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Two smiling girls beside the Armenia Education Initiative and Teach For Armenia logos. Celebrating the past and reimagining the future. Carnesale Commons, UCLA, December 12.

Celebrating the Past & Reimagining the Future

Join educators, alumni, students, families, community leaders, and global partners at UCLA on Saturday, December 12, as we celebrate Teach For Armenia's 10-year anniversary, launch the Armenia Education Initiative (AEI), and explore the future of public education in Armenia.

Event Details

Date
Saturday, December 12, 2026
Time
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM PT
Venue
Carnesale Commons, UCLA, Los Angeles
Admission
Free · Donations welcome
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Armenia Education Initiative · Teach For Armenia's 10-Year Anniversary Forum

Hosted by the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies in partnership with Armenia Education Initiative.

Why We Gather

They Are the Reason We Gather

For ten years, Teach For Armenia's Teacher Leaders, alumni, schools, and communities have demonstrated what is possible when we invest in educational leadership and work together to expand opportunities for children across Armenia.

Today, the world our children will inherit is changing rapidly. Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are transforming how we learn, work, and engage with one another. These changes invite us to reconsider not only how we educate children, but also what we are preparing them for.

As we celebrate a decade of impact, we have an opportunity to build on what we have learned and imagine what comes next.

“By the time you turn 25, Armenia will be transformed, thanks to you.”Our promise to every child we teach.

A young boy looking into the camera
A smiling girl in a classroom
A girl resting her chin on her hand
Two schoolgirls smiling together

The Question We Will Explore Together

What kind of public education will Armenia's children need to thrive in the next century?

Together, we will reflect on the lessons of the past decade, consider how technological and societal changes are reshaping education, and explore possibilities for the future of public education in Armenia.

Why Your Presence Matters

Help Shape the Conversation

The forum is more than a celebration. It is an opportunity to bring together diverse perspectives and explore the future of education in Armenia.

Imagine the Future

Participate in facilitated conversations about the world today's children will inherit and the knowledge, skills, and experiences they will need to thrive.

Shape the Conversation

Share your perspectives, learn from others, and help identify promising ideas and emerging themes that can inform AEI's long-term strategic direction.

Witness a New Chapter

Celebrate the launch of Armenia Education Initiative and learn how its programs and partnerships will build on Teach For Armenia's first decade of impact.

Connect With a Community

Meet educators, alumni, families, Armenian diaspora leaders, and global partners who share a commitment to expanding educational opportunities for children across Armenia.

In 2019, 285 stakeholders came together to help shape the Kochari vision that has guided our work. This December, we will build on that tradition of collective imagination and collaboration.

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Ten Years of Impact

Teach For Armenia launched in 2015 with 14 pioneering Teacher Leaders and a bold belief: every child in Armenia deserves an excellent education.

Over the past decade, Teach For Armenia has grown into a nationwide movement for educational leadership and transformation.

  • 60,000studentsimpacted cumulatively
  • 20,000+studentsreached annually through Teach For Armenia
  • ~500alumnidriving change across education and other sectors
  • 20%of students in rural Armeniareached
  • 10%of public schoolsacross Armenia reached

Building on this foundation, Armenia Education Initiative brings together programs and initiatives focused on leadership development, educational innovation, and systemic transformation, with Teach For Armenia continuing as its flagship program.

A row of children in winter coats waving at the camera

Why Now

The World Our Children Will Inherit Is Already Changing

  • 22%

    of today's jobs are expected to be created or displaced by 2030.

  • 39%

    of workers' existing skills are expected to change or become outdated by 2030.

  • 86%

    of employers expect AI and information-processing technologies to transform their businesses by 2030.

Source: World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report 2025.

These shifts raise important questions about the future of education. What should children learn? How should they learn? And how can education systems prepare students not simply to adapt to change, but to help shape the future?

What to Expect at the Forum

Celebrating a Decade of Impact. Imagining What Comes Next.

Celebrate 10 Years of Impact

Reflect on Teach For Armenia's first decade, the lessons we have learned, and the educators and communities who have made this journey possible.

Launch Armenia Education Initiative

Discover AEI, our new umbrella organization, and how its programs and partnerships will build on Teach For Armenia's work to advance educational transformation in Armenia.

Advance Our Partnership With UCLA

Explore the next phase of our collaboration with UCLA CRESST to strengthen educational assessment and student outcomes across Armenia.

Co-Create a Vision for the Future of Education

Participate in a collaborative visioning process exploring digital transformation and the future of K–12 public education in Armenia.

Preliminary Agenda

Saturday, December 12 · Carnesale Commons, UCLA

  1. 9:00 – 10:00 AM

    Registration & Breakfast

    Details

    Check in, connect with fellow participants, and enjoy breakfast before the program begins.

    Attendees will receive a copy of Coalesced: Ten Lessons in Education and Leadership, commemorating Teach For Armenia's first decade.

