Concerned Sewickley Parents outraged over recent siege of power at the school; dismissal of key administrators and faculty, and the diminution of the equity and Inclusion plan. Private Schools in 315 Academy Ave, Sewickley, PA 15143 We notice you're using an ad blocker. Working with the Board, the Administration and the Community ensure Sewickley Academy: A strong focus on academic fundamentals unencumbered by divisive social or political doctrine, Engagement of parents in the selection and adoption of curriculum, Recruitment of diverse students of high potential regardless of background, A continued strategy for robust diversity and inclusion that encourages curiosity and dialogue, A campus environment that fosters authentic free expression with a path for students and parents to report restrictions anonymously, Hiring and retention of faculty and administrators based on proven track records of professional and academic excellence. Consider first: Sewickley Academy has a long and successful record of preparing youth to contribute not only to Sewickley, but to the larger community. College & university. These standards are in practice at comparable independent schools in hold these positions for the very first time We are Parents of children that attend the Academy, and we are Alumni of Sewickley Academy who are passionate and committed to its long-term success. Edinboro University Psychology Department. Nesmith attended Sewickley Academy from 1994-98 and made a YouTube video and several Facebook posts in response, during which he expressed his disgust, disappointment, and anger with the events that unfolded. Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. As of June, the schools internal forecasts for enrollment in fall 2021 would be 530 students, a 34% decline from 2002 when the school was last at full capacity, she wrote in the letter. Youth Connect conducts a series of community forums where speakers are brought in to . While these small-scale, local campaigns attempt to make anti-CRT actions appear non-partisan and organic born from individual reflection and necessity many of the people leading these campaigns have ties to Republican elected officials and cite or reference right-wing media sources. Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Borocampusrec. A group of families, alumni and allies of made up of multiple Concerned Sewickley Parents Join the Cause for a Better Future (What You Can Do): Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? Speak out, share this information and help us get answers from the Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees. Rather, we are unaware of any private school successfully launching such a dramatic change in its educational focus. In this conversation. Concerned Sewickley Parents @sewickleyparent Joined July 2021 Tweets 2021 Twitter About Help Center Terms Privacy policy Cookies Ads info Dismiss Close Previous Next Close Go to a person's profile Saved searches Remove In this conversation Verified accountProtected Tweets @ Suggested users But the problem is, its not your school. The school has been experiencing a steady decline in enrollment since 2002, when it had 804 students. SE W ICKLEY PARENTS 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. The African American Culture club is the only club where the students were not allowed to If the Sewickley Parents Organization wants to make sure their children aren't ever confronted with uncomfortable topics, fine. be willing and qualified to help during this transition Sewickley Academy Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice, Grants for Innovative Frameworks in Teaching, Instructional Technology Upgrades including iPads for all faculty members,Wireless Network Expansion, Robotics. Why Were Six Senior Leaders Fired (Including All Of The (3) Most Senior Leaders Of Color)? Despite the parents organizations claims of being non-political, their anti-CRT advocacy led to the departure and replacement of OConnor less than a month later. Kimberly Rooney is a reporter for Pittsburgh City Paper, where this story first appeared . "Learning for Justice supports the educational outcomes that we want for our students. But at public school districts, parents such as those at Quaker Valley School District, in which Sewickley Academy is located, are also rallying against CRT. Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. In this conversation. If they were, and diversity was something that was important then we wouldnt be in this situation now.. Edinboro University Alumni. Concerned Sewickley Parents, Sewickley, Pennsylvania. This ad was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid. See All and Parents and Community Partners) were involved in the development of EnVision24 and the accompanying Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Social Justice (DEI-SJ) Plan. If you are a parent that has or has had children at Sewickley Academy or if you attended the academy, please join us. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. Sadly, we feel this is our only recourse. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. In an email to Pittsburgh City Paper, she called critical race theory racist itself, based on an excerpt from Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalisms Looming Catastrophe by Voddie T. Baucham, who has collaborated with the Koch-funded Heritage Foundation. Get the Facts: Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. O National search for a new Head of School with experience and qualifications At least one of Sprouls children attended Clarion-Limestone High School , but the youngest of Sprouls children graduated high school more than 10 years ago. Sewickley Academy NAIS Principles of Good Practice. Those involved in Pittsburghs anti-CRT campaigns have been congressional staffers to Republican elected officials such as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and involved in previous attack ads against local Democrats such as U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-17th District. A competent DEI-SJ Plan is required for accreditation from the PA Association of Independent Schools, and the National Association of Independent Schools. In April 2021, however, parents at Sewickley Academy received an email about the plan. Sewickley Academy is distinguished by not only its rigorous academics and outstanding faculty, but also by its student-centered approach to learning and teaching, in which every child is challenged to explore and excel to his or her highest ability. Join the Concerned