June 4th school wide communication. Send a message to info@sewickleyparents.org Become A Member Sewickley Academy is an independent, private school, giving parents referred to by Odom as stakeholders more influence over the schools actions. I think the Academy has this perception of how they see themselves. 26 In this conversation. Youth Connect conducts a series of community forums where speakers are brought in to . Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. Administration cites "mutual separation." Home. "Learning for Justice supports the educational outcomes that we want for our students. We studied your demands. select their own faculty sponsors. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. PITTSBURGH Earlier this year, critical race theory got its moment in the right-wing media spotlight. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 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. 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. Through these volunteer efforts, our funds are used to enhance student life and support faculty, staff, and administration of Sewickley Academy: Interested in volunteering with Sewickley Academy's Home and School Association? Fall 2020 - After 1.5 years in development, the Board ratified the Strategic Plan EnVision24 and it's embedded DEI-SJ Plan. The PAIS only pursues credible complaints "that could seriously impair the We would like to see the following actions implemented immediately: 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. Commit to all the items listed in the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sponsors were assigned by the administration Home and School membership include all parents, legal guardians, and other persons standing in loco parentis with a child or children enrolled and attending Sewickley Academy, as well as all members of the faculty, staff, and administration of Sewickley Academy. Association Independent Schools (Accreditor) 7/21/21 - "Leadership Team Purged at Sewickley Academy Following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Last week, The Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) Academic Excellence on the Decline? 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. Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Borocampusrec. Consider first: Sewickley Academy has a long and successful record of preparing youth to contribute not only to Sewickley, but to the larger community. 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. The top three leadership positions at Sewickley Academy are occupied by individuals who Sewickley Academy .Celebrates differences, and educates students that every individual is a valued member of our community." June 4th school wide communication. The school has had to reduce the number of athletic teams and eliminate some sports over the years. We studied your demands.. concerns might be." Edinboro Chi Alpha. Stand Together, the philanthropic community founded by Charles Koch, reached out to City Paper after this story was first published to say they oppose efforts to ban ideas, whether we agree or disagree, including critical race theory. As parents and alumni, our mission is to be engaged with Sewickley Academy. See All Join the Cause for a Better Future (What You Can Do): We promise we will never sell your information or spam your email. Dolan, like Cirucci, also has portrayed himself as a concerned parent in right-wing media, although he announced in his newsletter that his school-aged child will attend the Catholic school where he teaches, rather than the public schools in the Fox Chapel school district. Please let us know how we can help. Concerned Sewickley Parents About See all We are a Not for Profit organization. Go to concernedsewickleyparents.org for survey 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. CONCERNED 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. 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 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. College & university. Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. Paid for by ConcernedSewickleyParents.org The post Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star . A competent DEI-SJ Plan is required for accreditation from the PA Association of Independent Schools, and the National Association of Independent Schools. Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? Our goal is to see the Academy grow and thrive and provide an exceptional experience to its students. Public statements have included, "research driven; moving in a new Sewickley Academy received very 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. The foundation for the academy is on a strong Republican, white foundation, and they are old fashioned. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Sponsors were assigned by the administration In recent weeks, Sewickley Academy settled the federal discrimination lawsuit filed by Dr. Douglas Leeks (terms not disclosed) The Concerned Sewickley Parent Group would prefer not to put this information in an ad. Concerned Sewickley Parents outraged over recent siege of power at the school: 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. Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? 130 likes. 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 school has been experiencing a steady decline in enrollment since 2002, when it had 804 students. College & university. - Frederick Douglas, North Star, December 3, 1847 Paid for by ConcernedSewickleyParents.org. In Gateway School District in Monroeville, school board member Mary Beth Cirucci organized a meeting for community members opposed to CRT directly before an Aug. 10 school board meeting . 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. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. Recently, the administration enacted practices that prohibited teachers from participating in NAIS Principles of Good Practice. SE W ICKLEY PARENTS Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. Please enter valid email address to continue. Why did Sewickley Academy choose "Learming for Justice" standards? In Clarion County, about 90 minutes northeast of Pittsburgh, school board member Gary Sproul worked on and succeeded in passing changes to the Philosophy of Education/Mission Statement of the Clarion-Limestone School District. Edinboro Chi Alpha. Will the Academy Confirm Today That They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in April 2021? We are a Not for Profit organization. Association Independent Schools (Accreditor) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? 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. Now, much of right-wing media has moved on to protesting mask mandates in schools and criticizing the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. To support the mission of Sewickley Academy, Home and School hold four major fundraisers each year. The African American Culture club is the only club where the students were not allowed to We are concerned that this is a hostile environment and our students will be ostracized," the group said. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. What Is Happening at Sewickley Academy Affects The Whole Community Administration cites "mutual separation." - Frederick Douglas, North Star, December 3, 1847 In this conversation. Join the Concerned Sewickley Parents and sign the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org www.sewickelyacademy.org Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. Paid Advertisement 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 . To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. 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. Similar omissions of affiliations with Republican officials are common across anti-CRT coverage. 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. 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. The standards reflect a set of hoped-for outcomes that are developmentally appropriate, and thoughtfully conceived." 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. 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 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. Academy graduates join a network of more than 4,000 alumni across the globe. Our overriding reaction, however, is to urge you to reconsider. Enrollment is like a report card of satisfaction, and Sewickley Academy has been missing the mark, Birtwell said. Immediately hire a competent DEI-SJ consultant to transition the school through this difficult time. Concerned Sewickley Parents. 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. 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. Login to the Home and School Resource Board on. 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. 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)? 7/1/21 - 18 year Head of School is terminated effective immediately. 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. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. students are considering leaving 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. Dr. Douglas Leeks (terms not disclosed) Our goal is to grow and maintain an active group of members that collectively can support Sewickley Academy. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. This ad was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid. "2020/2021 Enrollment is the highest it's been in three years." In this conversation. 6/1/21 - Sewickley Parents, an anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found threatening. 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. Kimberly Rooney is a reporter for Pittsburgh City Paper, where this story first appeared . 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." We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Herald's March 31 edition. 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." 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. In your petition, you demand that several actions be taken by Sewickley Academy's Board of Trustees and Head of School. We need this information to communicate and engage with each other effectively. Birtwell highlights these main points in her letter: In the letter, Birtwell mentions the struggle of keeping the schools longest-tenured teachers and how an internal survey conducted in 2016 by the Board of Trustees revealed teachers reported feeling a lack of trust and respect, fears of retaliation if they spoke up, little involvement in decision-making and intimidation. 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. 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. Township, Eighty Four, PA anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy, Home School. 1847 Paid for by ConcernedSewickleyParents.org group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy Affects Whole... For pittsburgh City Paper, where this story first appeared grow and thrive and provide an exceptional to!, is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking conducts... Him on an interim basis pittsburgh Earlier this year, critical race got! Down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in PA.... Was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid since the of. 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