  2. 10:00 – 10:15 AM

    Welcome & Opening Remarks

    Details

    Opening reflections from UCLA and Armenia Education Initiative, setting the stage for a day of celebration, learning, and collective imagination.

    WelcomeGor Nazaryan

    Opening remarksDr. Tina Christie and AEI leadership

  3. 10:15 AM – 11:45 AM

    A Decade of Impact, Evidence & Innovation

    Details

    A series of conversations exploring Teach For Armenia's journey, student outcomes, and promising approaches to the future of education.

    • Panel 1: A Decade of ImpactReflecting on ten years of Teach For Armenia, the lessons captured in Coalesced, and the vision behind the launch of Armenia Education Initiative.
    • Panel 2: Holistic Student OutcomesExploring what we know about student learning and development in Armenia, including insights from UCLA CRESST's evaluation and opportunities to strengthen educational assessment.
    • Story of ImpactA personal reflection on the transformative power of education and leadership, shared by Ashot Gabrielyan.
    • Panel 3: Innovation in EducationExploring how innovative educational approaches, including computational thinking, technology, and student-centered learning, can help prepare children for the future.

    ModeratorDr. Ruiz Clark

    Featured speakersLarisa Hovannisian, Dr. Tina Christie, Dr. Serob Khachatryan, Robbie Dean, Alberta Piroeva, Ashot Gabrielyan, Dr. Georgia Lazo, and Sylva Simonian.

  4. 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM

    Transition

    Instructions for afternoon activities.

  5. 12:00 – 1:00 PM

    Lunch

    Lunch and informal networking.

  6. 1:00 – 3:00 PM

    Reimagining the Future of Public Education

    Details

    What kind of public education will Armenia's children need to thrive in the next century?

    Participants will engage in facilitated, collaborative conversations to imagine the future of education in Armenia.

    Together, we will explore the changing world today's children will inherit, consider the implications of emerging technologies, and generate ideas for how K–12 education might evolve to meet future needs.

    FacilitatorsDr. Ruiz Clark, Gor Nazaryan, Larisa Hovannisian, Ashot Gabrielyan, Katrina Shakarian, Armand Yerjanian, Alberta Piroeva, Nanor Balabanian, and Tatev Mantoian.

  7. 3:00 – 3:30 PM

    Break

    Coffee and refreshments.

  8. 3:30 – 4:30 PM

    Reflections

    Details

    Participants will reconvene to share insights from the afternoon discussions, identify emerging themes, and reflect on how these ideas might inform AEI's future work and partnerships.

  9. 4:30 – 5:00 PM

    Closing

    Details

    We will conclude by reflecting on our shared vision for the future and the commitments we are making as a community to the children of Armenia.

  10. 5:00 – 6:00 PM

    Reception

    Details

    Join us for a closing reception to celebrate the occasion and connect with fellow participants.

Speakers & Facilitators

Voices on Stage

Education leaders, practitioners, and partners from Armenia, UCLA, and the global education community.

Two Days of Learning and Celebration

Join us for two days of learning, reflection, and connection in Los Angeles.

Friday

December 11

Optional School Visits

Explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning through visits to two educational institutions in Los Angeles.

  • UCLA Lab SchoolDiscover approaches to student-centered learning, inquiry, and educational innovation.
  • TUMO Los AngelesExplore how technology, creativity, and hands-on learning can help young people develop skills for the future.
Register for School Visits

Saturday

December 12

10-Year Anniversary Forum

Join us at Carnesale Commons, UCLA, for a day of panel discussions, personal reflections, collaborative visioning, and celebration.

The forum will commemorate Teach For Armenia's first decade, introduce Armenia Education Initiative, and bring together diverse perspectives on the future of public education in Armenia.

Space is limited. Early registration is encouraged.

Register Here

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should attend?

We welcome educators, students, alumni, families, board members, Armenian diaspora leaders, and global partners who care about the future of public education in Armenia.

Where is the forum?

The forum will take place at Carnesale Commons on the UCLA campus in Los Angeles. The event is hosted by the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies in partnership with Armenia Education Initiative.

Registration and breakfast begin at 9:00 AM.

What is the format?

The morning will feature panel discussions and reflections on Teach For Armenia's first decade, student outcomes, and educational innovation.

In the afternoon, participants will join facilitated conversations exploring the future of K–12 public education in Armenia. The day will conclude with collective reflections and a reception.

Is there a registration fee?

No. Attendance is free, although optional donations during registration are welcome and appreciated.

Can I participate in the school visits?

Yes. Optional school visits to UCLA Lab School and TUMO Los Angeles will take place on Friday, December 11.

Space is limited, and advance registration is required.

A line of smiling schoolchildren leaning out to look at the camera

Every Child Is Why We Gather

December 12, 2026 · UCLA

Help Shape What Comes Next

Celebrate a decade of impact. Connect with a community committed to educational transformation. Join the conversation about the future of public education in Armenia.

Admission is free. Space is limited.

Register for the ForumSupport Us

Questions? katrina@teachforarmenia.org

Children playing in a schoolyard with their teacher
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