Harmony Science Academy, Cosmos Foundation: Evidence of Affiliation with the Gulen Movement
Page created December 20, 2010 last updated Dec 31, 2013
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools
The publicly-funded Harmony Public Schools are spread across Texas and include branches named Harmony Science Academy, Harmony School of Innovation, Harmony School of Excellence, Harmony School of Nature, Harmony School of Advancement,.... All are run by the Cosmos Foundation, which changed its corporate name to Harmony Public Schools sometime in 2012-13.
(Some information on academic aspects of these schools can be found here and here. See also here for demographics.)
In a PBS article dated Jan 21, 2011, Professor William Martin of Rice University is quoted as saying "I think the Harmony schools are an outstanding example of what the Gulen followers have been able to accomplish in particular with respect to education."
A re-enrollment form for Harmony Science Academy - Grand Prairie has meta-data showing the document title "Horizon Science Academy re-enrollment form."
A document pertaining to NJ ASK practice test scheduling for Bergen Arts and Science Charter School (Gulen charter school), downloadable from the school site, has metadata showing document title "Harmony Science Academy Dallas," and author "teski," which probably refers to Tevfik Eski of Harmony.
Harmony School of Excellence in Houston has an identical mission statement to Gulen schools in Bosnia and Herzegovina (the former Yugoslavia), as well as Abramson Science and Technology School in Louisiana.
The newsletter of the Raindrop Turkish House, a Gulenist organization, states that at an opening ceremony for the Turquoise Center in Houston, a building housing Gulenist organizations, "a group of American students from the Harmony School of Innovation performed Turkish folk dances in traditional costume."
Students from Harmony and Cosmos Foundation schools participate in the Turkish Language Olympiads, and ISWEEEP, both Gulenist competitions.
Additional connections are shown by individuals with multiple affiliations (both past and present) across Gulen schools and organizations:
Yusuf Akpinar
- Harmony Science Academy
- Brooklyn Amity School, New York (private Gulen school)
Fatih Akdag
- Software Developer, Brighten Technology Solutions (Gulenist corporation in TX)
- Web Application Developer, Helix Design & Production (Gulenist corporation in TX)
- Application Developer, ISWEEEP (Gulenist competition in TX)
- IT Manager, Cosmos Foundation (charter holder of Harmony Science Academy chain)
Kudbettin Aksoy
- Harmony Science Academy
- Texas Gulf Institute
- Ace Test Prep, Gulenist company mentioned in HSA Lubbock Technology Plan, associated with Texas Gulf Institute
- Received acknowledgment "We would like to thank Kudbettin Aksoy for his help and for providing valuable criticism in preparing the manuscript" in the book "Muslim citizens of the globalized world : contributions of the Gulen movement" edited by Robert A. Hunt and Yuksel A. Aslandogan
- School of Art Denton & School of Art Houston (proposed Gulen charter schools in Texas; New Dimension Educational Foundation was proposed charter holder)
Resul Aksoy
- Cosmos Foundation
- Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians (Gulenist organization)
Yalcin Akyildiz, a.k.a. Yalcin White
- Harmony Public Schools, South Cluster Superintendent
- Principal, Dove Science Academy Oklahoma City (Gulen charter school)
- Wrote a "Professional Investigation in Brief" at the University of Texas Tyler in conjunction with their Principal Certification Program entitled "Role of Home Visits in Student Achievement and Behavior;" report uses Harmony Public Schools data and concludes that home visits are very effective for academics and student behavior (note that home visits are a signature feature of all Gulen schools, a point that Gulenists push heavily in charter applications and in school publicity)
Kadir Almus
- Vice President, North American College (Gulen higher learning business in Texas)
- Harmony Public Schools
Yuksel Alp Aslandogan (according to several websites such as Intelius, alias Yuksel A. Conger)
- Alliance for Shared Values (Gulenist organization)
- Spokesman for the Gulen Movement in a Jan 21, 2011 PBS article that clearly makes a connection between the Gulen Movement and Harmony Public Schools
- Founder of Wisconsin Career Academy (Gulen charter school) with Harun H. Solak, Zekeriya Baskal, Ahmet H. Aydilek and Melen M. Dogan
- Petitioner, Horizon Math and Science Charter School at Oak Park and Des Plaines (proposed Gulen charter schools in Illinois, 2000)
- President, North American College (Gulenist institution)
- Director Texas Gulf Foundation (Gulenist)
- School Director, Texas Gulf Institute (Gulenist)
- Fielded questions in Q&A session on Gulen Movement at Center for Strategic and International Studies, June 17, 2009
- Vice president of the Institute of Interfaith Dialog (Gulenist)
- Speaker, 2007 Gulen Conference in London
- Bought property at 4444 N Classen Blvd, Oklahoma City OK from Sky Foundation on Aug 27, 2010 for $1,025,000. Sky Foundation is charter holder for Dove Science Academy. Sold property exactly 4 months later on Dec 27, 2010 to Rain Drop Foundation (Gulenist) for $650,000. The Rain Drop Foundation runs the Raindrop Turkish House.
