OKLAHOMA CITY —A teacher at a charter school in Oklahoma City has been accused of molesting a 14-year-old student, according to court documents.Pascal Wayne Jones, 42, of Edmond, has been charged with 10 counts of forcible oral sodomy, five counts of rape by instrumentation and 10 counts of lewd acts with a child under 16 years old.
| STATE | # ACTIVE | # PENDING | # INACTIVE* | TOTAL |
| OK | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| DOVE SCIENCE ACADEMY-TULSA | |
| Status | ACTIVE, opened in 2000 |
| Management | Sky Foundation, in partnership with the Cosmos Foundation |
| Authorizer | Langston University (in exchange for 5% of the school’s funding). Tulsa Public Schools was the original sponsor but denied DSA’s renewal in 2009. |
| Location/District | 280 South Memorial Drive, Tulsa /Tulsa Public Schools |
| Website | |
| Enrollment | Grades 6-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 395 |
| Notes | In 2005, TPS ordered the school to stop screening students. http://www.redorbit.com/news/education/223280/charter_school_revises_practice/index.html ; the Tulsa school board unanimously voted to deny renewal in October 2009 (“Citing concerns about services for special education students...” etc.), then gave the school a one year extension; http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=298&articleid=20091026_298_0_Citing976068 Principal: Abidin Erez |
| DOVE SCIENCE ACADEMY-OKC | |
| Status | ACTIVE, opened in 2001 |
| Management | Sky Foundation, in partnership with the Cosmos Foundation |
| Authorizer | Oklahoma City Public Schools |
| Location/District | 919 Northwest 23rd Street, Oklahoma City / Oklahoma City Public Schools |
| Website | |
| Enrollment | Grades 6-12; 2010-11 enrollment = 458 |
| Notes | Principal: Barbaras Aslan; Executive Director: Kaan Camuz |
| DOVE SCIENCE ACADEMY ELEMENTARY-OKC | |
| Status | ACTIVE, opened in 2008 |
| Management | Sky Foundation, in partnership with the Cosmos Foundation |
| Authorizer | Oklahoma City Public Schools |
| Location/District | 4901 N. Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City / Oklahoma City Public Schools |
| Website | |
| Enrollment | Grade K-5; 2010-11 enrollment = 304 |
| Notes | Principal: Hasan Suzuk; Executive Director: Kaan Camuz |
| DISCOVERY SCHOOL OF TULSA | |
| Status | ACTIVE, opened in 2009 |
| Management | Sky Foundation, in partnership with the Cosmos Foundation |
| Authorizer | Langston University |
| Location | 4821 South 72nd East Avenue, Tulsa |
| Website | |
| Enrollment | Grades K-8; 2010-11 enrollment = 400 |
| Notes | Principal: Fevzi Simsek; Executive Director: Kaan Camuz (2011) http://sde.state.ok.us/Schools/CharterSch/pdf/CharterSchCon.pdf |
| SKY FOUNDATION, INC. dba DOVE SCIENCE ACADEMY | |
| Federal Tax ID | EIN 731578930 |
| Website | None |
| History | Schools chartered “by Turkish immigrants studying at Oklahoma State University.” (The Oklahoman, 1/1/2006); “...the founders of the school had the vision of creating a place that emphasized math and science...” (NewsOK, 3/28/2011); |
| Individuals involved | Names appearing on Sky Foundation Form 990s (2002-2009): Birol Furat, Birol Ozturk, A.Y. [Ali Yavuz] Zeybek, Elvan Ceyhan, Fevzi Simsek, Gultekin Kaya, Hakan Yagci, Halil Ibrahim Tas, Hasan Buzuk, Ihsan Kara, Ilhan Guzey, Can Topuz, Kamil Celik, Orhan Kucukosman, Volkan Cicek, Ilker Gure, Yalcin Akyildiz, Zekeriya Yuksel, and Zeynei Gunay. |
| Notes | Until 2009, the Form 990s listed the address is 4444 N. Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City. Also listed at this address is the Oklahoma City branch of Raindrop Turkish House, a regional Gulenist “cultural” organization. |
| COSMOS FOUNDATION / HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS | |
| Federal Tax ID | EIN 76-0615245 |
| Website | |
| Services | Cosmos gets 3% of the Sky Foundation’s annual state funding because of their “Support Service Agreement.” |
| Individuals involved | Names appearing on IRS Form 990s (2002 to 2009): Ali Tekin, Bilal Akin, Burhanettin Kuruscu, Cengizhan Keskin, Cocksun Cetinkaya, Ellen A. MacDonald, Fatih Yigit, Gokturk Tunc, Ibrahim Sel, Iker Gure, Ismet S. Isik, Kadir Almus, Kudbettin Aksoy, Levent Bulut, Lynn Mitchell, Mehmet Okumus, Mustafa Atik, Mustafa Guvercin, Mustafa Ozen, Nihat Guvercin, Oner Ulvi Celepicikay, Ozgur Ozer, Selahattin Aydin, Soner Tarim, Tevik Eski, Umit Pecin, Yetkin Yildirim |
