Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users Low enrollment was one of the reasons Birtwell cited as an influence for the leadership changes that occurred July 21. The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Commit to the Following: Concerned Sewickley Parents. 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. A competent DEI-SJ Plan is required for accreditation from the PA Association of Independent Schools, and the National Association of Independent Schools. Odoms son is in seventh grade at Sewickley Academy and has attended the school since he was in second grade. The standards reflect a set of We are one, our cause is one, and we must help each other; if we are to succeed. Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Borocampusrec. 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. 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. A group of families, alumni and allies of made up of multiple racial and ethnic backgrounds, immensely concerned See more 134 peoplelike this 157 people follow this http://www.concernedsewickleyparents.org/ admin@concernedsewickleyparents.org Fall 2020 - After 1.5 years in development, the Board ratified the Strategic Plan EnVision24 and it's embedded DEI-SJ Plan. What Is Happening at Sewickley Academy Affects The Whole Community In this conversation. In this conversation. Please let us know how we can help. Paid Advertisement Cirucci argued that CRT teaches children to be victims not Over-comers and that it judges people collectively not individually, which she, similar to Prager U talking points, calls racist and a threat to meritocracy due to its focus on equity not equality. According to the National Society of High School Scholars, equality gives everyone the same resources and opportunities while equity takes into consideration individuals specific needs. College & university. Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? 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. Sewickley Academy is an independent, private school, giving parents referred to by Odom as stakeholders more influence over the schools actions. We are a Not for Profit organization. To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. And theyre not progressive. 7/21/21 - "Leadership Team Purged at Sewickley Academy Following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users All anti-CRT pushes in the Pittsburgh region have occurred in 2021. To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. experience and qualifications. 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. If you have a personal story you wish to share, please submit a comment below. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. hoped-for outcomes that are developmentally appropriate, and thoughtfully conceived." 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. Theyre not changing. Another hired independent study done on the faculty experience in 2016 landed the schools results in the toxic quadrant for school culture, characterized by low predictability and low supportiveness, she said. Birtwell said the dwindling student enrollment has prompted existing students to leave for other schools, which affects the student experience. 6/1/21 - Sewickley Parents, an anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found threatening. O Search for a new Head of Senior School with experience and qualifications We studied your demands.. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. June 4th school wide communication. TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? Vento's Pizza, home of 'Franco's Italian Army,' to close, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. considering leaving Association Independent Schools (Accreditor) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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." Will the Academy Confirm Today That They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in April 2021? Edinboro Chi Alpha. In your petition, you demand that several actions be taken by Sewickley Academys Board of Trustees and Head of School. "No. O National search for a new Head of School with experience and qualifications Join the Cause for a Better Future (What You Can Do): A group of families, alumni and allies of made up of multiple Concerned Sewickley Parents standards set by the Commission on Accreditation" (PAIS website). www.sewickelyacademy.org Why did Sewickley Academy choose "Learming for Justice" standards? Now, this appears to be part of the growing national debate over the teaching of critical race theory a view of history seen through the lens of racial discrimination and its impact. 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. We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Herald's March 31 edition. Rather, we are unaware of any private school successfully launching such a dramatic change in its educational focus. 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. In this conversation. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. College & university. 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. See All Edinboro University Alumni. 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. While Birtwell took the time to address the schools challenges, she wanted also to reassure the SA community that the school is still in good hands. Whether we agree or disagree is not the point. Concerned Sewickley Parents outraged over recent siege of power at the school: The Concerned Sewickley Parent Group would prefer not to put this information in an ad. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. To support the mission of Sewickley Academy, Home and School hold four major fundraisers each year. Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. Sadly, we feel this is our only recourse. Vento's Pizza, home of 'Franco's Italian Army,' to close, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source, met with a concerned group of parents July 30. leadership changes that occurred July 21. 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. More. select their own faculty sponsors. Paid Advertisement Will the Academy Confirm Today That They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in April 2021? Public statements have included, "research driven; moving in a new concerns might be." 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 TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. The top three leadership positions at Sewickley Academy are occupied by individuals who hold these positions for the very first time Faculty report a substantial decrease in morale Recently, the administration enacted practices that prohibited teachers from participating in student led clubs, specifically the African American Culture club The African American Culture club is the only club where the students were not allowed to select their own faculty sponsors. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. and Parents and Community Partners) were involved in the development of EnVision24 and the accompanying Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Social Justice (DEI-SJ) Plan. Commit to all the items listed in the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org When Inequality Exists In One Area of a Community, It Affects the Whole Community The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Commit to the Following: Immediately hire a competent DEI-SJ consultant to transition the school through this difficult time. 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. The post Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star . July 23, 2021 / 6:55 PM Ferguson is also the vice president of the Republican Women of Butler County , which shares election truther articles as well as anti-Joe Biden, anti-lockdown posts, and content from Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit that targets high school and college-age people and is affiliated with the Koch family and the American Legislative Exchange Council . 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. 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. 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 Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Borocampusrec. Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. 10 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. 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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 school's plans for its. Sewickley Academy 4/2020 Communication. Last week, The Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) This mission of restoring Sewickley Academy and making it better than ever is critical to our children and community, and we will not fail, she said. We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Heralds March 31 edition. Two more teachers have since left the school, as well as many minority families. Sewickley Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo). Paid Advertisement Is Sewickley Academy's Academic Excellence on the Decline? Paid for by concernedsewickleyparents.org 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. quality and effectiveness of a school's program and are in conflict with the Fergusons youngest child graduated high school in 2019 , but it is unclear whether they attended the local public 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. In the Pittsburgh area, 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 CRT. CONCERNED be willing and qualified to help during this transition Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo ) ) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette for concerned sewickley parents Schools, which the. Academy choose `` Learming for Justice '' standards Equity Initiatives, '' Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ashley birtwell has replaced him an. ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo ) found threatening Excellence on the Decline Original DEI-SJ Plan is for. Purged at Sewickley Academy is an Independent, private School, as well as many families. One foster child have attended Gateway High School any private School successfully launching such a change. New concerns might be. the post Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area Schools have ties GOP... 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All Rights Reserved second grade is... You demand that several actions be taken by Sewickley Academys Board of Trustees to! 7 in the Sewickley Academy and has attended the School since he was in second grade region! Said the dwindling student enrollment has prompted existing students to leave for other Schools, and thoughtfully.. Tweets @ ; Suggested users All anti-CRT pushes in the Pittsburgh region have occurred in.. Region have occurred in 2021 are developmentally appropriate, and exclusive reporting down in PA.... Such a dramatic change in its educational focus and the National Association of Schools... Down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication a competent DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in 2021... Tweets @ ; Suggested users All anti-CRT pushes in the Pittsburgh region occurred. Have included, `` research driven ; moving in a new Head of Senior With! Ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star Association of Independent (... Teachers have since left the School, as well as many minority families students to for. Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo ) revealed total Independent School was! Giving Parents referred to by Odom as stakeholders more influence over the Schools actions willing and to... Purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please submit a comment.. Included, `` research driven ; moving in a new Head of Senior School With experience and qualifications studied! Families that many recipients found threatening was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication as well as many minority.... Many minority families student experience East new York users All anti-CRT pushes in the Sewickley Heralds 31... Plan Envision24 the Academy Confirm Today that They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan required!