Search Results

Meet Our Staff Contact us using our standard email address convention Firstname.Lastname@telra.org John Ozer 4-8 Principal John Ozer is an accomplished educator with over 25 years of experience in the field in the U.S. and Internationally. He began his career as a science teacher, teaching subjects ranging from Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Science, and Earth Sciences to middle and high school students. He then transitioned to an administrative role, serving as a K-8 principal for eight years and a high school principal for six years. Principal Ozer is passionate about creating positive and engaging learning environments for students. He believes that schools should be places where students can find their passion and explore new ideas to become confident individuals. He is excited to be part of the Telra community and looks forward to collaborating with teachers, paren ts, and community members to create a positive and engaging learning environment for all students. Outside of work, Principal Ozer enjoys spending time with his family. He has been married for 20 years and has a daughter and a son. He loves to travel, cook, learn about information technology, and watch science documentaries and soccer games. He is a passionate fan of Chelsea FC. Education: MEd, Education Administration, University of South Carolina MEd, Curriculum and Instruction, American College of Education BS, Chemistry and Education, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey Back to Directory

Grades and Trajectories All of our students follow the Telra Institute course of study. However, each student follows their own trajectory through that course of study. That means students can progress at different rates in different subject areas, some may go fast er or slower at times, some may need extra support or enrichment, some may skip over content they already know, and some may need to repeat content to gain mastery. Zone of Proximal Development The concept of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is critical to Telra’s approach. Students learn best while experiencing the “productive struggle” of working in their zone of proximal development – not so easy that it leads to boredom, not so hard that progress is hopeless. In Telra’s grading system, scores of 70-89% indicate that a student is working within this zone. That’s our target and it's reflected in the visual depiction of the Telra standard grading scale. Unlike the traditional A-F scale, which encourages students to optimize for A's rather than optimizing growth, our focus is keeping most students in the Z to Z+ zone.* This can require some adjustment for families who might be accustomed to earning A's and scoring 95% and above. At Telra, scores in that range are a signal a student is not being sufficiently challenged. When data indicates that a student is significantly and consistently above or below their ZPD, it suggests that an intervention may be needed. * E xception: Telra aw ards A-F grades for high school credit courses but high school courses taken prior to 9th grade do not factor into a high school GPA A student's position relative to their ZPD (in each subject area) affects their trajectory through Telra In ZPD - Standard Advancement Below ZPD - Support Interventions Above ZPD - Extension Interventions Placement decisions No two students are alike. Why would we expect them to follow identical trajectories through school? In the Zone - Standard Advancement Students performing at an average of 70-89% in their classroom assessments are receiving the appropriate level of challenge within their ZPD or ZPD+ . These students remain in their active instructional groupings and are on track to proceed to the next course in Telra's course of study for that subject area. In general, this means that, at year end, we would be able to answer yes to the two questions below and these students would receive a standard grade-level promotion at year-end. Standard Grade-Level Promotion Criteria Looking back over the past school year, has the student performed in their Zone of Proximal Development (or above) at the grade-level minimum course (or above) in each subject area? If not, has the student met the alternate qualification by surpassing standardized test thresholds? Looking ahead to the next school year, do we believe the student will be able to perform in their Zone of Proximal Development (or above) at the grade-level minimum course (or above) in each subject area in the next grade level? InZone Below ZPD - Support Interventions When students are performing in the Sub ZPD zone (60-69%), they enter our early intervention process, which begins with in-class reteaching of content and could involve support during Flex or Explore and independent practice. If students enter their ZPD after early intervention, they remain in their instructional group. However, if students do not enter their ZPD, they enter our intensive intervention process. When students are performing in the Out of ZPD zone (<59%) or early interventions have not helped students enter their ZPD, students enter intensive interventions . In intensive intervention, our first option is always an instructional group change, if available. When an instructional group change is not possible or does not allow a student to enter their ZPD, they begin to receive small group intervention in addition to the early interventions. This can take place during Flex or Explore, or during other times as offered by Telra, which may include before or after school, weekends, or during school breaks. Grade level retention conversations begin when students enter our intensive intervention cycle. When intensive interventions are unable to close gaps to allow a student to be successful under standard promotion, grade level retention is considered. Grade Level Retention Questions When considering grade level retention, we ask the following questions: Does data suggest the student has not demonstrated proficiency in one or more subject areas? Are better fitting instructional groups unavailable to the student under standard promotion? Does data suggest that the student is unlikely to meet performance expectations across subject areas if promoted? Is standard promotion with intervention unlikely to close gaps within the academic year? Will grade retention offer a better fit in terms of ability to access appropriate curriculum content and support academic growth in the student’s ZPD than standard promotion? When answering these questions, we may also look at the trajectory for the student over multiple years. Additionally, we consider many sources of data when determining readiness, including course grades, placement testing, and standardized test scores. We understand that the topic of grade retention can be fraught, and that some schools have different perspectives on the matter. Similarly, many families have widely divergent takes on the practice; some welcome giving their children more time to master material, while others are concerned about "keeping up" with an age group. At Telra, we are working to normalize the idea that every student needs to follow their own trajectory in the same way that we are normalizing mixed-age grouping for instruction. Academic considerations (the student's ability to access their ZPD) drive Telra's instructional group and grade-level placement decisions. Social promotion, while seemingly empathetic in the short-term, does a disservice to children in the long-term. Moreover, social promotion is not supported by North Carolina State Law (see § 115C-83.7 - Elimination of social promotion). Accordingly, Telra does not engage in social promotion. The promotion and retention criteria discussed here apply uniformly to all students. There are no exceptions to this requirement. This means that s tudents who may have been retained before and students who receive special services (such as Individualized Education Plans or 504 accommodations) must also meet these expectations for promotion. Above ZPD - Extension Interventions When students are performing above their ZPD (90-100%), they enter our extension intervention cycle. When making instructional group changes in these situations, students often need to bridge the gap between their current placement and the next instructional group. This could be a small-group pre-teach of content, more intensive additional instruction, or independent assignments. This can take place during Flex or Explore, or during other times as offered by Telra, which may include before or after school, weekends, or during school breaks. Grade level acceleration conversations begin when students cannot access the most appropriate instructional groups for them based on their current numerical grade level. Grade level acceleration question When considering grade level acceleration, we ask the following questions: Is the student consistently scoring Beyond Zone of Proximal Development (B+) on assessments? Are better fitting instructional groups unavailable to the student in their current grade or under standard promotion? Does data suggest the student would be able to perform in their ZPD in classes offered in each subject area in the accelerated grade? Can interventions reasonably close any gaps created by acceleration? Does the accelerated grade offer a better fit in terms of ability to access appropriate curriculum content and support academic growth in the student’s ZPD than the alternative? Since the Telra model permits frequent and flexible subject acceleration, grade-level acceleration is often not necessary. Nonetheless, sometimes grade-level acceleration is the best option for a student, and it is consistent with the Telra vision of individualized trajectories to maximize learning. While other schools frequently raise social/emotional objections to grade-level acceleration, research on both short and long-term impacts shows that these concerns are unwarranted. Above Below Placement Decisions Instructional group and grade level promotion, retention, and acceleration decisions are advised by a team with knowledge of the student and their performance. The team may include members such as school leadership, classroom teachers, interventionists, exceptional children’s teachers, and parents. Ultimately, all placement, promotion, retention, and acceleration decisions are at the discretion of the student's school Principal as is authorized by State Law. Decisions

