Rochester Academy Charter School:
Evidence of Affiliation with Gulen Movement


Page created Dec 30, 2011; last updated Mar 27, 2012
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools


Rochester Academy Charter School (RACS) is a publicly-funded charter school in Rochester, New York.

In common with other Gulen charter schools, RACS:
  • uses H1B visas to hire staff
  • offers Turkish language instruction
  • participates in the Turkish Language Olympiads, an event run by the Gulen Movement
  • takes students on field trips to Gulenist events promoting Turkish culture (e.g., from school website, for 2008: "10th grade Turkish Language students attended the Turkish Days in New York City.")
  • does not show the names of any administrators, staff or board members on its website

The website of the Turkish Cultural Center Rochester, a Gulenist organization, states in a post dated August 4, 2011 (accessed Dec 2011) that "This year the Turkish Cultural Center (TCCR) organized the third Turkish Day at the Rochester City Hall.  Besides the Turkish food and arts crafts exhibition, this years’ spotlight was the folkloric dance performed by the students of Rochester Academy Charter School."

Further connections to the Gulen Movement are shown by the multiple affiliations, both past and present, of the following individuals:

Mehmet Demirtas
  • Director, Rochester Academy Charter School 2011-12
  • Physics Teacher, Buffalo Academy of Science 2009  (Gulen charter school)
  • Guide on Gulenist Turkey trip, 2009

Mahmut Gedemenli
  • Lead applicant, Rochester Academy Charter School, 2007
  • Board President, Rochester Academy Charter School (IRS Form 990, 2008, 2009)
  • Turkish Cultural Center Rochester (Gulenist organization)
  • Bookkeeper for High Way Education (Gulenist corporation) per IRS Form 990 2005, 2006
  • Manager of Spring Learning Center (a.k.a. High Way Education), identified as part of Gulen network on p. 139 of Isil Anil's 2010 PhD thesis, City University of New York
  • Board member of Terra Science and Education Foundation, which as of 2011 rents a building to Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School (Gulen charter school) and is a major sponsor of the Gulenist GENIUS Olympiad competition in Oswego

Ahmet Gunay
  • "His outreach efforts, publicizing the project and receiving support from community leaders played a key role in approval and establishment of Rochester Academy Charter School in 2008 in Rochester, NY."  From First State Math and Science Academy charter school application, Delaware.
  • President, Intercultural Dialogue Club (Gulenist organization) at University of Rochester, 2003-2007 
  • "taught Math I and Math II at Weekend Schools of High Way Education Foundation in Rochester, NY between 2003 and 2006"  From First State Math and Science charter school application, Delaware.  Note: High Way Education is a Gulenist corporation.
  • Lead applicant, First State Math and Science Academy (2011), proposed Gulen charter school in Delaware

Hasan Kayan
  • Director of Plant Management at Rochester Academy of Science
  • Guide on Gulenist Turkey trip, 2009

Marat Khafizov
  • Rochester Academy Charter School
  • Treasurer, High Way Education Foundation (Gulenist corporation)
  • Tatar-Turkish High School, Kazan, Russia  (Gulen school that was closed down by Russian authorities)

Akin Ozturk
  • Rochester Academy Charter School
  • Syracuse Academy of Science  (Gulen charter school in New York state)
  • Teacher, Putnam Science Academy (private Gulen school)

Ercan "John" Tozan
  • Rochester Academy Charter School, Director 2009-10
  • Director, Principal and Founder 2003-2007 Putnam Science Academy  (private Gulen school in Connecticut)
  • Lead applicant, Connecticut Academy for Mathematics and Science, 2007 (proposed Gulen charter school that never materialized)
  • Peace Islands Institute, formerly named Interfaith Dialogue Center, New Jersey (Gulenist organization)

Ibrahim Unal    Citizenship: Turkish (according to his CV)
  • Board Secretary, Rochester Academy Charter School (IRS Form 990, 2009)
  • Turkish Cultural Center Rochester (Gulenist organization) website: "On July 20th, 2009, several members of Turkish Cultural Center visited Joseph E. Robach, New York State Senator. During the visit, Dr. Unal who is the Vice president of the Turkish Cultural Center informed Senator Robach in regards to the existing activities and the future plans of Turkish Cultural Center. Dr. Ibrahim Unal presented the daily newspaper Zaman and its mission to Senator Robach and discussed its positive impact on the community in terms of being a reliable resource for both Turkish and American communities."  Note that Zaman newspaper is well-known to be a propaganda publication of the Gulen Movement.

Omer Zengin
  • Math Teacher, Rochester Academy Charter School
  • Teacher, Pioneer Academy of Science  (private Gulen school in New Jersey)