No-Cost Early Head Start. Enroll Now
Contact Us
Donate
  • LAEP Blog, News & Stories

LAEP’s Paul Gavini Honored with Rialto USD “Key to the District”

25 Years, One Key, and a Wagon Full of Candy: The Legacy of Paul Gavini

For over a quarter-century, Paul Gavini has been a cornerstone of the LAEP family. While his impact has long been felt within our halls, the last few years have brought a well-deserved wave of public recognition for a man who usually prefers to work behind the scenes.

Paul Gavini received the prestigious Key to the District from Board of Education Member Dr. Stephanie E. Lewis on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at Rialto Unified School District Board of Education meeting.

Following his 2024 Emerald Loyalty Award—presented during LAEP’s 40th Anniversary—Paul’s legacy of service reached a new milestone this month. The Rialto Unified School District Board of Education bestowed upon him their highest honor: the Key to the District.

A Steady Presence Rialto USD describes Paul as a “servant parent leader” who is the first to arrive and the last to leave. Whether he is setting up for a Family Summit or cheering from the sidelines, Paul’s impact as a Family and Community Engagement (FACE) leader is felt by every student, not just his own children. He is the bridge between the home and the classroom.

The “Candy Wagon” Tradition While the world sees a dedicated advocate, we at LAEP also know Paul as the man with the wagon. In the often-challenging world of nonprofit work, the social climate can get heavy. Paul has a legendary way of lightening the load: he loads up his cart with chocolate, lollipops, candy bars, and more and visits every desk, tempting colleagues with his sweet treats and a much-needed laugh. It’s a small gesture that speaks to a larger truth—Paul cares about the people behind the work as much as the work itself.

Leading Through Humility Upon receiving the Key to the District, Paul characteristically redirected the praise: “This award belongs to you as much as it belongs to me. It motivates me. It reminds me why I care so deeply about the work we are doing here.”

Paul Gavini doesn’t just “provide support”—he embodies it. From his 25-year tenure to this latest honor, he remains a testament to what steadfast commitment looks like in action.

Congratulations, Paul! We’ll see you (and your candy wagon) in the office.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Support the holistic, diapers-to-diplomas approach to liberatory education.
Volunteer
Collaborate With Us
Donate

Melissa Peña

Chief Program Officer

Melissa Peña serves as the Chief Program Officer at the Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP), bringing more than two decades of experience advancing educational equity, youth development, and community-centered systems change. A mission-driven and strategic leader, she has dedicated her career to eliminating barriers to learning and seeking equitable outcomes for historically underserved youth. Prior to joining LAEP, Melissa spent over 14 years at Green Dot Public Schools where she launched and scaled high-impact initiatives that reduced chronic absenteeism by 27%, expanded access to wellness services, and built network-wide support systems for more than 600 homeless and foster youth across 18 schools. Her leadership is rooted in both entrepreneurial vision and disciplined execution—designing programs, teams, and infrastructure that strengthen outcomes for students while supporting the adults who serve them. 

Melissa’s commitment to equity has shaped her work across roles in education, youth development, and human services, including senior leadership positions at The Door in New York City and national diversity recruitment efforts at Teach For America. She began her career as a fourth-grade teacher in Newark, New Jersey, a formative experience that continues to ground her belief that the key to ensuring every young person meets their full potential lies in the power of family–school–community partnerships. At LAEP, Melissa leads program strategy with empathy, clarity, and a deep belief that children thrive when systems work together from “diapers to diplomas.” She holds a Master’s in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara. Outside of work, she enjoys researching her family history, exploring nature, and family movie nights with her husband and two children. 

LaCora Stephens

Marketing and Communications

LaCora is a seasoned communications professional with a passion for using multimedia storytelling to empower movements for social justice and equality. For over 13 years, she has honed her skills as a versatile multimedia director, overseeing media operations across diverse organizations, including the NAACP Beverly Hills-Hollywood Branch and The Shirley Chisholm Education Foundation. Her deep understanding of the education and equity landscape fuels her creative vision, allowing her to craft impactful narratives that resonate with audiences.

With strategic communication​ and collaboration, LaCora excels in developing and executing compelling​ multimedia campaigns that not only raise​ awareness of critical issues but also​ inspire action and drive meaningful change. Her proficiency in concept​ development, production execution, and​ team leadership ensures projects are​ delivered with exceptional quality. Furthermore, LaCora fosters strong​ relationships with internal and external​ stakeholders, cultivating partnerships​ that maximize campaign reach and impact.

LaCora's educational foundation began with a Bachelor of Science in Theatre Education from Florida A&M University. She then pursued a master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Alliant University of San Diego. This passion for storytelling, fueled by her background in education, translates to her belief in the power of shared narratives. Her work in this area was recognized through her selection as a Women in Film Mentee and film director for Viola Davis’ sponsored film showcase, Diversity in Cannes. Now, LaCora leverages her love of storytelling and commitment to educational equity in her role leading marketing and communications for Los Angeles Education Partnership, while also serving on the board of the Pasadena African American Film Foundation.

Eric Barela, Ph.D.

Senior Consultant, Raya Cooper Impact Consulting

Dr. Eric Barela has worked as a measurement & evaluation professional for over 2 decades, helping organizations to better understand and act on their social impact. He’s currently a Senior Consultant with Raya Cooper Impact Consulting and previously worked at Salesforce, where he led efforts to measure the social impact of the company’s work with nonprofits and educational institutions across the globe. He began his career working with the Los Angeles Unified School District and with the nonprofit, Partners in School Innovation. Eric previously served on the Board of the American Evaluation Association and currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of the American Journal of Evaluation.

Eric grew up in East LA and was educated in the Montebello Unified School District. He holds a Ph.D. in education from UCLA. He loves a good road trip, with his husband serving as trusty navigator.