Thursday, December 29, 2011

Florida Gets Acquainted With Ohio’s Master of Charter School Disaster | Scathing Purple Musings

Florida Gets Acquainted With Ohio’s Master of Charter School Disaster | Scathing Purple Musings:

Florida Gets Acquainted With Ohio’s Master of Charter School Disaster

Its been a really bad few weeks for Maverick’s charter schools. New Times reporter Lisa Rab has beenestablishing a timeline. Freelance writer Doug Martin has been following the money. Now comes word the founder of Mavericks is in some real trouble in Ohio. Writes Vince Grzegorek in Cleveland Scene Magazine.

The tale of Mark Thimmig is a reminder that not all Ohioans who depart for Florida leave in search of fruity drinks and leathery skin. Some simply seek new marks for their scam.

From 2001 to 2005, Thimmig was the CEO of White Hat Management, the outfit that runs one of the country’s largest for-profit charter school factories. White Hat’s local outlets took up residence in strip malls and boasted the academic rigor of a Mr. Hero franchise.

A 2007 Scene article titled “Education at Its Worst” detailed White Hat’s dubious academic record