Organic Ties
Page created September 28, 2010; last updated September 25, 2011
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools
A stock phrase used by Gulenists is that there are no "organic ties" between the Gulen charter schools across different states, or between these schools and the Gulen Movement.
In actuality, "organic ties" exist, and some are presented below.
Fethullah Gulen, Golden Generation Worship and Retreat Center, Capital Academy Charter School, Lancaster Science Academy
Fethullah Gulen resides on a complex in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania run by the non-profit Golden Generation Worship and Retreat Center, formerly the Golden Generation Students Association. Sezai Sablak, a.k.a. Steve Sablak, who has been an officer (Vice President, Treasurer) of Golden Generation for many years, was one of the petitioners for two attempted charter schools, Capital Academy Charter School (a.k.a. Capital Academy of Harrisburg) and Lancaster Science Academy. One of Sablak's fellow applicants for the Capital school, Feridun "Frank" Ayata, is affiliated with the Gulenist Red Rose Foundation and Penn State Dialog Forum in Pennsylvania, and is Business Manager of the Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania Charter School. Tolga Hayali, who joined Sablak in petitioning for the Lancaster school, has been involved with the Pioneer Academy of Science, Syracuse Academy of Science, and the Horizon Science Academy chain of charter schools. Sezai "Steve" Sablak has also written for Fountain Magazine.
ATCOM, ATFA, Taraf, Richmond Education Foundation, Magnolia Foundation
Dr. Alican Dalkilic has played many Gulenist roles. He has served on the board of directors of ATCOM, and has been a speaker for ATFA; both are Gulenist organizations. In September 2009 he was active with the Richmond Education Foundation and the Richmond Initiative to start a charter school in Virginia. The school was to benefit from the experience of Erhan Yilmaz, a founding member of the Magnolia Foundation, which is the charter holder for the chain of Magnolia Science Academy charter schools in southern California.
Interestingly, Dr. Dalkilic was the domain name registration contact for the domain tarafgazetesi.com which clearly has some association with the Turkish newspaper Taraf, that became notorious for leaking documents from the so-called "Ergenekon" investigation. In August 2011, Gareth Jenkins had this to say about Taraf: "Though largely staffed by anti-militarist leftists, the publication has long been vigorously supported by the FGM [Fethullah Gulen Movement]." Dr. Dalkilic's connection to this domain name can no longer be accessed readily on the web, because this contact information has been removed from the registration, but screenshots have been saved.
Coral Academy of Science, Accord Institute, Turkic American Alliance (formerly Assembly of Turkic American Federations), MAFTAA
Faruk Taban was President of Coral Academy of Science, a Gulen charter school in Nevada. He was also Board President of the Accord Institute, a Gulenist organization that oversees (and collects overhead from) the Gulen charter schools in the Western U.S. In May 2010 he was reported to be both president of MAFTAA (Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations) and head of the Assembly of Turkic American Federations, which was shortly thereafter renamed the Turkic American Alliance (TAA). The TAA is the umbrella organization for a large number of Gulenist organizations in the U.S. The connection of the TAA to Gulen was mentioned in the prominent Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, a New Jersey online news outlet, and other sources.
Magnolia Science Academy, Sonoran Science Academy, Coral Science Academy and the Accord Institute
Here is a quote from a charter school application, dated Sep 1, 2009, for a new branch of the Lotus School for Excellence in Colorado:
“Magnolia Foundation, the parent organization of Magnolia Science Academy (MSA) in Los Angeles, formed a coalition with the best math and science charter schools in Arizona (Sonoran Science Academy) and Nevada (Coral Academy of Science) and institutionalized its education program. Accord Institute for Education Research conducts research and improves the joint education program of these top performing science schools in their states. The Accord Institute is currently serving schools in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado.”
Young Scholars of Central/Western Pennsylvania, Dream Schools, Concept Schools
Several individuals who have been involved in YSCP are now affiliated with Dream Schools, which is trying to establish YSWP, a new Pennsylvania charter. The Dream Schools website (accessed Sep 27, 2010) contains the text:
"Complete Solution to Science Education: Science-oriented program design at the 6-12 grade with proven success is the expertise of concept schools."
It appears that someone used text from Concept Schools and forgot to change the word "Concept" to "Dream."
