WHO WE ARE
Mission Statement
The Board of Regents of Prelacy Armenian Schools aspires to provide American-Armenian students with a rigorous educational curriculum, while at the same time, preserving and enhancing the Armenian Heritage and Culture by emphasizing the study of the Armenian language, history and religion. With this dual foundation, it is expected that the students will become lifelong learners, valuable and responsible citizens in the communities in which they live as ambassadors of the Armenian people who strive to promote and advance the Armenian cause.
Superintendent
Chairwoman
2015-2016 Board of Regents
Daron Kachatourian
Daron Kachatourian has served as the Superintendent of the Board of Regents since November of 2015. Prior to taking this position, Kachatourian was the Vice President of Sales, Marketing, Finance, IT and HR for a consumer products company. He is a dedicated leader who is always willing to go the extra mile.
Superintendent
Lisa Gaboudian
Lisa Gaboudian has served as the Chairwoman of the Board of Regents since October of 2015.
Chairwoman
Khajag Jamgotchian
Khajag Jamgotchian has worked for the Board of Regents for the past fifteen years.
Supervisor
Dr. Houri Arslanian-Keuroghlian
Dr. Keuroghlian has served as the Secretary to the Board of Regents since October of 2015. She attended Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School from 6th - 9th grade and later graduated from Glendale High School. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree from Cal State University Los Angeles in Psychology, she attended Point Loma Nazarene University where she received a Single Subject Teaching Credential, Special Education Teaching Credential, MA in Education with a concentration in Special Education. Ms. Keuroghlian completed her second MA in Education with concentration on School Counseling from USC.
Secretary
Rafi Kouyoumjian
Rafi Kouyoumjian has served as the Treasurer to the Board of Regents since October of 2015.
Sossi Hovsepian
Sossi Hovsepian has served on the Board of Regents since 2006. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Ecole des Lettres and a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Pepperdine University. From 1997-1998 she served with the LA County Department of Children and Family Services and from 1989-2001 she served as the School Counselor at Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian School. Hovsepian currently works at UCLA as a Freshman Admission Reader and serves as a Student Support Program Coordinator and Healthy Start Coordinator at Grant High School and 3 other elementary schools in North Hollywood.
Azita Yacoubian
Azita Yacoubian has served on the Board of Regents since October of 2015.
Dr. Hasmig Baran
Dr. Hasmig Baran has served on the Board of Regents since October of 2015.
Dr. Jeannine Topalian
Dr. Jeannine Topalian is a graduate of Ferrahian High School. She has earned a Masters of Arts in Counseling, with an emphasis in Marriage Family Therapy, and School Psychology, and a credential in Pupil Personnel Services. Jeannine has over 10 years of experience in the field of education and mental health as a behaviorist, therapist, and school psychologist. She currently works for LAUSD as a school psychologist conducting psycho-educational and neuropsychological assessments, consulting with parents and community agencies, providing individual and group counseling, and participating in school-wide instructional and behavioral intervention development and implementation.
Sarkis Ourfalian
Sarkis Ourfalian graduated with a Juris Doctor degree at U.W. L.A. on June 1987. Throughout his career, Sarkis has been active in civic and community affairs and holds memberships in many civic and charitable organizations as well as professional associations. Sarkis is certified to practice law in both State and Federal Courts. Experienced and highly skilled, Sarkis enjoys the respect and support of both clients and peers.
Lena Kortoshian
Lena Kortoshian has served on the Board of Regents since October of 2015.
Armine Papazian
Armine Papazian has served on the Board of Regents since October of 2015.
Valentina Ogarian
Valentina Ogarian has served on the Board of Regents since October of 2015.
By-Laws of the Prelacy Armenian Schools
1. The Prelacy Armenian Schools function as a school system under the auspices of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, Inc.
2. The Western Prelacy is the official proprietor of Prelacy Armenian Schools’ fixed and liquid assets.
3. The educational, administrative, and financial aspects of the Prelacy Armenian schools are governed by the Board of Regents, whose members are appointed by the Executive Council of the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church for a two-year term and is accountable to the Executive Council.
Note a: The Board of Regents presents its annual financials and activities report to the Representative Assembly through the Executive Council , who makes it available the representatives prior to the Assembly meeting.
Note b: The Board of regent operates in full power until the assignment of a new Board.
4. The Executive Council shall have a representative to the Board of Regents. The representative reports on the activities of the Board of Regents to the Executive Council and in turn conveys the Executive Council’s recommendations to the Board for consideration.
Note: The officers (divans) of the Executive Council and the Board of Regents shall meet as needed to coordinate activities.
5. The ratification of these by-laws and amendments is conducted by a simple majority vote of the National Representative Assembly.