- Wife Dilara Cavus (Aslandogan) is Harmony teacher
Ferhat Avsar
- Math teacher, Harmony Science Academy Houston
- Math teacher, Chesapeake Science Point (Gulen charter school)
Fatih Ay
- Principal, Harmony Science Academy - El Paso
- Principal, Harmony Science Academy - Dallas
- Superintendent, Dallas area Harmony Public Schools
- Defendant in Couch v Harmony federal civil rights lawsuit
- Secretary, Rain Drop Foundation (Gulenist organization)
Nihat Bayhan
- Harmony Science Academy Fort Worth
- CEO, Pelican Education Foundation (charter holder of Abramson and Kenilworth, Gulen charter schools in Louisiana)
- Gulenist interfaith "Abraham Walk" organized by Institute of Interfaith Dialog in 2006
Veli Baysal
- Co-leader of Brian Talbott's 2007 Turkey trip along with Ozgur Ozer and Soner Tarim (Brian Talbott is with the Association of Educational Service Agencies); described in writeup of this trip as "associate" of Soner Tarim, the Superintendent of Harmony schools
- Board Member, Houston Istanbul Sister City Association (Gulenist organization)
- Rain Drop Foundation (Gulenist organization)
- Participant at Raindrop Turkish House (Gulenist organization)
- Author of article for Today’s Zaman (Gulenist newspaper)
Levent Bulut
- Board Member, Harmony Science Academy
- Board Member, Chief Financial Officer, Fulton Science Academy Middle School (Gulen charter school in Georgia; now converted to private school)
- Board, Fulton Sunshine Elementary School (Gulen charter school in Georgia)
- Editorial Board, Eurasian Journal of Business and Economics (Gulenist)
Erdal Caglar
- Harmony Science Academy North Austin
- Wrote 5-star review of Jill Carroll's book "A Dialogue of Civilizations" on amazon.com
Yasar Cakir
- Principal, Harmony School of Innovation Dallas
- Raindrop Cultural Center [Turkish House], Oklahoma City OK (Gulenist)
Feliz Camuz
- Director, Raindrop Women Association, Raindrop Turkish House (Gulenist organization in Texas)
- Teacher, Dove Science Academy Oklahoma City (Gulen charter school)
- Teacher, Harmony Science Academy Austin
Kaan Camuz
- Harmony Science Academy - Austin
- Dove Science Academy, Oklahoma (Gulen charter school)
- Petitioner for Dove School of Excellence – Springdale, a proposed Gulen charter school in Arkansas
Dilara Cavus, a.k.a. Dilara Aslandogan, Dilara Cavus Aslandogan
- Wife of Yuksel Alp Aslandogan
- Teacher, Harmony School of Advancement, Harmony School of Science, Houston
- Party to sale of property at 4444 Classen Blvd, Oklahoma City OK to Rain Drop Foundation (Gulenist)
Oner Ulvi Celepcikay
- Cosmos Foundation
- Board president, Harmony Science Academy
- Faculty, Texas Gulf Institute (Gulenist)
Yasin Ceran
- Harmony Science Academy Dallas
- Author, Fountain Magazine (Gulenist publication; Fethullah Gulen writes lead article of each issue)