"Accord Model Schools"
The Magnolia Science Academy schools, Bay Area Technology School, Beehive Science and Technology Academy, the Sonoran Science Academy schools, Lotus School of Excellence, and the Coral Academy of Science schools are all "Accord Model Schools," an epithet that refers to the Accord Institute for Education Research in California. Parents, students and teachers are not given documentation of what it means to be an "Accord Model School," but all these schools contract to Accord for a range of services, and Accord organizes events, such as staff workshops and extracurricular student camps and competitions, at which only these schools participate.
The "Accord Model" and the "Pinnacle Model"
The website of the Accord Institute in California (accessed Sep 28, 2010) describes the "Accord Educational Model" as being based on 4 major components:
Sonoran Science Academy, proposed Mokapu STEM School in Hawaii, United School of Al Yahar in the United Arab Emirates
From Sonoran Science Academy websites:
"The mission of Sonoran Science Academy (SSA) is to provide college preparation for students to achieve success in the high-tech community of the new millennium through a science and mathematics instructional program that includes high educational standards, a liberal arts foundation and well-rounded academic excellence."
From the website of the United School of Al Yahar, a Gulen school in the United Arab Emirates:
"The mission of United School is college preparation for students to achieve success in the high-tech community of the new millennium through a science and mathematics instructional program that includes high educational standards, a liberal arts foundation and well-rounded academic excellence."
From the conversion plan for the Mokapu STEM school, a proposed Gulen charter school in Hawaii:
"The mission of Mokapu STEM School (MSS) is to provide college preparation for students to achieve success in the high-tech community of the new millennium through a science and mathematics instructional program that includes high educational standards, a liberal arts foundation and well-rounded academic excellence."
One question raised by this is why the United School of Al Yahar, which is supposed to be run according to the model of the Concept Schools in Ohio, has a mission statement of Sonoran Science Academy rather than one taken from Concept Schools.
[Note added Jan 15, 2011. Subsequent to our updating this page on Dec 19, 2010 to report this connection, the United School of Yahar changed its mission statement on its website. The previous version of the website has been documented. We do not consider this change coincidence. For other examples of how Gulenists have altered websites to disguise the interconnectedness of their schools and organizations, see our page "Covering their tracks."]
More copy-paste mission statements: New Mexico, Arkansas, Tennessee
Albuquerque School of Excellence, a Gulen charter school in New Mexico
"The mission of Albuquerque School of Excellence (ASE) is to provide a safe and collaborative environment which will cultivate the academic and social development of its students by emphasizing math, science, and technology for the purpose of students setting and meeting higher education goals."
Dove School of Excellence, a proposed Gulen charter school in Arkansas
“The mission of Dove School of Excellence is to provide a safe and stimulating environment which will cultivate the academic and social development for all students by emphasizing math, science, and technology for the purpose of students setting and meeting higher education goals.”
Memphis School of Excellence, a Gulen charter school in Tennessee
"The mission of Memphis School of Excellence (MSE) is to provide a safe and collaborative environment which will cultivate the academic and social development for all students regardless of their socio-economic status by emphasizing math, science, and technology for the purpose of students setting and meeting higher education goals."
More copy-paste mission statements: Houston, New Orleans, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Gulen charter schools in Texas and Louisiana have mission/vision statements identical to those of private Gulen schools in the former Yugoslavia:
Harmony School of Excellence Houston
"The vision of Harmony School of Excellence is to prepare students for academic success in their future education, enable students to have a broad spectrum of options for their future endeavors, and prepare them to be responsible and productive citizens."
Abramson Science and Technology Charter School
"The mission of Pelican Foundation Schools is to prepare students for academic success in their future education, enable students to have a broad spectrum of options for their future endeavors and to prepare them to be effective, responsible and productive citizens."
International School of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
"The vision of International School of Sarajevo is to prepare students for academic success in their future education, enable students to have a broad spectrum of options for their future endeavors, and prepare them to be responsible and productive citizens."
Sarajevo College, Bosnia and Herzegovina
"The vision of Sarajevo College is to prepare students for academic success in their future education, enable students to have a broad spectrum of options for their future endeavors, and prepare them to be responsible and productive citizens."
International School of Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
"The vision of International School of Zenica is to prepare students for academic success in their future education, enable students to have a broad spectrum of options for their future endeavors, and prepare them to be responsible and productive citizens."
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools
A stock phrase used by Gulenists is that there are no "organic ties" between the Gulen charter schools across different states, or between these schools and the Gulen Movement.
