More change for Quest Charter Academy

Ali Kuran, new Principal at
Quest Charter Academy

Administrative turn over continues at Quest Charter Academy. The school, which is constantly changing, will be transitioning to a high school without it's founding Principal, Engin Blackstone.

After two tumultuous years at Quest, Blackstone is out and moving on as a Regional Superintendent. Quest also lost two deans this past year, Dean Stockman and Dean Armstrong. The charter school has also experienced significant changes on their school board, with the appointment of two new board members - Marcia Bolden and Tom Fliege - who were appointed to replace Roberta Parks and Al Hooks. Parks is leaving with a year left on her term and Hooks' term expired.

Quest's new principal, is a current Concept Schools employee and will be coming from Horizon Science Academy, which is currently in continuous improvement.

Administrative changes at Quest Charter Academy

As it prepares to open its high school program, Quest Charter Academy has announced administrative changes for the 2012-2013 school year.

The PCSI Board appointed Mr. Ali Kuran, as the new principal at Quest Charter Academy at their July 24, 2012 meeting.

Mr. Kuran was most recently the Director at Horizon Science Academy, a Concept Schools-managed community school in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Kuran has spent his entire educational career at Horizon Science Academies in Ohio. He started as a Mathematics teacher in 2003 at Horizon Columbus and became the Dean of Academics in 2005 at the Horizon Columbus High School. From there, Mr. Kuran transferred to Horizon Dayton in 2006 as the Dean of Academics. He took over the Directorship position in February 2009 and has been serving as a school leader since then. (click images to enlarge)

A Plus = “Excellent with Distinction   A = “Excellent”

B = “Effective”  C = “Continuous Improvement”

D = “Academic Watch”   F = “Academic Emergency”

Ali Kuran graduated from Bosphorus University in Istanbul where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. He later continued his education at University of Dayton and earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. Mr. Kuran currently holds an Ohio 5-yr Professional Principal License and a 5-yr Professional Teaching License in Mathematics.

Transitioning amidst constant change at
Quest Charter Academy

As a committed educator, Mr. Kuran is dedicated to seeing youth receive a quality education in a caring community school while learning the importance of shaping their own future. He has a great deal of passion for working with students, parents, staff and the entire community. Over the past three years, he played a key role in the expansion of Horizon in Dayton. Number of schools increased from one to three and enrollment increased from 175 to almost 600. Mr. Kuran has built relationships with area colleges and Horizon is now partnering with University of Dayton, Wright State University and Cedarville University.

At a later date, Quest Charter Academy will hold a press conference to introduce Mr. Kuran to the community in conjunction with a ribbon cutting at its newest location, the former Columbia Middle School on Bootz Avenue. Source

District #150 expected to terminate agreement with Concept Schools in 2015

It is reported in today's newspaper that in 2015, we can expect Peoria District 150 to terminate the agreement with Concept Schools, the management company for Quest Charter Academy. Read the entire article here...

The prediction is odd, considering the article is about the future of Quest Charter Academy and their efforts to expand into a high school. Additionally, in the article, Grenita Lathan, Superintendent of schools, is quoted as stating, "I'm excited about the success at Quest."

It's all quite contradictory. If the future of Quest is all good and 150 is all pleased, why would they terminate the agreement in 2015. I'm confused, is this a typo?

It should also be pointed out that the article is misleading about who holds the contract with Concept Schools.

District 150 has a contract with Peoria Charter School Initiative (PCSI). It is PCSI who hired Concept Schools to manage Quest Charter Academy. Concept Schools hired the Principal and the Business Manager to run Quest Charter Academy. PCSI, along with input from the Principal, hired the teachers, janitors and other administrators in the building, but they are Concept employees.

The distinction as to who holds the contract is important, as the ability to track accountability in charter schools is one of the largest complaints from folks who oppose charter schools.