Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Torrance Unified School District

John Paul Tabakian, Ed.D. is a 34-year resident of Torrance, college professor, and owner of a Torrance business. Tabakian, Inc. offers individual instruction, seminars and workshops for traditional and nontraditional students to help them achieve success. The company name "Tabakian" translates from Armenian to English as "leather tanner". The process of tanning a product requires breaking it down and allowing it to mature. One can argue that teachers are tanners who help to develop their students.

Dr. Tabakian attended Anza Elementary School, Bert Lynn Middle School, and West High School. Dr. Tabakian is a nontraditional student who did not graduate from high school with his graduating class, instead taking the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) as a junior, and enrolling in community college. That fateful decision led to a successful professional career in public issue campaigns, business, and academic success, culminating with his doctorate research in factors that encourage academic entrepreneurialism among community college faculty. Dr. Tabakian received his Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) from California State University, Northridge; Master of Arts (MA) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science from California State University, Los Angeles; and Associate of Arts (AA) in Liberal Studies from Los Angeles Trade-Technical College.