Elementary School Faculty & Staff

Houry Boyamian, M.Ed. Principal

Mrs. Boyamian has been the principal of St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School since1988. She has served the school with determination, bringing a sense of identity coupled with a dedication to the best education possible. Under her administration, in 2003 St. Stephen’s became the first Armenian day school in New England to be fully accredited by the Association of Independent Schools in New England. In 2011, she has introduced the STEM Initiative, putting a special emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. She has also played an important role in the realization of the expansion projects of the school.Mrs. Boyamian is fluent in four languages, Armenian, English, French and Arabic. She is a graduate of Nishan Palanjian Jemaran/Academy. She holds a French Baccalaureate in Literature and Philosophy from College Protestant Francais, a BS Degree in Pharmacy from St. Joseph University and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts. For her dedication to the mission of the school and for her leadership role in the community, she has received in 2005 the Mesrob Mashdots medal from the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia and in 2008 the Queen Zabel medal from the Armenian Prelacy, as well as a Proclamation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Nora Hackett, B.S., Asst. Treasurer

Nora Hackett has been part of the St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School family from the day it opened its doors. Her father, Yervant Krafian, was one of the founding members of the school. She has held roles at St. Stephen’s school from the beginning starting as a volunteer, a parent, a PTO Chair, an alumni parent and she has been working in her role as Assistant Treasurer for over 15 years. She graduated from Bentley College (now Bentley University) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She worked at Bentley College for 10 years, first in the Public Relations Office and then as Assistant to the Vice President of Institutional Advancement. She then moved on to work in the Capital Campaign department as Computer Manager at Massachusetts General Hospital for 5 years. Once the campaign was completed, she took a position as the Computer Manager at the French Library in Boston of which she worked for another 5 years until the birth of her youngest child. All three of Nora’s children, David Ara, Mari & Ani are alumnus of St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School.

Arlet Ashjian, Admin. Assistant

Arlet Ashjian has been the Administrative Assistant at St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School for the past 12 years, continuously supporting the principal and teachers. Prior to SSAES, she held administrative and accounting positions in Macys, National Medical Care/Fresenius and as a Crew Leader Supervisor for the U.S. Census Bureau. Arlet is one of the co- founders of Sayat Nova Dance Company of Boston whose main objective is to perform to all Armenians and non Armenians around the world and promote and preserve the Armenian Culture through the beautiful art of dance. She and her husband Apo also founded Abaka Dance Academy in Watertown, where many of the school’s students attend beginning at an early age to learn about our culture. Arlet is passionate about children and is happy to be surrounded by them on daily basis. She believes that Armenian education and culture is an extremely valuable gift that every Armenian family should instill in their child’s life. Arlet and Apo have three children Alina, Garineh and Vrej. Arlet loves spending time with her family and friends and enjoys the beach, music and reading on her off time.

Ardemis Megerdichian, Grades 1-5 Armenian Teacher

Ardemis was born in Aleppo, Syria. She attended Aleppo's Zavarian School, Karen Jeppe High School, and Yerevan State University's Faculty of Philology. Sometimes she says jokingly, "I've been going to school from 3 years old till now", because after graduating she immediately started teaching at Aleppo's National Gulbenkian School, then at Aleppo's Sahagian School, after which she taught at Kaloustian High School (Cairo, Egypt). Since 1999, she holds a teaching position at Boston's St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School, as an Armenian language and history teacher. Teaching the young generation of students is not just a job for Ardmis, it is her life's mission. Ardemis has been commended by the Armenian Diasporan minister, in honor of her dedication to her Armenian schoolteaching.

Michele Arthur, M.Ed., K-5 Computer Teacher/ Gr. 2 T-Assistant

Michelle was born, raised and still resides in South Boston. She and her husband Jay have three children Julie, Lynne and Gregory. She holds a B.S in Finance from Bentley University and worked as an accountant before having her children. In 2000, she earned her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Lesley University and is certified to teach Pre-School through Grade 6. Michele has taught Kindergarten, Pre-Kindergarten and 2nd grade at St. Brigid’s School in South Boston, as well as working in the Boston Public Schools as a reading intervention teacher and a Kindergarten and Grade 1 paraprofessional. Before coming to St. Stephen’s in 2013, she was the computer/technology teacher for grades K-8 at St. John the Evangelist School in Canton for 3 years and the Pre-K teacher for 1 year.

Catherine Izzo, M.Ed., Reading Specialist

Catherine Izzo holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Education. In 2016 she received a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) in Reading and holds state certification in Elementary Education (Grades 1 to 6) and Reading (PreK to Grade 12). Mrs. Izzo taught for over 25 years at Armenian Sisters’ Academy in Lexington and the past four years was a reading interventionist in the Woburn Public Schools at the elementary level. She lives in Watertown and enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog, reading, and going to Cape Cod.

Jade Tang, Gr. 1 Teacher

My name is Jade Tang and this is my second year at St. Stephen’s. I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Developmental Psychology at Boston University in 2019. I completed my full practicum at Heath School in a 2nd-grade classroom. I have my Masters Degree in Integrated Elementary and Special Education at Boston University. I completed my student internship for my masters at Driscoll School in a 1st-grade classroom and in a Learning Center (K-2).