Ahmet Cetinkaya
- Harmony Science Academy Beaumont, Principal
- Albuquerque School of Excellence, New Mexico (Gulen charter school)
Coskun Cetinkaya
- Cosmos Foundation
- Frontier School of Innovation, Missouri (Gulen charter school)
- Institute of Interfaith Dialog (Gulenist organization)
- Vice President for Academic Affairs, North American College (Gulenist)
- Placement and Externship Coordinator, Texas Gulf Institute (Gulenist)
Yusuf Chirak (a.k.a. Yusuf Cirak)
- Procurement officer, Harmony Public Schools
- Principal, Pinnacle Academy (private Gulen school in Virginia)
- President, Universal Foundation (Gulenist organization in NY)
- Wife Rebecca Walton-Chirak was teacher at Brooklyn Amity School (private Gulen school in NY)
- Turgut Ozal Turkmen-Turk School, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (private Gulen school)
Volkan Cicek
- Harmony Science Academy
- Teacher, Vice President, Dove Science Academy, Oklahoma (Gulen charter school)
- Institute of Interfaith Dialog (Gulenist organization)
- Ishik University, Erbil, Iraq (Gulenist institution)
- Liceul Moldo-Turc, Kishinev (Gulen school in Moldova)
Nurcan Civelek
- Founding board member, Pioneer Charter School of Science (Gulen charter school in Massachusetts)
- Ace It Education Foundation, a.k.a. Ace-It Education Center (Gulenist corporation that has contracted to Gulen charter schools for educational services)
- Wife of Ali Kemal Civelek, a.k.a. Kemal Ali Civelek, who has many Gulenist affiliations
Cetin Demir
- Principal, Frontier School of Innovation (Gulen charter school in Missouri)
- Principal, Harmony School of Science
- Principal, Harmony Science Academy
- Assistant Principal, Harmony Science Academy
- Department Head, Teacher, Harmony School of Excellence
- Teacher, Harmony Science Academy
- Teacher, Marmara FEM University Preparation Course (Gulenist tutoring center in Turkey)
- Teacher, Kostanay Kazak-Turkish High School (Gulen school in Kazakhstan)
- Teacher, Almaty Kazak-Turkish High School (Gulen school in Kazakhstan)
Bulent Dogan
- Assistant Professor, North American College (Gulenist institution)
- Project director, DISTCO (Gulenist competition)
- Principal, Harmony School of Art and Technology
- Superintendent, Principal, Teacher, IT Manager, School of Science and Technology-San Antonio
Atnan Ekin
- Harmony School of Excellence Endeavor
- Superintendent, LISA Academy (Gulen charter school in Arkansas)
Edip “Eddie” Ercetin
- Harmony Science Academy - Houston
- Raindrop Turkish House (Gulenist organization)
- Wrote 5 star review of Jill Carroll’s book "A Dialogue of Civilizations" on amazon.com (The Gulen Movement asked Carroll to write this book; it gives a very flattering portrayal of Fethullah Gulen.)
