Teach For Armenia Celebrates Ten Years of Impact and Launch of the Armenian Education Initiative
LOS ANGELES — Teach For Armenia will be celebrating ten years of impact and the launch of their new umbrella organization, Armenia Education Initiative (AEI). To mark this milestone, a forum, Celebrating a Decade of Impact& Reimagining the Future will be hosted by the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies on December 12, 2026 at Carnesale Commons on UCLA’s campus.
On Saturday, December 12, attendees at the forum will be asked to answer the question: “What kind of K-12 public education will Armenia’s children need to thrive in the AI era?”
“Ten years ago, Teach For Armenia began with a simple, but powerful belief: that every child, regardless of where they live or the circumstances they face, deserves an excellent education,” explains Larisa Hovanissian, Founder & CEO of Teach For Armenia. “Today, that belief has grown into a movement with the potential to transform classrooms. We are proud to have partnered with UCLA in helping shape the next chapter of education in Armenia.”
The forum will facilitate a mutual exchange of ideas between Diasporan and Armenia-based leaders in education, including:
- Larisa Hovannisian, Founder and CEO, Teach for Armenia
- Sylva Simonian, Co-Founder, TUMO
- Dr. Christina Christie, Dean of the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies
- Dr. Georgia Lazo, University Partnership Schools at UCLA
- Dr. Li Cai, professor of education and psychology at the UCLA School of Education & Information Studies
- Alice Petrossian, Armenian Education Initiative Governing Board Member
In addition to the panel discussions, attendees will network and participate in smaller, facilitated breakout sessions to reimagine the purpose of K-12 public education in the AI era.
For more details on the agenda, visit Celebrating a Decade of Impact & Reimagining the Future Forum Agenda
Additionally, on Friday, December 11, AEI is facilitating site visits at the UCLA Lab School and TUMO Los Angeles to allow attendees to engage directly with students and teachers at two innovative campuses.
“Our work with Teach For Armenia provides evidence they are making a measurable difference for students and educators, including significant growth in foundational academic skills, in leadership and emotional well-being, and in their confidence that they can create change in their communities,” said Noelle Griffin, Senior Associate Director, UCLA CRESST. “As educators gather at this forum, we’re excited to see how this work will inform the next chapter of expanding educational opportunity for all children in Armenia.”
Teach For Armenia is celebrating 10 years of leadership by addressing the future of education at the forum. The launch of AEI is a reflection of that future by bringing together existing programs and initiatives focused on leadership development, educational innovation, and systemic transformation.
With this roadmap in place, AEI is uniquely positioned to imagine what comes next for Armenian educators and students.
Free to register here: Celebrating a Decade of Impact & Reimagining the Future
About the Armenia Education Initiative
The Armenia Education Initiative (AEI) is a newly launched umbrella organization that houses programs and initiatives focused on teacher development, educational innovation, and systemic transformation, with Teach For Armenia continuing as its flagship program. Established in 2015, Teach For Armenia recruits and develops strong teachers in order to expand opportunities for children across Armenia. AEI has impacted 60,000 students, partners with 20% of Armenia’s rural schools and is powered by 500 alumni working to transform classrooms and communities. Learn more at www.
