“Male Teachers Have an Important Mission in Schools—From Teaching Knowledge to Shaping Values”: A Conversation with WorldView Mentor Sasun Vardanyan

“I don’t believe in fate, but meeting Visual Armenia in 2024 completely changed the way I work, the way I think, and the way I see education.”

Beekeeper. Teacher. Mentor.

For Sasun Vardanyan, these roles are not contradictory—they are chapters of the same journey.

Although trained as an educator, it was only after the 2020 war that he made the life-changing decision to dedicate himself fully to teaching. Today, he teaches History at Sisian Basic School No. 4 and Vorotan Basic School in Armenia’s Syunik Province, driven by a clear conviction: “Schools need more male teachers. Their role goes far beyond delivering knowledge—they help shape character, values, and responsible citizens.”

When he first entered the classroom, Vardanyan set himself three guiding goals: to cultivate tolerance among young people, help students understand their own history, and encourage them to think independently. “A small conflict in a classroom can eventually become a much larger problem. Young people need to learn to listen, to respect one another, and to forgive. That is not only a school issue—it’s a challenge for society as a whole. And in today’s digital world, where misinformation spreads so easily, especially among young people, independent thinking has become more important than ever.”

This year, Vardanyan became one of only two teachers from Syunik Province to successfully complete the 2025-2026 WorldView Mentorship Scholarship Program. Although he has been teaching for just two years, he says he can no longer imagine his classroom without the WorldView educational platform or the professional development opportunities offered by the Visual Armenia Foundation.

“I don’t believe in fate, but meeting Visual Armenia in 2024 transformed everything for me,” he recalls.

“I had only recently started teaching. Every day brought new challenges, and often I simply didn’t know where to find solutions. Even a brief conversation with the Visual Armenia team would provide answers. I’ve often thought they’re a remarkable group of people—you discover that the ideas you’ve been quietly carrying in your mind are already being brought to life by them.”

For Vardanyan, WorldView has become much more than a teaching tool. It has transformed the atmosphere of his classroom and reignited students’ curiosity.

“When I first started teaching, very few students were interested in History. Today, that’s completely different. This year I have students preparing for the National Olympiad—students who never imagined they were capable of reaching that level. Now, whenever they hear we’re using WorldView, they’re eager to participate. They can’t wait to get involved. Seeing that excitement is incredibly rewarding.”

He rarely misses a WorldView training session, believing that every new program brings fresh perspectives and opportunities for growth.

“If a teacher truly wants to grow professionally, continue learning, and keep pace with today’s rapidly changing world, I believe the WorldView platform and its training programs are among the best opportunities available. The mentorship program felt like the culmination of everything I had learned through WorldView, bringing it all together into a coherent whole. It has inspired me to set new goals, and I’m genuinely looking forward to the new academic year.”

As part of the mentorship program, Vardanyan has already begun training fellow educators—but he sees this as only the beginning. He hopes to share what he has learned with many more colleagues and inspire them with the same enthusiasm that transformed his own teaching.
Only four teachers currently use WorldView in his school. He believes that number should grow significantly.

“Teachers often tell me that only one or two students actively participate during lessons. I don’t experience that with WorldView. There’s meaningful work for every student, including those who usually struggle. I invite colleagues to observe my classes, compare different teaching approaches, and decide for themselves which creates a more engaging learning experience. WorldView offers rich content and countless possibilities for building truly comprehensive lessons.”

Vardanyan and his students also earned a Smart Board through the “Smart Boards for WorldView Schools” competition. For him, however, the greatest value lies not in receiving the technology itself, but in the process of earning it.

“When students work together toward a goal and achieve it through their own efforts, they understand its true value.”

Looking back on his first two years as a teacher, he considers his relationship with his students to be his greatest achievement. “Many children simply aren’t given enough opportunities to talk about even the most ordinary things. Yet every child has a fundamental need to be heard and understood. Sometimes all it takes is a little trust—a small responsibility, a simple opportunity—and that can lead to remarkable changes.”

Vardanyan believes the knowledge and skills he gained through the WorldView Mentorship Program will help him continue creating those changes—raising not only successful students, but thoughtful, responsible citizens who know their history, think independently, and have the confidence to speak with their own voice.