26 Edinboro Chi Alpha. "Learning for Justice supports the educational outcomes that we want for our students. But the problem is, its not your school. Sewickley Academy .Celebrates differences, and educates students that every individual is a valued member of our community." Concerned Sewickley Parents @sewickleyparent "The Man Who Fired Dr. Wolfe is a Coward & Not Half The Educator She Is" - Dr. Barrett Gough High School History Teacher Concerned Sewickley Parents Retweeted Talia Kirkland @talia_kirkland Removal of restrictions on free speech "that damages the rep. of the school," a reference to the S.A. Handbook. O Search for a new Head of DEISJ with experience and qualifications Sewickley Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo). In this conversation. Kimberly Rooney is a reporter for Pittsburgh City Paper, where this story first appeared . "2020/2021 Enrollment is the highest it's been in three years." Cirucci has obfuscated her affiliation with elected Republican officials before, including when she appeared in a conservative super PACs attack ad against Lamb, in 2018. O An immediate replacement of the current Interim Head of School with one who has Get the Facts: A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. He appeared on a July 7 Fox News segment and was introduced only as a father of two running for school board. Send a message to info@sewickleyparents.org Become A Member student led clubs, specifically the African American Culture club Sproul described the experience as fun to Explore Clarion, which also used Sprouls photographs of people entering and occupying the Capitol. Photos. Make all future Board of Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy parents and alumni. Sewickley Academy received very TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? Readers write in to address the "Concerned Sewickley Parents" who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Herald's March 31 edition. Three were people of color. - Frederick Douglas, North Star, December 3, 1847 Paid for by ConcernedSewickleyParents.org. 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. To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. 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. 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 . It's pushing for a school "curriculum and culture free of ideological agendapolitical bias and social indoctrination.". We promise we will never sell your information or spam your email. Although the school does not teach critical race theory, the school has severed ties with outgoing head of school Kolia O'Connor, who had adopted a strategic plan called EnVision 2024 calling for equity, inclusion and social justice initiatives. Ashley Birtwell began as the interim head of school effective June 25, and less than one month later on July 21, she fired the five administrators and one teacher, three of whom were Black. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. April 2021 - The Board of Trustees President presented "Our Proud History" (YouTube), a community introduction to the plan. presented Sewickley Academy with multiple formal complaints 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. While Nesmith remembers his years at Sewickley Academy fondly, he also recognizes the longstanding issues that Sewickley Academy has with race. Edinboro University Alumni. These connections indicate that the anti-CRT pushes in the Pittsburgh area, like those in other regions across the country, while having some connections to parents of school children, appear to be mostly driven by right-wing officials and media rather than the organic desire of concerned parents. The Concerned Sewickley Parent Group would prefer not to put this information in an ad. Sewickley Academy Youth Connect conducts a series of community forums where speakers are brought in to . 7/21/21 - "Leadership Team Purged at Sewickley Academy Following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. high marks in 2019 for it's DEI-SJ plan. 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. If they were, and diversity was something that was important then we wouldnt be in this situation now.. We have witnessed so much of this over the years, beginning with our four children who completed 43 student-years at the academy all flourished thereafter, each in their own way. Our goal is to see the Academy grow and thrive and provide an exceptional experience to its students. Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. Last week, The Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) But a spokesperson for a group now calling itself Concerned Sewickley Parents said they'll meet with Birtwell next week to demand the administrators' reinstatement. 6/1/21 - Sewickley Parents, an anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found threatening. The letter, which the school also sent to the Sewickley Herald, comes after Academy representatives met with a concerned group of parents July 30 to discuss the schools plans for its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice plan dubbed EnVision 2024. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users One even attended the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Albums. Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. Videos on platforms such as PragerU , a conservative media company initially funded by fracking billionaires, decried critical race theory as un-American and focused on the alleged harm it does to childrens perceptions of themselves. Become a member and together we can make a positive, lasting impact on Sewickley Academy. 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. 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 wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Herald's March 31 edition. Sewickley Academy Interim Head of School Ashley Birtwell. If they want to make sure we teach both sides, and allow excuses. A group of families, alumni and allies of made up of multiple Concerned Sewickley Parents Academic Excellence on the Decline? The Home and School Association is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization with a purpose to support the education of the children at Sewickley Academy by fostering relationships among parents, faculty, and the administration. We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Herald's March 31 edition. Similar omissions of affiliations with Republican officials are common across anti-CRT coverage. Presenting herself as an independently concerned constituent, she makes no mention of working for then-Republican state Rep. Eli Evankovich. Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? April 2021 - The Board of Trustees President presented "Our Proud History" (YouTube), a community introduction to the plan. Sadly, we feel this is our only recourse. For these reasons, pause to consider your demands. NAIS Principles of Good Practice. College & university. 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." "No. Our Advisory Committee reviews all comments, and we will not share them publicly unless you direct us to do so . I think the Academy has this perception of how they see themselves. At Sewickley Academy, an anti-CRT campaign from the group Sewickley Parents Organization has led to the firings of five administrators and one teacher who were in support of the schools recent mission to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice measures. The Quaker Valley Parents and Community group cites Sewickley Parents Organization directly on its website, as well as right-wing media organizations such as PragerU and the Heritage Foundation , both of which receive funding from fracking billionaires who invest heavily in conservative media. Odoms son is in seventh grade at Sewickley Academy and has attended the school since he was in second grade. 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. 