A woman who quit her job to become a teacher at a new prekindergarten expansion program of the Deborah Brown Community School is suing the charter school for breach of contract after it abandoned plans for the program just days before its scheduled opening…
Bollinger's suit states "that the statements of the Defendants relating to the terms of employment were untrue at the time they were made," and that the false statements were "made with the intent to induce the Plaintiff to leave her previous job and enter into the employment agreement with the school."
Bollinger is seeking a monetary judgment plus punitive damages. Her suit names as defendants the charter school; its founder and director, Deborah Brown; and Harold Roberts, director of development and public affairs…
When the Tulsa World first reported that Deborah Brown Community School was abandoning its plan for the pre-K program after students had already enrolled and just days before the opening, Roberts denied that the prekindergarten program ever existed…
Two weeks later, the Tulsa World obtained documents through an open-records request showing that the school had a one-year, $25,000 lease on 2,091 square feet in two suites in a building at 5157 E. 51st St. and receipts from the city of Tulsa for occupancy permits to accommodate 40 students at the site.
At that time, Roberts and Bingham acknowledged that the school had, in fact, planned to open a new prekindergarten program for 4-year-olds but said the school needed 100 students to make the new program "economically viable" and that they had only 18.
A teacher at a Tulsa charter school is suspended after the school says the teacher kissed an 11-year-old student on the cheek and then made an inappropriate joke. The incident happened at Discovery School of Tulsa, a charter school on Friday but was reported to the school principal on Monday by the child's parent.
The school sent an email to all parents Tuesday.
"I think every parent is alarmed when they hear that there is something going on- something inappropriate with a teacher and student. But, I read through the whole email and there were certain things in the email that set me at ease," says one parent who got the email. The parent, who has a kindergarten student, attending Discovery School of Tulsa believes the parent would have called police immediately if the allegation rose to a different level.
"And the fact that the parent of the student in this incident handled it in that way...made me think it was, maybe, inappropriate for the teacher to do but it is not a major threat to the children of the school," says the parent.
Still, the school says the first year teacher is suspended and Tulsa Police are looking into the incident.
Because public charter schools are exempt from the state minimum salary schedule, some local teachers earn thousands of dollars less than their counterparts teaching in traditional districts.
Each year, the Oklahoma State Department of Education produces a minimum salary guideline for public school teachers. The guideline increases teachers' salaries as their teaching experience and education increase…
Some local public charter schools, however, do not meet the minimum because of budget problems, administrators said.
Kaan Camuz, the superintendent of Discovery School of Tulsa and Dove Science academies in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, said the schools negotiate contracts with each teacher individually.
Education Department data show that often, the schools' pay does not meet the state's minimum salary standards.
"We would like to pay even more to our teachers, but with the budget cuts, we have to wait," Camuz said.According to the state's database, at least 17 teachers at Discovery and Dove are paid less than the state's minimum.
One second-year teacher with a bachelor's degree at Dove Science Academy, for example, earns a total of $27,300 - or about $4,600 less than the state's minimum salary schedule for a person with a degree and one year of experience.