Ali Erenkol
- Assistant Director of College Counseling, Dept Head, Harmony Public Schools
- National Project Recruiter, ISWEEEP (Gulenist competition)
- Department Chair, LISA Academy (Gulen charter school in Arkansas)
- Teacher, Dove Science Academy (Gulen charter school in Oklahoma)
- Teacher, College Counselor, FEM College Prep School (private Gulen tutoring center in Turkey)
- Teacher, Tuvan-Turkish Lyceum (private Gulen school in Russia)
Celal Giret
- Principal at Harmony School of Ingenuity Education
- International Ataturk Alatoo University (Gulen institution in Kyrgyzstan)
Annamuratberdiyev Gulberdiyev a.k.a. Murat Gulberdiyev
- Teacher, Harmony Science Academy Lubbock
- Graduate, International Black Sea University (Gulen institution in Tbilisi, Georgia)
Kazim Z. Gumus
- Harmony Science Academy Austin science teacher
- Interim board member, Mokapu STEM School (proposed Gulen charter school in Hawaii)
Ilker Gure
- Dean of Students, Dove Science Academy
- Assistant Superintendent, Cosmos Foundation (Gulenist)
Mustafa Guvercin
- Teacher, Harmony Science Academy, Houston
- Assistant Superintendent, Harmony Science Academy, Houston
- Teacher, Principal, CEO, Dove Science Academy, Oklahoma City
- CEO, Abramson Science and Technology Charter School, Louisiana
- Teacher, Gulen school in Mongolia under Ufuk ("Horizon") Educational Foundation
Nihat Guvercin
- Cosmos Foundation
- Harmony Science Academy Dallas
- Bergen Arts and Science Charter School, New Jersey (Gulen charter school)
- Lead petitioner, Passaic Arts and Science Charter School, NJ (proposed Gulen charter school)
Ismet Sukru Isik
- Harmony Science Academy
- Rain Drop Foundation (Gulenist)
- Frontier School of Innovation, Missouri (Gulen charter school)
- Superintendent, Brookside Frontier Math and Science School - BFMASS (Gulen charter school, now renamed Frontier School of Excellence/Innovation)
- Loaned 70000 to Millenium Education Foundation (charter holder of BFMASS)
Duran Kala
- Project coordinator, ISWEEEP (Gulenist competition run by the Cosmos Foundation)
- Project coordinator, jury member, INEPO (Gulenist competition run by the Gulenist Fatih University and Colleges)
- Teacher, Staff, Moscow International School # 56, Moscow, Russia (Gulen school closed by Russian authorities)
- Kazakh-Turk Schools (chain of Gulen schools in Kazakhstan)
Yusuf Kandir
- Harmony School of Nature and Athletics
- Brookside Frontier Math and Science School (Gulen charter school)
- Dove Science Academy (Gulen charter school)
Yusuf Karabalik
- Teacher, Harmony School of Ingenuity Houston
- Teacher, Harmony School of Advancement
- Teacher at PakTurk International Schools (chain of private Gulen schools in Pakistan)
Fatih Karatay
- System Administrator, Dove Science Academy (Gulen charter school in Oklahoma)
- System Administrator at Harmony Science Academy Austin
Osman Kazan
- Harmony Science Academy
- Raindrop Turkish House (Gulenist)
- New Dimension Educational Foundation (Gulenist)
- School of Art Denton & School of Art Houston (proposed Gulen charter schools in Texas; New Dimension Educational Foundation was proposed charter holder)
Arif Kazanci
- Teacher, Harmony School of Advancement
- Assistant Principal, Dean of Academics, Albuquerque School of Excellence
- Assistant Principal, Dean of Academics, Harmony School of Innovation
- Assistant Principal, Dean of Academics, Teacher Harmony Science Academy
Cengizhan Keskin
- Cosmos Foundation
- Institute of Interfaith Dialog (Gulenist organization)
Turan Kilic
- Cosmos Foundation
- ISWEEEP advisory board (Gulenist competition)
- Institute of Interfaith Dialog (Gulenist)
Ersin Konkur
- Teacher, Dept. Head, Harmony School of Nature
- Math Department Head , Harmony
Public Schools-Forth Wort Cluster
- Teacher, Harmony Science Academy El Paso
- Teacher, Pinnacle Academy (private Gulen school in Virginia)
Burhanettin Kuruscu
- Harmony Science Academy
- Raindrop Turkish House (Gulenist organization)
Kemal "Mark" Namver
- Cosmos Foundation, Harmony Public Schools
- School of Science and Technology (SST) (Gulen charter school)
- Riverwalk Education Foundation (former charter holder of SST schools)
- Albuquerque School of Excellence (Gulen charter school)
- Advisory Board Member, ISWEEEP (Gulenist competition)
- Wife Maria Curtis, a professor of Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Studies at the University of Houston - Clear Lake, gave a talk on the Gulen Movement at a conference entitled Mapping the Gulen Movement in Amsterdam in 2010 (video). A page on the University of Houston - Clear Lake website indicates that she has worked to form ties between this university and Gulenist organizations such as the Turquoise Council and the Institute of Interfaith Dialog. It also states that she has "participated regularly" with the Turkish American Women's Association, another Gulenist organization. The fact that Ms. Curtis is married to Mr. Namver and has been a board member on several Gulenist organizations, and that she therefore is certainly no objective outside observer of the Gulen Movement, never seems to be mentioned in connection with her academic activities. Ms. Curtis was also one of the representatives, along with Kudbettin Aksoy, Osman Kanlioglu, and Osman Kazan, for two proposed Gulen charter schools that never materialized, namely the School of Art Denton and the School of Art Houston.
