Truebright Science Academy: Evidence of Affiliation with Gulen Movement
October 14, 2010 last updated Jan 3, 2012
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools
Truebright Science Academy is a publicly-funded charter school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its connection to the Fethullah Gulen Movement is shown by the multiple affiliations, both past and present, of the following individuals.
Baki Acikel
- Member, Board of Trustees, Truebright Science Academy
- Turkish Cultural Center New Jersey (Gulenist organization)
Tansu Cidav
- Acting Chief Executive Officer, Truebright Science Academy, 2011
- Principal, Harmony Science Academy North Austin, 2009-10 (Gulen charter school)
Murat Dundar a.k.a. Mehmet Murat Dundar
- Founding board member, Truebright Science Academy
- Board member, Indiana Math and Science Academy (Gulen charter school)
- President, Philadelphia Dialogue Forum (Gulenist organization)
Bekir Duz
- 2011-12 CEO, Truebright Science Academy
- 2008-11 Principal, Central Jersey College Prep
- 2007-08 Bergen Arts and Science Charter School
- West Penn Cultural Center (Gulenist organization) From a March 10, 2006 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "Bekir Duz, a board member of the cultural center, said the group follows the teachings of M. Fethullah Gulen."
Ihsan Isik
- Founding Board Member, Truebright Science Academy
- Board Member, Consultant, Paterson Charter School, Paterson NJ, 2001 (Gulen charter school)
- Founding Board Member, Consultant, Lyceum Charter School Project, Philadelphia PA, 2002 (proposed Gulen charter school)
- Founding President, Treasurer, Philadelphia Dialog Forum (Gulenist organization)
- CEO of the American Turkish Chamber of Commerce (ATCOM), the US arm of MUSIAD
Mehmet Ozhabes
- Member, Board of Trustees, Founder, Truebright Science Academy
- Founder, Central Jersey College Prep Charter School (Gulen charter school)
- Applicant, Contact Person, Westchester Academy of Science NY 2009 (proposed Gulen charter school)
- Board Member, Turkish Cultural Center (Gulenist organization)
Riza Ulker
- CEO/Principal Truebright Science Academy
- Founding Member, Young Scholars of Central Pennsylvania Charter School (Gulen charter school)
- Lead petitioner, Camden Charter School of Achievement NJ 2009 (proposed Gulen charter school)
- Head, Dream Schools; affiliated with and involved in real estate transaction with proposed Young Scholars of Western Pennsylvania Charter School (Gulen charter school)
- Founder, Snowdrop Science Academy, Monroeville PA (private Gulen school no longer in operation)