21st Century Charter School


PARENTS BOYCOTT CHARTER SCHOOL; May 10, 2006; Post-Tribune (Gary, IN)
A parental uprising at 21st Century charter school led to a class boycott and an overflow of parents at a School Board meeting Tuesday. The fledgling charter school that lured 220 students from Gary public schools is nearing the close of its debut year with a $100,000 deficit, a sudden change in principals, and criticism from parents over topics ranging from school resources to lack of learning…

Michelle Williams said her son is not learning skills required for his grade. Instead of doing seventh-grade algebra, he's doing basic addition and subtraction, she said, causing her to supplement his studies at home.

Williams also said the school had not kept its promise of providing one computer for every two children. Chief Executive Officer Kevin Teasley of the school's management company GEO said that was untrue.

Williams, whose son boycotted Tuesday, said she might decide to withdraw him altogether.

One parent, who said her child was injured at school, complained that the school promised a nurse, counselor, and social worker but had provided none.

Teasley said the school is looking to hire a nurse.

GEO also was criticized for the decision to make former teacher and director of operations Tamika Chambers the principal after Leonard Brown resigned abruptly last week.

While some parents whisper he was forced out, Teasley and other staffers said he resigned at an administrative retreat without coercion.

Parents criticized Chambers for failing a majority of students in her classes for things like failing to bring in assignments.

Chambers has a master's degree in business administration, a teaching certificate, is working on her doctorate, but lacks an administrative license…

Liz Rendell, parent outreach coordinator, said parents have been concerned about teacher behavior: one child was disciplined by being hit with four drumsticks, while another student, she alleged, was "touched improperly."

"I've had my children out since Thursday," Rendell said, who also expressed concerns about a teacher viewing Internet pornography at school.

Teasley said two teachers were suspended for a week for the drumstick and touching incidents…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TEACHER'S AIDE CHARGED IN CHOKING INCIDENT; May 27, 2006; Post-Tribune (Gary, IN)
A teacher's aide was charged this week with using a garbage bag to choke a student is on unpaid administrative leave, school officials said Friday. Clarence B. English Jr., 25, was charged with neglect of dependent in connection with the Feb. 15 incident at 21st Century Charter School.

"Mr. English has been suspended until further notice without pay and will not be allowed to return to the school building pending the outcome of his case," the school's general counsel Dana Johnson, said Friday.

An arrest warrant has been issued for English, who told Detective Cpl. Nelson Otano he would turn himself in after charges were filed…

English was in a social studies class when he and a 12-year-old student exchanged words. The boy and two classmates told police English used a plastic garbage bag to choke the victim until his eyes turned red and he was unable to breathe, court records state.

After the incident, "we had a visit with the mother and apologized. The mother had accepted the apology and so did the student," Kevin Teasley, CEO for the school's management company said Friday…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

LOCAL CHARTER SCHOOLS CITED BY INDIANA STATE BOARD OF ACCOUNTS; March 31, 2011; The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster, IN) 
The Indiana State Board of Accounts has released reports on three local charter schools, citing examples of poor record-keeping and money management.

Reports were released in mid-March on the 21st Century Charter School of Gary, Charter School of the Dunes in Gary and the East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy. All three reports covered the period of July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2010.

The educational management company for Charter School of the Dunes and the East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy is Chicago-based American Quality Schools. The management company for 21st Century Charter is Indianapolis-based GEO Foundations.

Paul Joyce, deputy state examiner, characterized the problems in all three reports as an overall lack of internal control procedures established by the charter school boards and the management company for the schools. He said they are either not following the controls in place or don't have controls to follow…

With the expansion of charter schools across the state, Joyce said the Indiana State Board of Accounts workload has increased dramatically. He said if the Indiana Legislature approves the current language for charter schools, board of accounts officials hope to get the authority to establish internal control policies and procedures for charter schools to meet minimum standards…

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

that school is a joke...and Kevin Teasley...should be investigated immediately if not sooner!

Anonymous said...

The culture and the climate of the school is one that makes learning almost impossible. Since i've left there as a teacher I can say that you receive NO support from the lead principal, and the negative attitude that he feels toward blacks is shameful. I am a little disappointed in myself for even going along with this for the time that i did. Just to give the associate principal mrs c.d-bul a hard time because of chris wanting to get rid of her. parents should either get behind the administration that cares or pull their kids out of that school all together.

Anonymous said...

Kevin Teasley is not concerned about the African American students in Gary he's concerned about how much money he can suck out of Gary, Indiana...Chris Evans the Principal is no better...he talks a good game but goes along with the charade...leader...he couldnt lead a horse to water...the school is on their 4th HS principal in 2 years...and the one they have now cant wait to leave...100% graduation rate...what a joke...how many of those students finish...almost none...heck the two they sent to IUPUI got arrested for armed robbery...citizens of Gary wake up and throw this Teasley and Evans bunch out with the trash!

Anonymous said...

I agree with every word they are all about the money and run off anyone who cares

Anonymous said...

Kevin Teasley needs to be indicted for fraud...Chris Evans was just fired so the revolving door continues...and the gentlemen left in charge there need to look in the mirror and ask themselves...is selling out the Gary Community worth their self dignity all for a paycheck?

Anonymous said...

and now the 21st Centurys Principals nephew has been charged with murder...isnt the Cherry family special!

Anonymous said...

if you look at 21st Century Charter Schools leadership down in Indianapolis...not one person is African American...yet they know whats good for our community...they have cameras all over the school in Gary to monitor employees...yet they say its for security...they eat very well down in Indy with their extravagant luncheons and even have nerf gun fights at the Indianapolis Headquarters to boost their moral (thinking they are in silicon valley)...while our children in Gary kids eat slop for lunch and dont even have enough textbooks in the classrooms...the turnover rate is ridiculous but Kevin Teasley says all is well...as long as the checks from Governor Pence (his buddy) keep rolling in...Williams, Haskins, and Cherry wake up and do whats right for our kids...a paycheck is not worth the damage thats being done!