Fatih Oner
- Harmony Science Academy – Ft Worth
- Turkish Cultural Center Queens (Gulenist organization)
Mehmet Okumus
- Harmony Science Academy
- Cosmos Foundation
- Board President of Raindrop Foundation (Gulenist)
- Chairperson of Texas Turkish American Chamber of Commerce (Gulenist)
- Turkish Olympiads (competition run by the Gulen Movement)
- Turkic Fest - Houston 2010 (Gulenist)
Mekan Ovezmyradov
- Wrote 5 star review of Jiill Carroll’s book "A Dialogue of Civilizations."
- Teacher, Harmony Science Academy
Erhan Ozduran
- District Financial Manager, Harmony Public Schools
- Accountant, Target Design and Management, LLC (a.k.a. TDM, Gulenist corporation in TX)
- Business Manager, Hampden Charter School of Science (Gulen charter school in MA)
Ozgur Ozer
- Spoke as representative of Harmony School of Science charter schools to State Board of Education during application process, 2007
- Spoke as representative of New Dimension Math and Science School charter school to State Board of Education during application process, 2010
- Described as "associate" of Soner Tarim in writeup on Brian Talbott's 2007 Turkey trip; co-leader of this trip along with Soner Tarim and Veli Baysal
- Wrote 5 star review of Jiill Carroll’s book "A Dialogue of Civilizations." (The Gulen Movement asked Carroll to write this book; it gives a very flattering portrayal of Fethullah Gulen.)
- Director of Education, Texas Gulf Institute (Gulenist)
- Author, Fountain Magazine (premier publication of the Gulen Movement in the US; Fethullah Gulen writes the lead article of each issue)
- North American College (Gulenist)
Emre Ozturk
- Reporter, Samanyolu Yayin Holding (Gulenist publisher/media outlet)
- Teacher. Harmony Science Academy Laredo
- Teacher, Harmony Science Academy Lubbock
Alpaslan Sahin
- Harmony Science Academy Bryan College Station
- Institute of Interfaith Dialog (Gulenist)
- Southern Lighthouse Foundation (Gulenist organization)
Gokhan Sancar
- Technology Instructor, Brighten Technology Solutions (Gulenist corporation in Texas)
- Teacher, Harmony School of ingenuity
- Teacher, Harmony Science Academy Lubbock
Hasan Sazci
- Principal, Harmony Science Academy Odessa
- Teacher, Harmony Science Academy Dallas
- Principal, Assistant Principal, Abramson Science and Technology School, Louisiana (Gulen charter school)
Ibrahim Sel
- Cosmos Foundation
- Author, Fountain Magazine (premier publication of the Gulen Movement in the US; Fethullah Gulen writes the lead article of each issue)
- Founding principal, Sule College, Australian (private Gulen school with motto "The Golden Generation," well-known as a Gulenist catchphrase)
- Dove Science Academy Oklahoma City
Soner Tarim
- Superintendent, Harmony Charter Schools
- Cosmos Foundation (Gulenist)
- Leader of Gulenist Turkey trip of Brian Talbott: "With Dr. Tarim and his associates Veli Baysal (director of public relations, Raindrop Foundation, Houston, Texas) and Ozgur Ozer (principal, Harmony Elementary, Houston, Texas), we experienced the beauty of Turkey."
- ISWEEEP board (Gulenist)
Halil Ibrahim Tas
- Officer, Sky Foundation (charter holder of Gulen charter schools in Oklahoma)
- Superintendent, Harmony Public Schools, Austin (2009)
- Education faculty, North American University (Gulenist institution in Texas)
Ozgur Toycu
- Vice Principal, Dove Science Academy (Gulen charter school in Oklahoma)
- Teacher, Harmony Science Academy Austin
Muharrem Tunc, a.k.a. Muharrem Ali Tunc
- Harmony Science Academy Dallas
- Board Secretary, Frontier School of Innovation
- President, Intercultural & Interfaith Dialogue Student Association, University of Kansas (Gulenist)
- Wrote article on "A Dialogue of Civilizations" Book Signing Day with Dr. Jill Carroll (This book was commissioned by the Gulen Movement and portrays Gulen very favorably.)
