First published in the April 16 print issue of the Glendale News Press.
Two-term member Armina Gharpetian is seeking reelection to the Trustee Area C seat on the Glendale Unified School District Board of Education.
“It has been my honor to serve on the GUSD Board of Education since 2013,” she said in a statement. “As a parent of three children and a 34-year resident of Glendale, I take great pride in the excellent schools in our city.”
An alumna of Glendale Community College and UCLA, Gharpetian described herself as an advocate for public education. Having served as the school board’s president twice, she said she acquired extensive knowledge and experience in solving important issues facing our children’s education by focusing on student achievement, campus safety and ensuring fiscal solvency.
“I have been a trusted voice representing students, parents, teachers and staff, through transparency and collaboration,” Gharpetian, a dentist, said. “As a healthcare professional and a parent, I have always been at the forefront of ensuring the health and safety of our GUSD community, especially during the pandemic.”
As a school board member, she said she has worked to improve technology infrastructure, upgrade facilities and classrooms, and expand educational pathways for every student. She added that she has also encouraged more parent engagement and improved student connectedness.
As board president, Gharpetian said she helped oversee a number of district accomplishments, including:
• Being fiscally responsible to maintain financial stability
• Increasing safety and security of campuses
• Prioritizing the health and wellness of students and staff
• Creating smaller class sizes in elementary grade levels
• Enacting college savings accounts for every 1st-grader
• Expanding of dual-language immersion programs and STEAM magnet schools
• Increasing career and technical education (CTE) pathways
• Expanding and improving the technology infrastructure
• Building modern century facilities and classrooms
• Completing the state-of-the-art aquatic center at Glendale High School
• Completing the installation of several solar panel projects throughout the district
Additionally, Gharpetian noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, she led a board that ushered in a variety of measures, including providing free testing for all students and employees, issuing free Chromebooks and internet hotspots for students, providing free meals each day for Glendale families, offering free childcare with technology learning pods, distributing large amounts of pandemic-related supplies and facilitating 38 COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
“I served as the board president during the most challenging time of the pandemic,” she said. “The board of education made many tough decisions to ensure the health and safety of our students, staff and our community.”
For additional information, visit DrArmina2022.com.
