Our People

Meet the Navigators Connecting Healthcare and Education

Our team brings years of experience in teaching, instructional leadership, special education, and family support.

December 5, 2023
By EdNavigator

In 2023, EdNavigator began working exclusively with pediatric healthcare providers to reach communities most in need of education support. Now, our team of Navigators serves families in Massachusetts, California, and Washington, D.C. and Maryland, through referrals from their pediatricians.

When a healthcare provider identifies a family facing a challenge related to school enrollment, the special education process, or accessing other in-school support services for their child, they’ll refer the family to our team. The family doesn’t have to do anything except answer the phone: a Navigator will call them directly, communicating in the family’s primary language (our team is fluent in Spanish, and will use interpretation services as needed to support other languages). Navigators ask questions, listen to the family’s concerns, and work with the family to make a plan for how we can help.

Meet the people behind the navigation:

Victoria Paulino (Director of Navigation)

Victoria is a former middle school teacher who joined EdNavigator in 2018. In 2021, Victoria spearheaded our pilot partnership with East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, and she has been leading our pediatric navigation services ever since.

“For a lot of families, if they speak a language other than English, they are not getting the information they need to make informed decisions about their children’s services. That’s a problem. If you don’t know what supports your child is receiving or could be receiving, you don’t even know what to advocate for. Our real work is about connecting the dots.”

Marina Capetillo

Marina began her education career in Early Intervention and taught special education in New York City for five years. After relocating to Los Angeles, Marina spent seven years as an inclusion teacher and Special Education Department Chair. Marina joined EdNavigator in 2024.

“After many years in special education, I witnessed how overwhelmed the education system can be and how difficult it is for schools to communicate effectively with families. Many children came to me with plans that didn’t fully address their needs, often because their parents weren’t equipped with the tools or knowledge to advocate for them. As someone who grew up as an English learner and faced the challenges of a learning disability, I understand how these gaps in the system can shape a child’s future. I am committed to bridging these gaps by collaborating with schools to improve communication and empowering families to advocate for their children. My goal is to ensure that every child receives the support they need to succeed.”

Gabriela Corsa (Lead Navigator)

Gabriela began her teaching career as a special education and mathematics teacher in Colorado, and also taught visual arts for grades kindergarten through fifth in Florida. She joined EdNavigator in 2022.

“Too often, schools don't see parents as partners—and parents feel like they are unable to break the barrier to act as such. As Navigators, our role is to help parents understand their rights and aid in the communication—and often relationship-building—between families and school. I think we can help schools recognize the challenges our parents face, and also help parents understand that school staff are stretched thin and in crisis. If we can work toward encouraging empathy and communication, I think it would build a lot of trust between schools and families.”

Melissa Faz

Melissa comes to EdNavigator from Texas, where she most recently served as an elementary school guidance counselor and supported the creation of a Spanish-language counseling curriculum for the entire school district. Prior to that, Melissa led her school’s special education department and taught K-5 reading, writing, and math in English and Spanish. Melissa joined EdNavigator in 2024.

“The most exciting part of being a Navigator is knowing that I’m helping create positive change in the lives of families. For many, navigating the education system—especially aspects like special education processes, 504 plans, or enrollment—can feel overwhelming and confusing. That’s why it’s so fulfilling to hear from families who feel more empowered and knowledgeable about their child’s education after working with me. Seeing their confidence grow is truly inspiring and motivates me to continue this important work.”

Alex Gordon (Lead Navigator)

Alex taught middle school life skills for self-contained special education classrooms and coached Special Olympics teams. He also has experience working as an Early Intervention Specialist and leading special education teams to ensure documentation and supports are in compliance. Alex joined the EdNavigator team in 2023.

“Through my work with students with significant special needs, I’ve always had a closer connection with families than other teachers might, and I love that. You’re working as a team. I love being able to advocate for students, and work with parents who might not know anything about how the education system works. We’re not here to just point out what’s not working for students—we’re actually here to empower parents to help their children do better.”

Azucena Larkin

Azucena is an award-winning middle school special educator based in Redlands, California. Most recently, Azucena served as the specialized support teacher at Heritage Middle School in San Antonio, Texas, where she also mentored new teachers, coached track and field, and was named the 2022-23 Teacher of the Year. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and supported families as a Spanish language interpreter during admission, review, and dismissal meetings. Azucena joined EdNavigator in 2024.

“I'm passionate about helping families navigate the education system and ensuring they are fully informed about the options available to them when they have academic concerns. I’m excited to empower parents to make the best decisions for their children by providing clear, accessible information in their native language. It’s incredibly fulfilling to support families as they advocate for their child's success and help them feel confident in the choices they make.”

Ashly Marmol

Before joining EdNavigator in 2023, Ashly served as the Special Education Coordinator at a middle school in Silver Spring, MD, where she managed both the inclusion program and the self-contained school community-based program. Prior to that, she taught middle school special education math. Before teaching, Ashly worked as a Foster Care Case Planner in New York City, supporting families and foster parents in navigating the foster care system. She also has experience working as a Teaching Assistant and Behavior Technician for an Early Intervention Center, and providing in-home Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for children ages 5-12.

“The biggest challenge we’re facing is addressing families’ educational needs despite the systemic barriers in education. Ongoing changes in the education system have added complexity to devising the best strategies for our families, and many of them face additional daily challenges, further complicating the situation. My goal is to always make sure our families feel empowered and supported throughout every single step of the process.”

Daniela Melo

Daniela has over a decade of experience working as a special educator, bilingual educator and instructional leader. At KIPP Austin in Austin, Texas, she launched a first-in-the-region self-contained bilingual program for elementary students with low-incidence disabilities, as well as a structured classroom for students with profound autism and significant cognitive disabilities. Daniela joined EdNavigator in 2024.

“Parenting is tough, and understanding the complexities of the school system—especially special education laws, jargon, and intricate timelines—can add even more stress. Many families may be unaware of essential services that could greatly improve their lives and the lives of their children.I’m passionate about helping families by "translating" the complicated language and systems of education into clear, actionable steps. My goal is to relieve some of that burden and ensure families don't miss out on the support and resources their children need to thrive.”

Isabel Romero

Isabel has held positions as a special educator, early intervention developmental specialist and consultant, and evaluation team leader in Massachusetts, where she is originally from. Most recently she provided training and professional development coordination for the early intervention program at UFHealth, the University of Florida health system. Isabel joined EdNavigator in 2023.

“There’s a real urgent need for effective communication and partnership between families and schools. The best outcomes occur when everyone is working together as a team. It’s our shared responsibility to increase family engagement—to make sure parents understand their rights and feel empowered to participate in their child’s education, and also for schools to make sure parents feel welcomed and that information about their children is accessible for them.”

Ivette Rubio

Ivette began her teaching career as a middle school science teacher in inclusion settings in Boston, Massachusetts. Her passion for educational justice is exemplified by her 13+ years of experience in various roles as an educator, program coordinator, activist and organizer within schools, community programs, and the education policy and non-profit sectors in Boston and Southern California. Ivette joined EdNavigator in 2021.

“This work is personal for me in some ways, because my parents were immigrants, and my mom grew up in a school system where her parents didn’t speak the language. It’s an emotional thing, to be able to help families whose experiences are similar to my family’s experiences, and to help build that bridge. There are a lot of people in schools doing their best on behalf of children. And families are doing their best, too—they have a clear vision of what they want for their kids and they are doing everything in their power to get that. But when so much of the process is new, especially for families who are new to the country, even when everything does get translated, it isn’t enough to make sure families fully understand what’s going on. We need more checks for understanding in the process to make sure families have a chance to ask all their questions.”