PEORIA -- The principal at Peoria's Quest Charter School, Engin Karatas, who uses the last name 'Blackstone' (reportedly the meaning of 'Karatas' in English), worked at Gulen Movement schools in Ohio under investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The Labor Department is investigating abuse of H1-B visas issued by the U.S. government to foreign workers if they provide "specialized services" in the United States.
Karatas' resume, obtained from the Quest school, shows that he worked at Horizon Science Academy Toledo Charter School, Toledo, Ohio, as principal from 2007-2010. From 2006-2007 he was assistant principal at Horizon Science Academy Denison Middle Charter School in Cleveland, Ohio.
Both schools are manged by Concept Schools, the same organization managing Peoria's Quest School. And both are mentioned in a recent story from WEWS, Channel 5, Cleveland, an ABC affiliate, as part of the investigation.
It states: "Federal investigators asked Horizon Science Academy Denison, in Cleveland, for all its H1-B visa documentation. U.S. Immigration records showed 53 H-1B visas were issued to Horizon Schools statewide in 2008 and 2009." Horizon Schools is run by Concept Schools, it says.
There was also a financial investigation into funds used by these schools. State of Ohio "auditors found immigration fees and legal fees for school officials' families and others living in Turkey. In some cases, auditors found payments were made to individuals who were never employed by any of the schools.
"Auditors found 19 Turkish immigrants were paid nearly $13,000 for what they called 'illegal immigration fees.' "
The Gulen-Concept Schools in Ohio "received more than $27 million in public funds, including federal stimulus money aimed at putting Americans back to work," the story states.
The story continues: "In the wake of our investigation, Concept Schools have now fully repaid all illegal immigration and legal fees cited by state auditors for its Cleveland and Toledo schools. Similar fees for its Columbus school remain unpaid, but Concept School officials said they will repay those funds as well.
"Concept Schools had previously argued to state auditors that those fees were legal expenses, similar to moving expenses.
"A spokesperson for the Ohio Attorney General's Office, which is charged with collection of unpaid fees, confirmed that Concept Schools resolved the unpaid funds just hours before our investigation aired."
The story does not say that the Department of Labor's investigation into visa abuse has ended.
Concept Schools issued a news release refuting the allegations. It states reasons for the visa and financial issues, and implies that they have been resolved.
Karatas/Blackstone's resume also contains some oddities. He states he was a math teacher from 1997-2000 at "Baku Private college, Baku Azerbaijan," but no such school exists. Instead it is a high school. See previous blog post of June 17.
And it states that he holds an "MA in Educational Leadership" from "Marian College, Milwaukee, Wisc."
Again, this college does not exist. There is a Marian University (formerly Marian College), in Fond du Lac, WIsc., 70 miles from Milwaukee. It's a reputable institution, and accredited. And there's a Marian University in West Allis, WI, which offers on-line degree programs, according to a Google search.
A request on June 20 for a brief phone interview with Karatas/Blackstone has not received a response. I will send a link to this story to the Quest School's email address, and ask him to comment.
The Illinois Charter School Act does not require any credentials for charter school principals, a major loophole in the law.
Quest, a middle school that is slated to become a high school, this year will receive $728,000 from Peoria District 150, plus donations from other sources.
The Quest School Board is made up of 10 community leaders, five with known ties to Caterpillar, Inc., which has pledged $500,000 to the school, to be matched by community donations. Others benefit from Caterpillar, Inc. donations.
Minutes of the board meetings can be found on the Peoria Charter School Initiative website.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Update: Quest School administrative assistant Susan Stenger later emailed to say that the school is now closed for 3 weeks and Blackstone is out of town.
Update 6/28/11: Here's an excellent story on charter schools from the NPR interview show Fresh Air. It mentions Ohio as under investigation, but also shows how well run charter schools can make a difference. Otherwise, the problems the reporter encountered in Philadelphia sound a lot like District 150, including the nepotism.
They always leave the country for a family emergency or something of this sort when they are being questioned.
Blackstone aka KARATAS taught at the Gulen Managed Horizon Science Academy. Not part of the Gulen Movement? That is just a plain lie or Taqiyya. Shame on the Gulhttp://gulencharterschools.weebly.com/quest-charter-academy---denials-and-evidence.htmlen Movement for deceiving Americans.
Posted by: jo jo Case | June 22, 2011 at 02:30 AM
Comment from Ed Dentino:
> This Charter School craze is just one of the continuous series of innovations that sweep institutions in a Tulip Bulb style mania. Guess that the big dogs just have to pull a wagon to show they are having some effect on the world.
>
> The people involved in this scenario sound like made up fiction, school board, Turkish administer, Cat officials. It is more than a local phenom - they are reinforced to believe they are doing something progressive. Can't they just do some analysis and observation, and see past their prejudices and decide what can and should be done? It could be more effective and less expensive than the run to the expert (someone with a briefcase from over 50 miles away) games they are playing now.
Posted by: Elaine Hopkins | June 22, 2011 at 08:21 PM
What a hysteria and blindness!
Not seen dedication and numerous hour of efforts of the devoted staff members.Actions speaks laughter than words. At the end of the day, "Hatred Is always Overcome Only Through Love"
Posted by: Steven | June 25, 2011 at 05:45 AM
Two more examples of the not-being-available-to-respond excuse.
"Shana Kemp, a School District spokeswoman, said that the district had just learned Riza Ulker, Truebright's permanent CEO, was on extended sick leave and that it would look into that."
http://articles.philly.com/2011-03-20/news/29148147_1_gulen-schools-gulen-followers-charter-schools/2
"Dove Principal Zekeriya Yuksel is currently out of the country, so the principal of its affiliated charter school in Oklahoma City, also called Dove Science Academy, responded to questions about the application."
http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/182220/tps_questions_academys_applications/
Posted by: gmtracker | July 03, 2011 at 11:37 AM