In Fall 2022, Telra Institute moved to its new home at 4150 McKee Rd where our next door neighbor is St. Francis United Methodist Church, and we look across the street to see McKee Rd Neighborhood Park and McKee Rd Elementary. We are excited to be part of the McKee Road community. Our Locations One school - Two locations In Fall 2022 , Telra Institute opened its K-8 building at 4150 McKee Rd where our next door neighbor is St. Francis United Methodist Church, and we look across the street to see McKee Rd Neighborhood Park and McKee Rd Elementary. Take a virtual tour . Starting in the 2025-26 school year, our high school students will be 4 mi down the road at 3130 Campus Ridge. This new facility is walking distance to the CPCC Levine Campus, where our students benefit from a tightly integrated dual-enrollment (college + high school) experience. K-8 Telra to Telra High school High School construction Updated through Dec 2025 Bathroom tiles outside basketball hoop familiar colors 70s paneling? Classroom coming together bathroom tiling in progress Common room with lots of light fresh sidewalks fresh sidewalks Show More Looking back on McKee construction Fall 2021 to Fall 2022 Watch the video above for the location announcement from Telra Institute's Chancellor and Founder, Ronak Bhatt. Groundbreaking ceremony, September 2021 Grading, November 2021 December 2021 Update: Foundations poured for the Telra academic building and gymnasium January 2022 Update: Foundations in place and wall panels being poured. February 2022 Update April 2022 Update

Support from the community helps us make our distinctive learning experience accessible for all children. Telra Institute is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit with a Platinum seal of transparency from GuideStar, the world’s largest source of information about nonprofit organizations. Support Telra Support from the community helps us make our distinctive learning experience accessible for all children. Telra Institute and Telra Supporting Organization are each 501(c)(3) nonprofits with Platinum seals of transparency from GuideStar , the world’s largest source of information about nonprofit organizations. Telra Supporting Organization (the school's fundraising "foundation") Telra Institute (the school) Donate Make a tax-deductible donation to τ au, the Telra Annual Use Fund Shop Earn money for the school by doing the things you already do: Mabel's Labels Office Depot Give Back Volunteer Find volunteer opportunities Donate