Sewickley Parents and sign the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org considering leaving Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. Please enter valid email address to continue. Concerned Sewickley Parents outraged over recent siege of power at the school: There is a long list of retired Heads of School who would be willing and qualified to help during this transition O National search for a new Head of School with experience and qualifications Search for a new Assistant Head of School with experience and qualification O Search for a new Head of Senior School with experience and qualifications O Appoint an entirely new Board of Trustees that includes experienced educators who represent the makeup of the student body at Sewickley Academy O Search for a new Head of DEISJ with experience and qualifications Paid for by concernedsewickleyparents.org. "Parents, community groups upset over staffing changes at Sewickley Academy https://t.co/yTIw8C5PJv" For these reasons, pause to consider your demands. 8/04/2021 - NAACP described Sewickley Academy as ".misguided in the meaning of the philosophy of diversity, equity, and inclusion when it comes to staff." Sewickley Academy Interim Head of School Ashley Birtwell. Press Release. Is Sewickley Academy's www.sewickleyacademy.org. Now, much of right-wing media has moved on to protesting mask mandates in schools and criticizing the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. Paid Advertisement CONCERNED SE W ICKLEY PARENTS What Is Happening at Sewickley Academy Affects The Whole Community The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Answer the Following: Why Were Six Senior Leaders Fired (Including All Of The (3) Most Senior Leaders Of Color)? / CBS Pittsburgh. Teachers come under pressure as politicians, parents battle over critical race theory. We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Herald's March 31 edition. Paid for by concernedsewickleyparents.org We're concerned about the impact this will have on the teaching of history and race. The parents of Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users Our objective is to shine a spotlight on our childrens experiences at Sewickley Academy. The post Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star. "The firings were retaliatory against anyone in support of diversity in education and plans to attract recruit and retain people of color. Edinboro University Psychology Department. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. experience and qualifications. Go to concernedsewickleyparents.org for survey In the Fox Chapel Area School District, Greg Dolan is running for a spot on the school board, and while his website lists his experience as a middle and high school teacher with a background in school finances and education policy, it does not mention that he was a congressional staffer to Republicans in 2011-15, including Rubio, and U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va.., Dolan lists this information on his LinkedIn page. Become a member and together we can make a positive, lasting impact on Sewickley Academy. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Members plan to meet with the administration Friday at 1:00 pm to address the unexpected and numerous changes immediately before the start of the school year. These standards are in practice at comparable independent schools in Western PA. A competent DEI-SJ Plan is required for accreditation from the PA Association of Independent Schools, and the National Association of Independent Schools. Edinboro Chi Alpha. Astronauts, world-renowned doctors, fashion designers, chefs, filmmakers, zombie experts, world travelers our alumni are proof that students become determined, courageous, and caring individuals ready to take on life's next challenges. "No. Academic Excellence on the Decline? College & university. Two months later, the Sewickley Parents Organization sent out an anonymous letter asking for support in their mission to keep politics and activism out of education, including eliminat[ing] the adoption of any form of critical race theory, implied or otherwise., NAACP of Pa. criticizes firing of Black leadership at W.Pa private school. There is a long list of retired Heads of School who would The changes ban Social Justice and unsubstantiated theories of any kind, including but not limited to Holocaust Denial Theory, 9/11 Theory, The 1610 Project, and critical race theory, incorrectly referring to the 1619 Project, which reframes U.S. history through the lens of slavery and Black Americans contributions. 8/05/2021 - Sewickley Academy's justification for staff terminations at first was "low enrolment, " but the reasons continue to change. Paid Advertisement Is Sewickley Academy's Academic Excellence on the Decline? We are Parents of children that attend the Academy, and we are Alumni of Sewickley Academy who are passionate and committed to its long-term success. There are 500 other constituents in the school. More. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. However, organizations such as the Heritage Foundation and the American Legislative Council, which receive large sums of money from Koch-related networks , held a webinar attacking critical race theory in December 2020 then also referred to as critical theory. The Sewickley Academyathletic program stresses the development of personal andteam excellence for our student-athletes. O Search for a new Head of Senior School with experience and qualifications Stephen Nesmith is one of many Sewickley Academy alumni who are upset about the schools actions. Nesmith still maintains hope that the school will improve and better serve its minority students and families, but he also implores white community members to speak up on the issue and notes that their silence and complicity can be just as harmful as those who go out of their way to speak up and act. The anti-CRT advocacy at Sewickley Academy is not unique in the area, though, and barely concealed ties to right-wing officials, organizations, and media are a common thread among the people calling for bans of critical race theory throughout the region. In this conversation. "The firings were retaliatory. 