Dogwood Tutoring and Test Prep in Sandy Springs was founded in 2011 by Ivan Mervis. He began as a franchisee of Chyten Educational Services. In 2015 the Chyten Sandy Springs tutoring center began operating independently as Dogwood Tutoring. Since Ivan retired in early 2025, Elma Kajtaz and Mitchell Reed own and manage the business.
Elma grew up in Bosnia and earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Sarajevo. She came to the U.S. and earned her PhD in Quantitative Biosciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Throughout her graduate studies, she actively tutored and mentored K-12 students across Atlanta. After completing a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Louisville, Elma worked as a Senior Data Scientist at CVS and Deloitte Consulting. She is thrilled to return to education and help Dogwood’s students excel academically and prepare for their future careers.
Mitch grew up in St. Louis and earned his Bachelor’s and PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where he also completed a Scientific Teaching and Outreach certificate, gaining formal training and experience in STEM education. During his postdoctoral research at the University of Louisville, he met Elma, and their shared passion for science, education, and mentorship began. Mitch served as an Active-Duty Scientist (Physiologist) in the U.S. Navy and continues to serve as a Senior Scientist with the U.S. Public Health Service.
The proud parents of a young son, Elma and Mitch are committed to providing high-quality tutoring services to North Atlanta families and making positive contributions to the local community.