“… ITK is the castle of Atatürk Principles. The most important duty of our teachers is to learn the history to our students correctly.”
Our children and youth are the future of this country, and our teachers are those who prepare them for the future. ITK is an institution being well-established and rendering service for the future of Turkey. ITK is the castle of Atatürk Principles. The most important duty of our teachers is to learn the history to our students correctly. We have brought ITK plane tree to present by standing shoulder to shoulder with our founder, my descended father. We have not realized it alone. Today, I have recurring memories when I see my work comrades and teachers whom I work togehther. I express my gratitude again to our personnel and teachers who sustain, raise and bring ITK, and to the people who maintain their lives here and devote theirselves to education and ITK.
Oğuz TATIŞ – ITK Board Chairman; ITK Graduate
‘’ …Like my grandfather said, in order to form an opinion on the countries future taking look at their teachers is enough; I’m looking and I see a bright future.’’
Atatürks ‘’Ones who save the country will only by teachers’’ statement is something that is always in my mind; it’s not an exaggeration, it’s the truth. When I look into the future as a part of this country, as a father of 2 children, the base for me, my children and this country are like my own, Kemalist, modern, selfless and self sacrificing teachers. Like my grandfather said, in order to form an opinion on the countries future taking look at their teachers is enough; I’m looking and I see a bright future. Students educated by ITK teachers will be scientists, businessmen, politicians, artists but most importantly bright and honorable individuals in the future. For this country to develop, we need more bright and honorable individuals. This is why teaching is a divine and lofty profession. I congratulate and thank all new teachers for choosing this profession. The reason why ITK is one of Turkeys most rooted institutes are the teachers and workers. An organizations most valuable capital is human resources. We must be a very lucky organization, a very lucky family to have a big ITK family so valuable and that exalts ITK and our country.
Yiğit TATIŞ – ITK General Director; 1992 ITK Graduate
‘’To work in such a school was a great opportunity’’
In 1960 my husband Hüseyin Çolakoğlu and I started working at this lovely school as music and PE teachers. To work in such a school was a great opportunity. We were extremely proud to do a lot of fun and good work at school. Three of our children graduated from this school. Zafer, Muzaffer and Emine Çolakoğlu. The school becoming better and greater makes me very happy. I congratulate our founder Mr. Bahattin Tatış for this matter. I wish Izmir Private Turkish College to live within many great and successful years.
Şükran Çolakoğlu- Retired ITK Music Teacher
‘’With its high academic level, success in social events and discipline approach…’’
After working in public schools as a teacher and manager for about thirty years, I’m glad to know the Private Turkish College in which I have been working for more than ten years. I saw first hand how it caught its great success and place in the Ministry of Education and became a school that fulfilled the communities’ expectations with its high academic level, success in social events and discipline approach. With the valuable students and rooted establishment they gained to the Turkish Ministry of Education within the 50 years from its establishment day till today, I thank our valuable teachers and businessman Founder Mr. Bahattin Tatış with sincerity and respect. Our founder proved himself with his financial and emotional support and as a teacher who bears the happiness of being the director of the Private Turkish Science High School; I wish for the Private Turkish College, which is celebrating their 50th year, to continue to grow and increase their success in caring, believing, hardworking and Kemalist hands for many years to come and for the Turkish Ministry of Education to attain schools at this level. (January 1st 1999)
Mustafa Aytekin- Izmir Private Turkish High School Science High School Former Principle
‘’My heart wishes for this elite institution to expand endlessly with the Atatürk intellection they have brought till today without any compromise’’
From Izmir Private Turkish High Schools 40th year till today, as a proud member, I have tried to transfer my job experiences with every step. My heart wishes for this elite institution to expand endlessly with the Atatürk intellection they have brought till today without any compromise. While contributing to the Turkish Ministry of Education by remaining truthful to its firm and infallible principles also developing many values, I greet firstly founder Mr. Bahattin Tatış and all the graduates and members with respect. (December 12th 1999)
Sevil Ertürk- Izmir Private Turkish Primary and Middle School former Principle.
‘’...Happily, our new generation teachers working at Izmir Private Turkish College today are also a brand new generation that foster that selective character.’’
One of the biggest skills of the Izmir Private Turkish College is that they give education and training all together. Our school does not only have an important place in Izmir or the Aegean Region but also throughout Turkey. The teachers working in and coming out of this school are one of the reasons of this school having such an importance. They have protected the missions of Izmir Private Turkish College and took them further every passing day. When we take a look at our graduates we see that they are people who have come to an important place in the community. This is an honor for both our school and our teachers and the largest share of these individuals being raised are for our teachers. I commemorate our school founder Mr. Bahattin Tatış with infinite reverence and respect. When we look back at the timeline we see that Mr. Bahattin has revolutionised the private school meaning for all parents and students. The reason for this is that the private school concept that Mr. Bahattin has set off with a philosophie that will prepare our students for the future by giving them education and training in the best way possible. Like we state in our school anthem, our school follows the lead of the great Atatürk. Mr. Bahattin is a selective teacher and director. He hasn’t worked with everyone, only with teachers that will add value. Happily, our new generation teachers working at Izmir Private Turkish College today are also a brand new generation that foster that selective character.
