Empowering Families' Journeys

Experts

Meet Our Team

Our Founders: Expert Guidance, Compassionate Support

At NeuroNavigators, we are guided by a unique partnership that brings together the compassionate, holistic perspective of a nurse and the insightful, structured guidance of an educator.  

​​

Grounding their professional expertise is a shared personal understanding: Mary and Briegel are both mothers of three children. This firsthand experience shapes every aspect of their approach, ensuring that the strategies and support they provide are not just evidence-based, but also practical, empathetic, and genuinely achievable within the beautiful chaos of family life.

Mary H. Stone, M.S.N., F.N.P. - Care Coordinator & Co-Founder

Mary brings a wealth of experience in patient care, family support, and healthcare leadership to NeuroNavigators. Her background in nursing and psychology provides a deep understanding of the holistic needs of families facing new diagnoses. She is dedicated to offering compassionate guidance and ensuring families feel supported in every aspect of their child's well-being.

Key Credentials:

• Master of Science in Nursing from George Washington University, specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

• Bachelor's degrees in both Nursing from Louisiana State University and in Psychology and Creative Writing from Stanford University.

• Extensive Clinical Experience as a Family Nurse Practitioner providing acute and palliative care services for patients with complex, end-stage diseases in both home and hospital settings.

• Leadership Experience as a Clinical Director at Aspire Healthcare, where she oversaw a team of 25 nurse practitioners and supported families across the Texas and Louisiana markets.

• Philanthropic Experience providing nutritional programming for underprivileged youth at Operation Hope in Cambodia.

• Healthcare Policy Experience as a Legislative Aide for Health in the Office of Senator Lindsey O. Graham.

Mary’s strength lies in her ability to translate the complexities of a new diagnosis into a clear and manageable path forward for families. Drawing on her extensive background as a Family Nurse Practitioner and her studies in psychology, she is adept at developing holistic support plans that consider a child’s emotional well-being and daily routines from a whole-family perspective.

​

Briegel Payne, Ed.D. - Educational Consultant & Co-Founder

Briegel is a dedicated educator with a passion for helping children thrive. Her approach is grounded in years of academic research and extensive hands-on experience in creating tailored learning environments. She believes that with the right strategies and support, every child can find their path to success.

​

Key Credentials:

• Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) from the University of the Cumberlands, with dissertation research focused on Project-Based Learning in the elementary classroom. (Master’s In Education Technology from Indiana University; Undergraduate Degree in Political Science and Elementary Education from Washington and Lee University)

• Licensed Elementary Educator with extensive experience as a classroom teacher for Kindergarten - Third Grade.

• Founder and Chief Education Officer of Foundations Whole Child Development with extensive background in comprehensive student assessments, intervention/individualized learning plans, and parent advocacy.

• Curriculum and Program Developer with experience designing educational resources aimed at fostering social-emotional learning.

​

Briegel’s strength lies in her ability to translate complex educational concepts into practical, actionable strategies for families. She is adept at designing developmentally appropriate, inquiry-based learning environments that are tailored to the individual needs of students. 

Psychoeducational Specialist

Specialist

Alexandre Patel, Behavior Analyst

Analyst