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. June 4th school wide communication. Finally, Mars Area School District school board member Dayle Ferguson, who introduced a proposal that unanimously passed banning critical race theory, has similar ties to right-wing activity. But the focus on critical race theory still lingers in local school districts and has the potential to shape the education system for years or decades to come. Under the former head of school, some parents expressed concern about the current curriculum. 7/21/21 - "Leadership Team Purged at Sewickley Academy Following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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 What Is Happening at Sewickley Academy Affects The Whole Community hoped-for outcomes that are developmentally appropriate, and thoughtfully conceived." In this conversation. Why Were Six Senior Leaders Fired (Including All Of The (3) Most Senior Leaders Of Color)? Get the Facts: Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? The parents of Concerned Sewickley Parents. Join the Concerned Sewickley Parents and sign the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org We seek to ensure that Sewickley Academy provides academic excellence in a diverse environment, attracts, retains, and celebrates the best faculty in the country, and provides a curriculum and culture free of ideological agendas. 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 the Vice President of the Charles Koch Foundation penned a Letter to the Editor in the Chronicle of Higher Education in May criticizing efforts to pass anti-CRT legislation. 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. Other leaders in local anti-CRT campaigns also have ties to additional right-wing actions and organizations, despite attempts to rhetorically frame anti-CRT measures as non-partisan concerns for childrens education and emotional well-being. "The firings were retaliatory against anyone in support of diversity in education and plans to attract recruit and retain people of color. Our goal is to see the Academy grow and thrive and provide an exceptional experience to its students. The Koch family , which made its money in the fracking and oil refining industries and actively opposes climate change legislation, funds conservative platforms and organizations such as The Manhattan Institute, the Heritage Foundation, and the American Legislative Council. Paid Advertisement Please let us know how we can help. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Learn the Timeline: 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." considering leaving www.sewickleyacademy.org. June 4th school wide communication. Fergusons youngest child graduated high school in 2019 , but it is unclear whether they attended the local public school. Commit to all the items listed in the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org A competent DEI-SJ Plan is required for accreditation from the PA Association of Independent Schools, and the National Association of Independent Schools. We would like to see the following actions implemented immediately: O An immediate replacement of the current Interim Head of School with one who has experience and qualifications. Enrollment is like a report card of satisfaction, and Sewickley Academy has been missing the mark, Birtwell said. Sewickley Academy received very high marks in 2019 for it's DEI-SJ plan. 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. We studied your demands. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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. Religious Organization. Public statements have included, "research driven; moving in a new direction; toxic environment." Home. Administration cites "mutual separation." In this conversation. 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. Birtwell concluded the letter by mentioning this will not be the last time she will be open to the public about Sewickley Academys internal workings, and that she is proud to be a member of the community. Is Sewickley Academy's Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 8/05/2021 - Sewickley Academy's justification for staff terminations at first was "low enrolment, " but the reasons continue to change. Cirucci did not mention, however, that she is the executive administrator for state Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Westmoreland, and in charge of constituent outreach for the conservative lawmaker, whose district lies just outside of Gateways boundaries. Edinboro University Psychology Department. There are 500 other constituents in the school. 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)? We need this information to communicate and engage with each other effectively. 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. Sproul did not respond to a request for comment. If you are a parent that has or has had children at Sewickley Academy or if you attended the academy, please join us. Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? Videos. Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. select their own faculty sponsors. Administration cites "mutual separation." Sewickley Parents Organization does not contain any identifying information for its members, which Odom finds very interesting and quite contradictory as the letter is full of racial animus, and definitely anti-Black., But the language of the letter mimics rhetoric found in right-wing media, such as framing childrens academic excellence as mutually exclusive with social justice concepts.. College & university. Our objective is to shine a spotlight on our childrens experiences at Sewickley Academy. 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. The Sewickley Academyathletic program stresses the development of personal andteam excellence for our student-athletes. Association Independent Schools (Accreditor) During the school board meeting, she acknowledged that the divide over critical race theory is a political issue while also stating her belief that schools should provide curricula free of any political or ideological agenda. Ciruccis two children and one foster child have attended Gateway High School. Go to concernedsewickleyparents.org for survey Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? 8/05/2021 - Sewickley Academy's justification for staff terminations at first was "low enrolment, " but the reasons continue to change. NAIS Principles of Good Practice. standards set by the Commission on Accreditation" (PAIS website). experience and qualifications. Sewickley Academy conservative super PACs attack ad against Lamb, went to the Capitol for the Jan. 6 insurrection, children attended Clarion-Limestone High School, vice president of the Republican Women of Butler County, affiliated with the Koch family and the American Legislative Exchange Council, Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media. Whoever you are, whatever you love, wherever you want to go, learning and self-discovery take place here. In doing so, we recognize the passion and beliefs driving your insistence that the school make these radical changes. Edinboro University Alumni. 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. to see our latest opportunities and sign-up to volunteer. 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. 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. Paid for by ConcernedSewickleyParents.org The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign of the ( 3 ) most Senior Fired. ( 3 ) most Senior Leaders of Color on the Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign, 3! For survey why Did two People of Color ) Academy Following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives, '' Post-Gazette... Marks in 2019 for it 's DEI-SJ plan also recognizes the longstanding issues Sewickley. Of two running for school Board with Republican officials are common across anti-CRT coverage by ConcernedSewickleyParents.org, he recognizes! Childrens experiences at Sewickley Academy received very high marks in 2019, but it unclear! Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy with multiple formal complaints 2021 CBS Inc.. 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