- Lists Jill Carroll under "Activities and Interests" on Facebook
Vahap Uysal
- Applicant for one of first Harmony Science Academy charters in 2000
- Institute of Interfaith Dialog (Gulenist organization in Texas now renamed Dialogue Institute of the Southwest)
- Raindrop Turkish House, Oklahoma City (Gulenist organization)
Hakan Yagci
- Harmony Science Academy, Grand Prairie
- Principal, Harmony School of Nature & Athletics
- Dove Science Academy, Oklahoma (Gulen charter school)
- Institute of Interfaith Dialog (Gulenist organization)
Alp Yaradanakul (a.k.a. Muhammet Alparslan Yaradanakul)
- Director, Texas Turkish American Chamber of Commerce (Gulenist organization)
- Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians (Gulenist organization)
- Macrocosm Services and Solutions LLC (Gulenist corporation)
- Institute of Interfaith Dialog (Gulenist organization)
- Guide, Gulenist Turkey trip sponsored by Institute of Interfaith Dialog
- Wife Muberra Yaradanakul is affiliated with Cosmos Foundation and Harmony Public Schools
Muberra Yaradanakul
- Special Education Director, Cosmos Foundation
- Dean of Academics, Harmony Science Academy Dallas
- Wife of Alp Yaradanakul
- Institute of Interfaith Dialog (Gulenist organization)
Cafer "Jeff" T. Yavuz
- Mentoring students at Rainbow International School, a private Gulen school in Seoul, South Korea, for Gulenist competitions such as ISWEEEP and INEPO.
- Said to be "good friends" with Mr. Emin, the principal of Rainbow International School.
- ISWEEEP board member (organized by the Cosmos Foundation)
- Guest speaker at an AMSP camp organized by the Accord Institute (Gulenist organization affiliated with several Gulen charter schools in the western US)
- Wrote 5 star review of Jiill Carroll’s book "A Dialogue of Civilizations." (The Gulen Movement asked Carroll to write this book; it gives a very flattering portrayal of Fethullah Gulen.)
- Pacifica Institute (Gulenist)
- Coordinator of Gulen Conference in Los Angeles
- Secretary, Representative, Institute of Interfaith Dialog, Houston (Gulenist)
- Speaker at interfaith dinner, Institute of Interfaith Dialog, Little Rock Arkansas
- Lists Muhammed Cetin of the Institute of Interfaith Dialog as a non-academic reference (Cetin is a major figure in the Gulen movement)
- Studied at Yamanlar Lisesi (Gulenist high school)
- Wrote two articles for Fountain Magazine (premier publication of the Gulen Movement in the US; Fethullah Gulen writes the lead article of each issue)
Muhammet Sait Yavuz, a.k.a. Muhammet Yavuz, Sait Yavuz, M. Sait Yavuz, Said Yavuz, Savit Yavuz
- "an administrator at the Gulen Schools in Texas" and "a noted expert in Gulen schools from the University of Houston" - verbatim quotes from Fall 2009 Vol. 4 No. 1 issue of The Tower, a newsletter of the University of Central Oklahoma
- Employer listed as "Cosmos Foundation" for campaign contribution of $500 to Alma Allen on April 19, 2012 (link)
- Gulen Institute, University of Houston
Ilker Yilmaz
- Harmony Science Academy – Odessa Principal
- LISA Academy, Arkansas (Gulen charter school)
- Frontier School of Innovation, Missouri (Gulen charter school)
Kerim Yuksel
- Harmony Science Academy
- Raindrop Turkish House (Gulenist)
- Macrocosm Services and Solutions LLC (Gulenist corporation)
Zekeriya Yuksel
- Harmony Science Academy - San Antonio
- Dove Science Academy (Gulen charter school)