Note a: Any amendment to these by-laws proposed by the Board of Regents shall be presented to the Executive Council, which will then present them to the Representative Assembly for discussion and passage.
Note b: The Board of Regents shall forward any by-law amendment recommendations received from a School Board to all other School Boards fshall submit the proposed changes and its recommendations to the Executive Council.
6. In case of a need to establish a new school, the Board of Regents will conduct the preliminary evaluation and research. .
7. The Executive Council may dissolve the Board of Regents after proper evaluations have determined that the Board is unable to administer the school system and/or unable to fulfill its responsibilities.
Note: In the event of the resignation of a member of the Board, or if a member the Board is unable to fulfill his/her responsibilities, the Executive Council shall appoint a replacement. The board shall continue to function until such an appointment is made. 8.
8. Official positions on all issues related to Prelacy Armenian Schools will be communicated solely by the Board of Regents.
9. A quorum of meetings of the Board of Regents (and all committees and boards assigned by it) is attained with the presence of a simple majority of the members.
Note a: The meetings of the School Boards are chaired by their respective chairmen. The Principal and the Preschool Director shall attend School Board meetings in an advisory capacity and shall not take part in voting.
Note b: A quorum is required for the approval of all decisions.
10. Unresolved matters or issues of the Prelacy Armenian Schools system will he resolved by the Board of Regents.
11. Appointments mandated by these by-laws are made in the following order:
Note a: The Executive Council shall appoint the Board of Regents by the end of June.
Note b: The Board of Regents shall appoint the members of the School Boards by the end of July.
12. Following the appointment of School Boards, the Board of Regents shall notify in writing the Executive Council, the Principal, and the Preschool Director.
Note a: The Executive Council shall notify the Boards of Trustees about the appointments.
Note b: The Principal shall inform the faculty, administration, and parents about the appointments.
13. The Board of Regents shall have a chairperson, a secretary, and a treasurer.
Note a: The checks of the Board of Regent shall be signed by at least two of its executive members.
14. The School Boards will have a chairperson, a secretary, and a treasurer.
Note a: All Board issued checks shall be signed by at least two of the School Board’s Executive members.
15. In the event of the resignation of a member of the School Board, or if a member of the said School Board is unable to fulfill his/her responsibilities, the Board of Regents shall appoint a replacement. The board shall continue to function until such an appointment is made.
16. An individual shall not serve on more than one body described in these bylaws simultaneously.
17. The Principal is the liaison between the School Board and faculty, staff, and parents.
Note a: Local issues and complaints shall be presented to the Principal or Preschool Director or the School Board. A decision by any of theseshared by the other parties. In the event the complaining party is not satisfied with the decision, he/she may present the case to the Board of Regents -in writing - for consideration. The Board of Regents will not consider any issue if this procedure is not followed. All anonymous and unsigned letters of complaint will not be considered by the Board of Regents.
Note b: The Board of Regents shall make a decision on all complaints within 30 days. The decisions of the Board of Regents are final.
18. Complaints against a Principal or Preschool Director are directly submitted to the Board of Regents.
Note a: The Board of Regents may inform the School Board if necessary.
19. School Boards must submit minutes of their meetings to the Board of Regents within 15 days following each meeting.
20. In the event that a School Board loses its majority, the Board of Regents shall immediately dissolve the board and appoint a three-person interim Executive Body, whose responsibilities will be to administer the school’s immediate financial or educational matters. A new board must be appointed within 30 days.
21. Disagreements between the Principal, Preschool Director, and School Board shall be submitted to the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents'decisions shall be deemed final.
22. All activities (scholastic or otherwise) between the Prelacy and non-Prelacy schools must be approved by the Board of Regents.
23. The Board of Regents shall have a “Procedures and Guidelines’’ and the “Employee Handbook’’ manuals:
Note a: These manuals shall be prepared, approved, and amended by the Board of Regents.
Note b: Established procedures must be followed in the hiring or terminating of a Principal or Director.
24. The Board of Regents may hire an executive secretary, administrative staff, or a superintendent as needed.
25. Employment agreements for principals, preschool directors, and faculty are subject to annual renewal.
Note a: The annual employment agreement for principals and directors valid for 12 months.
Note b: The annual employment agreement for faculty is valid for 10 months.
Note c: Employees of all schools must have documented legal residency.
26. The Board of Regent’s revenues are derived from student dues, donations, fundraising activities, and a budget allocated by the Representative Assembly etc.
Note a: The student dues included in the registration fees will be determined by the Board of Regents and the amount shall be directly paid to the Board of Regents.
27. The authoritative version of the By-Laws of the Prelacy Armenian Schools is the Armenian language version.
28. The interpretation of these by-laws is within the realm of the Executive Council of the Western Prelacy.