7/27/21 - "The head of school being fired and almost the entire administration is an extremely unusual situation in the independent school world," Gary Neils, Penn. In this conversation. Over 150 individuals from the Sewickley Community (Board of Trustees; Faculty and Staff representatives; Student Leaders; and Parents and Community Partners) were involved in the development of EnVision24 and the accompanying Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Social Justice (DEI-SJ) Plan. Private schools such as Sewickley Academy and public school districts such as Fox Chapel, Gateway, and Mars Area are seeing pushes from parents and school board members to ban it. We studied your demands.. Our goal is to see the Academy grow and thrive and provide an exceptional experience to its students. The parents of 10 26 Veteran Senior School teachers are considering leaving Sewickley Academy students are considering leaving Sewickley Academy Go to concernedsewickleyparents.org for survey Last week, The Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) presented Sewickley Academy with multiple formal complaints submitted by various . Theyre not changing. So five, or six, or 10 individuals had the hubris to believe that they could, in turn, determine what the other constituents would receive as part of their education., The fight over critical race theory lands in Harrisburg; House GOP bill would punish districts that teach it | Thursday Morning Coffee. The Interim Head of School at Sewickley Academy, Ashley Birtwell, sent out a letter Aug. 4 to parents addressing the recent turmoil of events that have occurred at Sewickley Academy over the past six weeks. Odoms son is in seventh grade at Sewickley Academy and has attended the school since he was in second grade. Two more teachers have since left the school, as well as many minority families. The PAIS only pursues credible complaints "that could seriously impair the quality and effectiveness of a school's program and are in conflict with the standards set by the Commission on Accreditation" (PAIS website). NAIS Principles of Good Practice. students are considering leaving "No. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 6/14/2021 - In spite of its policy to "not engage parents," the Board of Trustees agrees for "clarity," to reach out to the Sewickley Parents to "Invite them to share more specifically what the central issues of their We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Heralds March 31 edition. Immediately hire a competent DEI-SJ consultant to transition the school through this difficult time. At least 1 dead, 3 injured in McKeesport shootings, authorities say, Morning Roundup: State gives $272K to Allegheny County for 'clean' vehicles, Death of Penn Hills couple treated as murder-suicide, police say, GZA, Donnie Iris, John Mayer among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in March, How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people. 8/04/2021 - NAACP described Sewickley Academy as ".misguided in the meaning of the philosophy of diversity, equity, and inclusion when it comes to staff." Founded in 1838, Sewickley Academy is Pittsburghs oldest independent coeducational school. To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. The sudden dismissal of four administrators and one teacher each one committed to a strategic diversity plan has kindled the controversy over the teaching of the impact of race and discrimination in historical events. The published plan was distributed to the community. College & university. Follow the link to read our updated Privacy Policy, We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Heralds March 31 edition. And theyre not progressive. Faculty report a substantial decrease in morale Will the Academy Confirm Today That They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in April 2021? Press Release. Fall 2020 - After 1.5 years in development, the Board ratified the Strategic Plan EnVision24 and it's embedded DEI-SJ Plan. Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. Our goal is to see the Academy grow and thrive and provide an exceptional experience to its students. O Appoint an entirely new Board of Trustees that includes experienced educators who Please let us know how we can help. In several cases in Pittsburgh-area school districts, the individuals leading the charge against critical Race Theory are members of local school boards who also have ties to Republican officials and organizations, and many cite similar, if nearly identical talking points, to those pushed by conservative media groups. While Odom says she and her son have faced incidents of anti-Black racial bias before at Sewickley Academy, Odom says there was a sense that progress was occurring, and that the former head of school Kolia OConnors EnVision 2024 plan, which called for diversity and equity measures when it was introduced in 2019, indicated an interest on the part of the school to continue that progress. Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? Follow the link to read our updated Privacy Policy, At ceremonial swearing-in, Pa. Rep. Deluzio says hell be a fighter for western Pa., Poll confirms worrying spike in antisemitism | Thursday Morning Coffee, What Norfolk Southerns accident reports say about the company and industry, A Norfolk Southern policy lets officials order crews to ignore safety alerts, Quaker Valley Parents and Community group, large sums of money from Koch-related networks. submitted by various constituents. Sponsors were assigned by the administration April 2021 - The Board of Trustees President presented "Our Proud History" (YouTube), a community introduction to the plan. It's pushing for a school "curriculum and culture free of ideological agendapolitical bias and social indoctrination.". In recent weeks, Sewickley Academy settled the federal discrimination lawsuit filed by Make all future Board of Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy parents and alumni. Paid Advertisement Were seeing it as a movement and instead of take back your country, its take back our school, saidDominic Odom, a representative of Concerned Sewickley Parents, which formed in response to the firings of the five Sewickley Academy faculty and administrators. The parents of 10 26 Veteran Senior School teachers are considering leaving Sewickley Academy students are considering leaving Sewickley Academy Go to concernedsewickleyparents.org for survey Last week, The Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) presented Sewickley Academy with multiple formal complaints submitted by various constituents. The American withdrawal from Afghanistan, share this information and help us get answers from the Association... Academic Excellence on the teaching of history and race its students using an ad to. About the impact this will have on the decline total Independent school was. 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