his free time, Karlos enjoys video games, movies, and reading-and is always happy to chat about any of these interests. He’s excited to continue growing as an educator and collaborating with his peers.

Kevin is a passionate educator and Computer Science student at George Mason University, where he also serves as a teaching assistant for a mathematics course. Known for his patient, structured, and encouraging teaching style, Kevin enjoys helping students build confidence by making complex concepts feel clear and approachable. He has led review sessions, taught at summer camps, and supported learners from elementary school through college. Outside the classroom, Kevin enjoys traveling-his recent adventures took him to Turkey and Greece-and he loves painting and playing soccer.

Originally from California, Michelle earned her B.S. in Physics from the University of California, Irvine. Her curiosity and love of learning have led her through an impressive range of scientific adventures-from assisting in a microbiology lab, to operating a camera aboard NASA’s Perseverance rover, to testing products for RF emission compliance. She rediscovered her passion for education while serving as a teaching assistant in the University of Washington’s Department of Physics, where she loved making science accessible and exciting for students. Now a tutor at our center (and affectionately known as “the other Michelle”-though she shares a SoCal science connection with our founder!), she brings that same spark to every session. Her favorite place she’s lived is San Diego-coincidentally, also the OG Michelle’s hometown-and outside of tutoring, she enjoys walking, snapping amateur landscape photos, and trying out new recipes.

Writesh grew up in Arlington, VA, where he graduated from Yorktown High School. Over the past eight years, Writesh has worked as a math tutor. The most rewarding part of tutoring for him is when students come back and tell him that what he taught them has made a difference in their lives. Writesh earned his Associates in Computer Science from NOVA and is currently enrolled at George Mason University working towards his Bachelors in Computer Science. When Writesh is not at work or at school, he loves playing Dungeons and Dragons, reading fantasy novels, or watching and sometimes even performing stand up comedy.

Zunayeed holds two Master’s degrees-one in Electrical Engineering and another in Computer Engineering-from SUNY Buffalo and George Mason University. He graduated magna cum laude with his Bachelor’s and brings several years of teaching experience to the team. Zunayeed’s passion for education is rooted in his curiosity for learning, his desire to connect with others, and his commitment to sharing knowledge to help students grow and succeed. He enjoys understanding different perspectives and fostering a sense of community through education.