Aylon Samouha is an independent designer who provides strategy and design services to education organizations, schools, and foundations. Most recently, Aylon has been designing and building two new “Greenfield” school models for the Achievement First Network to be launched in 2015. He also led the field research for Charter School Growth Fund and the Clay Christensen Institute for the 2014 publication "Schools and Software: What's Now, What's Next". In 2013, Aylon pioneered the Chicago Breakthrough Schools Fellowship in conjunction with New Schools for Chicago, NGLC, and the Broad Foundation. Prior to his independent work, Aylon served as Chief Schools Officer at Rocketship Education; leading the highest performing network of low-income schools in the state of California, designing the academic model and blended learning approach, and growing the network from 3 to 7 schools.
Aylon also spent a few years as a Senior Vice President at Teach For America leading pre-service institutes and in-service support for corps members in their 2-year teaching commitments during a period of growth from 4,000 to 8,000 corps members.
After graduating Columbia University with a BA in English, Aylon spent the first part of his career at Score Educational Centers working with families, leading centers and ultimately managing 60+ centers across the country.
Aylon is a proud husband and father and an accomplished jazz guitarist with two released albums and regular performances throughout the Midwest.