Camuz, who earned $75,000, said the schools usually pay more to math and science teachers because the schools emphasize those subjects. The state data, however, show that teachers of other subjects sometimes get as much, if not more, than math and science teachers…
Because public charter schools are exempt from the state minimum salary schedule, some local teachers earn thousands of dollars less than their counterparts teaching in traditional districts.Each year, the Oklahoma State Department of Education produces a minimum salary guideline for public school teachers. The guideline increases teachers' salaries as their teaching experience and education increase…Some local public charter schools, however, do not meet the minimum because of budget problems, administrators said.Kaan Camuz, the superintendent of Discovery School of Tulsa and Dove Science academies in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, said the schools negotiate contracts with each teacher individually.Education Department data show that often, the schools' pay does not meet the state's minimum salary standards."We would like to pay even more to our teachers, but with the budget cuts, we have to wait," Camuz said.According to the state's database, at least 17 teachers at Discovery and Dove are paid less than the state's minimum.One second-year teacher with a bachelor's degree at Dove Science Academy, for example, earns a total of $27,300 - or about $4,600 less than the state's minimum salary schedule for a person with a degree and one year of experience.Camuz, who earned $75,000, said the schools usually pay more to math and science teachers because the schools emphasize those subjects. The state data, however, show that teachers of other subjects sometimes get as much, if not more, than math and science teachers…
A Tulsa teenager pleaded guilty Monday to raping an 11-year-old student at a Tulsa school.Donnie D. Johnson, 18, is to be sentenced July 19.Tulsa County District Judge William Kellough ordered Johnson, who had been free on bond, placed in the Tulsa Jail after his guilty plea.A Department of Corrections background report will be prepared before his sentencing. Johnson has no agreement with prosecutors concerning his punishment.Assistant District Attorney Jack Thorp said he will request prison time.Johnson, who was then 17, was charged in December 2008 with the first-degree rape of a sixth-grade student by force and violence at Dove Science Academy, 280 S. Memorial Drive.Johnson, who was a high school student, and the girl both attended the Dove charter school.Johnson is alleged to have raped the girl in a school rest-room on Dec. 11, 2008. He was arrested that day…The girl told police that “an older boy named Donnie” followed her into the restroom, pulled his pants down, pulled her pants down, and raped her on the floor, reports indicate.A civil lawsuit was filed last year in Tulsa County District Court on behalf of the girl and her mother against Dove Science Academy Foundation-Tulsa Inc., records show.A $100,000 settlement was reached, with the plaintiffs’ law firm getting $40,000 in compensation for its services.A judge approved a payment of $5,000 to the girl’s mother and an investment of $55,000 in an annuity on the girl’s behalf, records show.
Citing concerns about services for special education students and the legality of consequences for certain behavior infractions, the Tulsa school board voted unanimously Monday to end its sponsorship of Dove Science Academy, one of the city’s longest-operating charter schools...The school board’s charter school committee had recommended that Dove Science Academy’s request for a five-year contract renewal be denied.Board member Ruth Ann Fate, who serves as the committee chairwoman, questioned the school’s special education and disciplinary practices and claimed that the school has failed to comply with a laundry list of terms in its contract with TPS.“The documentation submitted by Dove regarding its special education services and programs demonstrates substantive compliance problems in the IEPs (individualized education programs) developed. … This strongly suggests that Dove is plugging all special-needs students into one system rather than making individualized decisions,” Fate said, reading from a prepared statement.She also cited “myriad deficiencies” in Dove’s student discipline handbook, including expulsion as a consequence and the withholding of student records in certain disciplinary cases, both of which are not allowed under Oklahoma law...