Turhan Çelik – Retired ITK Physical Education Teacher and Basketball Teams Coach
‘’....we feel both ourselves a part of this institution and this institution a part of ourselves. ‘’
The information, skiils and discipline I have gained during my years as a students in my school which I’m always proud to be a part of as a graduate, manager and parent, have made a contribution to my business life. Izmir Private Turkish College is also a institute that trains teachers. Skills such as cooperation, communication, creativity, social responsibility are combined with our missions and are internalized by every Turkish College. The team spirit at ITK; always focuses on working wholeheartedly for the best and helps experience the happiness of enjoying success with this family; because we feel both ourselves a part of this institution and this institution a part of ourselves. The fact that the ITK Uşakizade Mansion, which had great significance in Atatürks life and where he made great decisions, is located in our school, is a great honor and motivation for us. Being a part of ITK is a privilege.
Burçin KIZAK-ITK Elementary Schools Director; 1990 ITK Graduate
‘’…Whichever school you choose, choose the one with a strong alumni association. Because life begins after school. In that difficult life the Turkish College Family graduates always support eachother and this way you are never alone…’’
Recently, my 8th grade students asked me ‘’Why should we continue at ITK?’’. I told them; ‘’Before anything else this school is a big family. I still meet with my Turkish College classmates regularly every 3 weeks. Each one of us have come to certain levels in our own fields successfully but when we come together we are just Bahar, Pınar, Bilge and Aslı…When one of us has a problem, we all run to help. When one of us has a happy day, we all share their happiness. When you ask a Turkish College student which school they have graduated from only a few say their universities. Because we are TURKİSH COLLEGE students. My mother, father, uncle, cousins and I are all Turkish College students. Now my children are studying at this institute that I call home, from which I have graduated myself and now work as a teacher. My own students have become my childrens teachers. Where else can you find such sharing? A Turkish College student protects, looks out for one another, gives job priorities and sometimes even gathers up and educates their friends children who are in need. But no one knows about this. This is why ITK is a big family. In a social environment, you can immediately spot a Turkish College student because apart from the education they get in the academic sense, they have also gotten education by means of culture and sociality. There has always been a student who has performed on stage, learned how to play a musical instrument or who is a good athelete.. Because I’m a member of this family I wanted my children to be Turkish College students too. Whichever school you choose, choose the one with a strong alumni association. Because life begins after school. In that difficult life the Turkish College Family graduates always support eachother and this way you are never alone. I said ‘’This is why you should continue at ITK’’.
Bahar ERGİN FAAT- ITK Education Coordinator, ITK Alumni Association Director Board Member, 1992 Graduate, ITK Parent
‘’...I can say that my experience here has strengthened and enriched my character and I will always be greatful for this.’’
How did my carrier go at Izmir Private Turkish College?
Firstly, I must confess that I experienced many things in short amount of time. At first I was a bit confused because every department had different working principles and with that I was also a stranger to the language. Inspite of this, with my own efforts and the the support from my colleagues who helped me along the way, I slowly adapted to this place. Everyone here works in a team spirite as if they are one team. We work with many professional teachers who provide this quality in education. I’m very proud of working at a school with such roots and success. At the same time I have also spent many valuable and great times here. Having my students run up to me in the corridor hugging me telling me that they loved me was very nice. Them saying ‘’Hello’’ to me no matter how far they were, pleased me every time. I can say that my experience here has strengthened and enriched my character and I will always be greatful for this.
Laura Diaz Montes Korkmaz –ITK Spanish Teacher (2012-2013)
"... I can say that the experience has strengthened and enriched me as a person, which is always to be appreciated."
How has my experience in İzmir Özel Türk Koleji? Well, I must confess that I have lived a little of everything. At the beginning I felt a little disoriented because each center works their own way adding to the problem of my unfamiliarity with the language. Nevertheless, I have adapted thanks to my efforts and the great support I have received from my colleagues who have helped me at all times. In this school I could feel that all we work we are doing, we are doing it together as one group. Here are many well-trained professionals who offer quality education. I am very proud to work for such a prestigious and successful school. I've also lived very valuable and beautiful moments when my students in the hallways have come running to me to hug me and tell me they love me. And of course, I love that every time they see me, no matter the distance, say "hello" smiling. I can say that the experience has strengthened and enriched me as a person, which is always appreciated.