Telra Institute offers free morning and afternoon bus service to help safely transport our students between school and home. We offer three Charlotte area routes: Red, Blue, and Green. Telra Institute offers free morning and afternoon bus service to help safely transport our students between school and home. Safe. Reliable. Convenient. At Telra Institute, we are committed to providing safe and efficient transportation options to ensure your child’s journey to and from school is worry-free. Below you'll find everything you need to know about our school bus services. Routes & Coverage Our bus routes are carefully planned to serve families across the greater Charlotte area. We currently operate routes along the following lines: Line1: Ballantyne Line 2: Park Road and South Charlotte Line 3: Monroe Road and East Charlotte Line 4: Blakney, Matthews, Indian Trail Note: Routes are updated annually based on enrollment and demand Pick-up & Drop-off Times Morning Pick-up: Between 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Afternoon Drop-off: Between 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM Exact times will be provided upon enrollment in the bus service. Registration Process For the 26-27 school year, a form will be sent through Alma in May. When you receive the form, please fill it out. Transportation is in high demand, and requests for transportation may be entered into a lottery system Receive Confirmation Email when transportation is awarded Registration is first-come, first-served annually, and may involve a lottery Safety Protocols (Please review) Your child’s safety is our top priority. All buses are: Operated by certified, background-checked drivers Equipped with cellular tracking Regularly inspected and maintained Staffed with trained personnel for emergency procedures All riders and parents must agree to the Telra Institute Bus Rider Expectations All students of Telra Institute are eligible to ride the school bus. Telra draws students from a wide geographic area, so the Telra buses make stops at cluster meeting points. The school bus is the safest vehicle on the road. Students are about 70x more likely to get to school safely while riding a school bus compared to traveling by car. >> Families must adhere to the bus rider expectations to ride the bus

Support from the community helps us make our distinctive learning experience accessible for all children. Telra Institute is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit with a Platinum seal of transparency from GuideStar, the world’s largest source of information about nonprofit organizations. T elra A nnual U se Fund The Telra Annual Use Fund ( τ au) is the school's highest priority fundraising effort. If all Telra families contribute, we can close the charter school funding gap and deliver a world-class education for our students. Introducing τ au (video) How to contribute Donate now Employee matching FAQs How to contribute We've made donating to τ au simple. If you click on the Donate button below, you can choose whether you'd like to make a one-time donation or a recurring monthly donation by credit card or by bank ACH. That’s right, you can use a credit card so you can earn points or miles or cash back while you donate! Our fundraising platform Zeffy covers all the payment fees so you know every dollar you donate will go to Telra and be put to good use. On the payment screen, you will be asked to make an optional extra donation to Zeffy to help defray those credit card and bank fees. It will say "Support the 100% free platform we use! " and show you a pull-down menu to adjust your "tip". It's up to you whether you want to apply the Zeffy-requested tip, adjust it, or even dial it down to zero. We are happy to work out special arrangements if the Zeffy platform doesn't work for you. This can happen if you need to use a different process to secure an employer match, if you want to donate stock or other property, or you have other unique circumstances, Please email us at donations [at] telra.org. Employee Gift Matching Programs Make your gift more impactful! Many employers will match individual donations to registered 501(c)(3) charities. Inquire with your HR department or look up your employer here to see if they participate. Some employers will require donations to be directed through their internal giving portal. Please search for: Telra Supporting Organization Tax ID 85-2744858 If you can’t find Telra already listed on your portal of choice, let us know at donations@telra.org Frequently Asked Questions How will the funds raised via τ au be used? Please watch the video or look at the uses listed in the donation section. How is Telra accountable for the use of funds and what is the oversight? Funds raised via τ au are subject to the same transparency and accounting controls as the rest of Telra finances. Like all 501(c)(3) non-profits, Telra has to make annual financial filings. GuideStar , the premier clearinghouse for nonprofit research, gives Telra their highest rating , a Platinum Seal for transparency. Telra Institute has a highly experienced and professional Board of Directors charged with overseeing all uses of Telra funds and approving the annual budget. All income and expenditures for North Carolina charter schools are captured in regular (~monthly) financial reports shared with the Board of Directors and made available to the public. All North Carolina charter schools undergo an annual independent audit and the results are submitted to the State Department of Public Instruction. This level of transparency with monthly financial reports and board meeting minutes exceeds that of even the nation's largest nonprofits such as Feeding America, United Way, or St. Jude. How do we know the funds raised will be used efficiently? Our track record speaks for itself. For years, Telra has responsibly managed an annual budget an order of magnitude larger than τ au. As the video details, we have been diligent and efficient in deploying Telra's limited financial resources to develop our unique school program and expand on our wonderful facilities. The Telra Annual Use Fund just allows us to take this further.