Tulsa Public Schools will review the enrollment practices at a charter school that has been asking applicants for information about their academic and discipline records.A Tulsa World review of charter school applications found that Dove Science Academy asks if potential students have ever been suspended from any school, if they ever skipped or repeated a grade, and to list their honors, awards, clubs and activities.Gary Lytal, assistant to the superintendent for school and district accountability, said the questions are improper because charter schools are "open enrollment" schools that must admit students regardless of past discipline or academic issues."To me, they should not be asking those questions. I think they use a random drawing, so there would be no reason to ask those questions," Lytal said.State Superintendent Sandy Garrett also said charter schools cannot consider such information in admitting students under Oklahoma law."Our charter schools in Oklahoma are public schools. Some have certain themes but none are allowed to discriminate," Garrett said.Assistant Superintendent LaVerne Ford Wimberly said she will seek a review of Dove Science Academy's enrollment practices."I expect them to enroll (students) based on space available -- first come, first serve. There should not be any discriminatory practice on the part of our charter schools," Wimberly said. "I will be asking for a review to determine whether the questions are being used for the excluding of students. If they are, I will have to make some recommendations to the principal, Mr. Yuksel."Dove Science Academy served about 410 students in grades 6-12 last year. It was one of the first charter schools to open after the passage of the Oklahoma Charter School Act in 1999.It is located in a former church building at 280 S. Memorial Drive.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.Mustafa Dove, whose name was also listed as Mustafa Guvercin on his school's Web site, said the Tulsa school has used the same application since it opened. [guvercin translates to n. pigeon, dove]"If they are objecting, that is not a problem for us to withdraw (the questions) from the application. That's not that big of a deal," Dove said.He said the school has always drawn more applicants than it has had openings, so it has had to conduct a lottery to enroll students every year."Admission to the school is not on these issues, because there is a lottery at the end of the application deadline," Dove said.Dove said the school does conduct interviews with potential students and their parents when they apply."We have an interview process. We explain our expectations, if they are suspended, even if they are not -- we go through our rules - - and explain our expectations to see if their expectations match with ours," he said.Dove also answered questions about a statement in the student handbook that reads, "Any student suspended during the school year may be denied registration to Dove Science Academy the following year."Lytal said a suspension should have no bearing on a student's enrollment in an open enrollment school once they have fulfilled the term of the suspension.Of the statement in the handbook, Dove said: "This is here for encouragement for the students and to motivate them not to break the rules. In five years, there is no one we can recall who we didn't accept just because of this reason."We are not trying to expel students; we are here to educate students. We are being successful. We have lots of success," he added.In April 2001, some Tulsa school board members said they were concerned that Dove and Deborah Brown Community School, the only two charter schools in existence in Tulsa at the time, were limiting their admissions and rejecting students with disciplinary problems.Tulsa Superintendent David Sawyer said then that he had received several reports of Dove students being asked to withdraw from the school and return to their home public schools to avoid suspensions.He urged Dove administrators to "seriously review" their policy.A recent Tulsa World review shows that the other two Tulsa charter schools' applications are similar to the Tulsa Public Schools' enrollment form.The Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences and Deborah Brown Community School ask applicants for information including their name, birth date, parent or guardian names, contact information and last school attended.
Company Name
|
Dove Science Academy
|
NAICS Industry
|
Educational Services
|
Economic Sector
|
Educational Services
|
Most Popular H1B Visa Address
|
919 NW 23rd Street Oklahoma City, OK 73106
|
Busiest H1B Visa Contact
|
Mustafa Guvercin, Principal*
|
Sponsor Rank
|
1,778
|
H1B Visa 2009
|
37
|
H1B Visa Salary 2009
|
$36,259
|
Green Card 2009
|
-
|
Green Card Salary 2009
|
-
|
H1B Visa 2001 - 2010
|
185
|
H1B Denied 2001-2010
|
3
|
PERM Total 2005-2010
|
22
|
PERM Denied 2005-2010
|
9
|
PERM Withdrawn 2005-2008
|
-
|
Green Card 2000 - 2010
|
41
|
Total Visa Petitions
|
226
|
Company Name
|
Dove Science Academy - Oklahoma City
|
NAICS Industry
| |
Economic Sector
| |
Most Popular H1B Visa Address
|
919 NW 23th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73106
|
Busiest H1B Visa Contact
|
Mustafa Guvercin, Principal
|
Sponsor Rank
|
8,224
|
H1B Visa 2009
|
26
|
H1B Visa Salary 2009
|
$35,045
|
Green Card 2009
|
-
|
Green Card Salary 2009
|
-
|
H1B Visa 2001 - 2010
|
48
|
H1B Denied 2001-2010
|
-
|
PERM Total 2005-2010
| |
PERM Denied 2005-2010
|
-
|
PERM Withdrawn 2005-2008
|
-
|
Green Card 2000 - 2010
|
-
|
Total Visa Petitions
|
48
|
