Talar Samuelian, ASL Executive Director

talarsamuelian@aveson.org

Talar brings 18 years of experience in education, beginning as a classroom teacher and evolving into transformative school leadership. She holds a B.A. in Urban Education and two master's degrees: one in Educational Foundations and one in School Leadership. Her career spans elementary and high school classrooms in South Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, followed by school leadership in Panorama City. There, she built a parent ambassador program, led restorative practices, and developed various initiatives to strengthen school culture, all rooted in a deep commitment to belonging. She holds a Restorative Practices Facilitator certification from the University of San Diego's Center for Restorative Justice and training through Yale University's Center for Emotional Intelligence.

At the heart of Talar's leadership is a deep belief in education as a practice of freedom, community, and love, one that centers relationships, honors students' full humanity, and empowers families as true partners in learning. It was this alignment of values that first drew her to Aveson: she vividly remembers substitute teaching there in 2008 and immediately sensing the whimsy and heart that made the community special. Now returning as Executive Director, she is honored to lead a school she has believed in from the very start, championing a culture where every student and family feels a true sense of belonging.