In actuality, "organic ties" exist, and some are presented below.
Fethullah Gulen, Golden Generation Worship and Retreat Center, Capital Academy Charter School, Lancaster Science Academy
Fethullah Gulen resides on a complex in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania run by the non-profit Golden Generation Worship and Retreat Center, formerly the Golden Generation Students Association. Sezai Sablak, a.k.a. Steve Sablak, who has been an officer (Vice President, Treasurer) of Golden Generation for many years, was one of the petitioners for two attempted charter schools, Capital Academy Charter School (a.k.a. Capital Academy of Harrisburg) and Lancaster Science Academy. One of Sablak's fellow applicants for the Capital school, Feridun "Frank" Ayata, is affiliated with the Gulenist Red Rose Foundation and Penn State Dialog Forum in Pennsylvania, and is Business Manager of the Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania Charter School. Tolga Hayali, who joined Sablak in petitioning for the Lancaster school, has been involved with the Pioneer Academy of Science, Syracuse Academy of Science, and the Horizon Science Academy chain of charter schools. Sezai "Steve" Sablak has also written for Fountain Magazine.
ATCOM, ATFA, Taraf, Richmond Education Foundation, Magnolia Foundation
Dr. Alican Dalkilic has played many Gulenist roles. He has served on the board of directors of ATCOM, and has been a speaker for ATFA; both are Gulenist organizations. In September 2009 he was active with the Richmond Education Foundation and the Richmond Initiative to start a charter school in Virginia. The school was to benefit from the experience of Erhan Yilmaz, a founding member of the Magnolia Foundation, which is the charter holder for the chain of Magnolia Science Academy charter schools in southern California.
Interestingly, Dr. Dalkilic was the domain name registration contact for the domain tarafgazetesi.com which clearly has some association with the Turkish newspaper Taraf, that became notorious for leaking documents from the so-called "Ergenekon" investigation. In August 2011, Gareth Jenkins had this to say about Taraf: "Though largely staffed by anti-militarist leftists, the publication has long been vigorously supported by the FGM [Fethullah Gulen Movement]." Dr. Dalkilic's connection to this domain name can no longer be accessed readily on the web, because this contact information has been removed from the registration, but screenshots have been saved.
Coral Academy of Science, Accord Institute, Turkic American Alliance (formerly Assembly of Turkic American Federations), MAFTAA
Faruk Taban was President of Coral Academy of Science, a Gulen charter school in Nevada. He was also Board President of the Accord Institute, a Gulenist organization that oversees (and collects overhead from) the Gulen charter schools in the Western U.S. In May 2010 he was reported to be both president of MAFTAA (Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations) and head of the Assembly of Turkic American Federations, which was shortly thereafter renamed the Turkic American Alliance (TAA). The TAA is the umbrella organization for a large number of Gulenist organizations in the U.S. The connection of the TAA to Gulen was mentioned in the prominent Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, a New Jersey online news outlet, and other sources.
Magnolia Science Academy, Sonoran Science Academy, Coral Science Academy and the Accord Institute
Here is a quote from a charter school application, dated Sep 1, 2009, for a new branch of the Lotus School for Excellence in Colorado:
“Magnolia Foundation, the parent organization of Magnolia Science Academy (MSA) in Los Angeles, formed a coalition with the best math and science charter schools in Arizona (Sonoran Science Academy) and Nevada (Coral Academy of Science) and institutionalized its education program. Accord Institute for Education Research conducts research and improves the joint education program of these top performing science schools in their states. The Accord Institute is currently serving schools in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado.”
Young Scholars of Central/Western Pennsylvania, Dream Schools, Concept Schools
Several individuals who have been involved in YSCP are now affiliated with Dream Schools, which is trying to establish YSWP, a new Pennsylvania charter. The Dream Schools website (accessed Sep 27, 2010) contains the text:
"Complete Solution to Science Education: Science-oriented program design at the 6-12 grade with proven success is the expertise of concept schools."
It appears that someone used text from Concept Schools and forgot to change the word "Concept" to "Dream."
"Accord Model Schools"
The Magnolia Science Academy schools, Bay Area Technology School, Beehive Science and Technology Academy, the Sonoran Science Academy schools, Lotus School of Excellence, and the Coral Academy of Science schools are all "Accord Model Schools," an epithet that refers to the Accord Institute for Education Research in California. Parents, students and teachers are not given documentation of what it means to be an "Accord Model School," but all these schools contract to Accord for a range of services, and Accord organizes events, such as staff workshops and extracurricular student camps and competitions, at which only these schools participate.