I grew up in Newton. A few of my favorite activities are cooking, hiking, knitting, and playing volleyball. I also love to travel! I have been to Spain, Portugal, Canada, and Hong Kong. For my entire life, I have wanted to become a teacher and I am so thrilled to be living my dream and teaching your children.

Lauren da Silva, Gr. 2 Teacher

Lauren da Silva grew up in Needham, Massachusetts. In 2018 she graduated from Framingham State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Lauren is currently working towards her Master Degree in Elementary Education in the Literacy and Language program at Framingham State University. She also plans to obtain a Reading Specialist License at the completion of her master program. Before working at St. Stephens, Lauren was a teaching Aide at Underwood Elementary School in Newton, MA. In her free time Lauren loves to read, draw, and spend time with family and friends.

Meghri Dervartanian, M.Ed.2022, (Gr. 2 Assistant Teacher and Armenian Resource Teacher)

After graduation from SSAES, Meghri Dervartanian continued her education in the Belmont Public School system, graduating from Belmont High School. She went on to earn her Bachelor's degree in Business Administration majoring in Business Marketing from University of Massachusetts-Boston. Following graduation Meghri spent several summers as camp Counselor and Director for the ARS Camp Javakhk program in the country of Georgia. She was a Birthright Intern in Yerevan at Lingostar, assisting students to develop writing and speaking skills in English. Meghri is the author of an Armenian Children's book entitled, Hbard Hye and founded an Armenian non-profit entitled EyeSupport. Meghri started her career as an Armenian Teacher's aide and is currently the assistant teacher to the 2nd grade class. Currently, she continues to pursue her Masters in Elementary Education at Lesley University and plans to graduate in the Spring of 2022.

Mariah Silva Gr. 3 Teacher

My name is Mariah Silva, and I live in Somerville MA. If you asked my family and friends to describe me, they would say that I am funny, intelligent, hardworking, creative, outspoken and very caring. I received my Bachelors in Elementary Education in May 2016 from Framingham State University. Currently I am enrolled in a STEM education masters program, and am very excited to be continuing my education. Before joining the SSAES team, I was working in the Waltham Public School system. I grew up on Cape Cod, in the town of Sandwich, so of course I love the beach, and nature in general! I am the youngest of four, and I have an amazing niece and two nephews that make me the coolest auntie! I love to be with my family and friends, make people laugh, I love food and cooking, drawing, painting, playing soccer, listening to music and dancing, relaxing, reading, and riding my bike. I come from a family of teachers! My mother was a teacher, my sister is a teacher, and now myself. I cherish working with children and have wanted to become a teacher all my life. I love that I’m able to live out my dream here at SSAES in grade three this 2021-2022 school year.

Kiely Goss Gr. 5 Teacher

Ms. Kiely Goss graduated from Connecticut College after studying both Psychology and Education. She has also studied at the University College Cork, where she took history, criminology and folklore courses to learn more about other cultures. As a third generation teacher, Ms. Goss likes to incorporate student analysis of pictures, music and short video clips, she believes that by utilizing multiple senses and types of learning that students will become engaged and inquisitive. Ms. Goss also likes students to draw connections between subjects by asking students deep thinking questions about how different ideas connect. In her spare time, Ms. Goss is often walking her dog (Frankie), reading, playing softball, swimming at the beach or trying to learn a new language.

Maro Arakelian, N-5 Music Teacher

Maro is the instructor of early childhood music programs (“Tap & Clap” and “Mayrig & Me”) and serves as the Music Teacher for K-5 students at SSAES. She received her musical education at Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, Armenia, majoring in piano performance. Maro has 15 years of private piano instruction experience and has taught Armenian music history courses at the Adult Education Program of the Armenian Prelacy in Tehran, Iran. She holds a BA degree in Graphic Arts from the University of Tehran as well as a post-graduate certificate in graphic design with emphasis on Armenian Ornaments from the Yerevan Institute of Fine Arts. She completed a certificate program in pedagogy at Longy School of Music / Bard College in Cambridge, MA and is a certified Kindermusik (early childhood music education) instructor.

Arevik Tserunyan, MFA - Art Teacher

Mrs. Tserunyan has received a BA in Linguistics and Pedagogy from Yerevan State Linguistic University, a Master’ of Fine Arts Degree from Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts and a Master’s of Fine Arts Degree from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.
Mrs. Tserunyan has been our K-5 art teacher from 2019-2020. After a one-year hiatus she returned this year to SSAES with the same position.
-In 2015-2016 she has taught an introductory course of drawing at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.
-In 2016-2017 she has been the art instructor at the Danielian Art Studio in Yerevan.
-In 2017-2020 she has been the Artist in Residence at the Armenian Museum of America, teaching art classes for kids of various ages.
-In 2019 to 2020 she has also taught an interdisciplinary course for sophomores at Montserrat College of Fine Arts, Beverly MA.

Richard Samaria M.Ed., K-5 Physical Education Teacher

Mr. Samaria (Mr. S.) has taught Physical Education in the Belmont Public Schools for 44 years (1967-2011) and at St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary School since 2011. He has coached middle school basketball at Chenery Middle School and Special Olympics in Belmont for 37 years. He has also directed many after school and evening basketball programs for 45 years. He is a member of Hall of Fame Massachusetts Special Olympics and has been the Teacher of the Year in 1990-1991, in the Belmont Public Schools. He has received his Bachelors and Master’s Degrees in Physical Education from Northeastern University.

Zareh Zarifian, Traffic Monitor