The "Accord Model" and the "Pinnacle Model"
The website of the Accord Institute in California (accessed Sep 28, 2010) describes the "Accord Educational Model" as being based on 4 major components:
- Results Driven Instruction
- Technology Integrated Education (TIE)
- Comprehensive Guidance Program
- Advanced Studies Program
- Results Driven Instruction
- Technology Integrated Education (TIE)
- Comprehensive Guidance Program
- Advanced Studies Program
Sonoran Science Academy, proposed Mokapu STEM School in Hawaii, United School of Al Yahar in the United Arab Emirates
From Sonoran Science Academy websites:
"The mission of Sonoran Science Academy (SSA) is to provide college preparation for students to achieve success in the high-tech community of the new millennium through a science and mathematics instructional program that includes high educational standards, a liberal arts foundation and well-rounded academic excellence."
From the website of the United School of Al Yahar, a Gulen school in the United Arab Emirates:
"The mission of United School is college preparation for students to achieve success in the high-tech community of the new millennium through a science and mathematics instructional program that includes high educational standards, a liberal arts foundation and well-rounded academic excellence."
From the conversion plan for the Mokapu STEM school, a proposed Gulen charter school in Hawaii:
"The mission of Mokapu STEM School (MSS) is to provide college preparation for students to achieve success in the high-tech community of the new millennium through a science and mathematics instructional program that includes high educational standards, a liberal arts foundation and well-rounded academic excellence."
One question raised by this is why the United School of Al Yahar, which is supposed to be run according to the model of the Concept Schools in Ohio, has a mission statement of Sonoran Science Academy rather than one taken from Concept Schools.
[Note added Jan 15, 2011. Subsequent to our updating this page on Dec 19, 2010 to report this connection, the United School of Yahar changed its mission statement on its website. The previous version of the website has been documented. We do not consider this change coincidence. For other examples of how Gulenists have altered websites to disguise the interconnectedness of their schools and organizations, see our page "Covering their tracks."]
More copy-paste mission statements: New Mexico, Arkansas, Tennessee
Albuquerque School of Excellence, a Gulen charter school in New Mexico
"The mission of Albuquerque School of Excellence (ASE) is to provide a safe and collaborative environment which will cultivate the academic and social development of its students by emphasizing math, science, and technology for the purpose of students setting and meeting higher education goals."
Dove School of Excellence, a proposed Gulen charter school in Arkansas
“The mission of Dove School of Excellence is to provide a safe and stimulating environment which will cultivate the academic and social development for all students by emphasizing math, science, and technology for the purpose of students setting and meeting higher education goals.”
Memphis School of Excellence, a Gulen charter school in Tennessee
"The mission of Memphis School of Excellence (MSE) is to provide a safe and collaborative environment which will cultivate the academic and social development for all students regardless of their socio-economic status by emphasizing math, science, and technology for the purpose of students setting and meeting higher education goals."
More copy-paste mission statements: Houston, New Orleans, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Gulen charter schools in Texas and Louisiana have mission/vision statements identical to those of private Gulen schools in the former Yugoslavia:
Harmony School of Excellence Houston
"The vision of Harmony School of Excellence is to prepare students for academic success in their future education, enable students to have a broad spectrum of options for their future endeavors, and prepare them to be responsible and productive citizens."
Abramson Science and Technology Charter School
"The mission of Pelican Foundation Schools is to prepare students for academic success in their future education, enable students to have a broad spectrum of options for their future endeavors and to prepare them to be effective, responsible and productive citizens."
International School of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
"The vision of International School of Sarajevo is to prepare students for academic success in their future education, enable students to have a broad spectrum of options for their future endeavors, and prepare them to be responsible and productive citizens."
Sarajevo College, Bosnia and Herzegovina
"The vision of Sarajevo College is to prepare students for academic success in their future education, enable students to have a broad spectrum of options for their future endeavors, and prepare them to be responsible and productive citizens."
International School of Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
"The vision of International School of Zenica is to prepare students for academic success in their future education, enable students to have a broad spectrum of options for their future endeavors, and prepare them to be responsible and productive citizens."
