Learn the Timeline: Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Join the Concerned Sewickley Parents and sign the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org We are one, our cause is one, and we must help each other; if we are to succeed. To turn the academy upside down without drawing from a comparable schools practices will, in our view, risk undercutting your childrens education while gaining little in return. Reviews. www.sewickelyacademy.org 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. Sewickley Academy .Celebrates differences, and educates students that every individual is a valued member of our community." 7/1/21 - 18 year Head of School is terminated effective immediately. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. Dr. Douglas Leeks (terms not disclosed) 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sewickley Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo). 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. But the problem is, its not your school. Whether we agree or disagree is not the point. Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. Concerned Sewickley Parents. 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. Often abbreviated to CRT, critical race theory is an academic framework dating back to the 1980s at Harvard University that seeks to understand how racial hierarchies continue to exist, but thats not how right-wing media presented it. 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 school's. 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. 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. 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. If you are a parent that has or has had children at Sewickley Academy or if you attended the academy, please join us. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 7/21/21 - "Leadership Team Purged at Sewickley Academy Following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Founded in 1838, Sewickley Academy is Pittsburghs oldest independent coeducational school. The Parent Programming Chair actively participates with Youth Connect, a group of concerned adults from a variety of schools and organizations in the Sewickley area who are working to provide the information, resources, and support our young people need to avoid risky behaviors and enjoy their teen years. The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Answer the Following: Photos. Fergusons youngest child graduated high school in 2019 , but it is unclear whether they attended the local public school. We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Heralds March 31 edition. When discussing the leadership changes that some community members and SA parents questioned, Birtwell said the covid-19 pandemic helped to crystallize for us the seriousness of our challenge.. June 4th school wide communication. 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. 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. Last week, The Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) 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. Paid Advertisement 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. 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. These standards are in practice at comparable independent schools in Sewickley Academy 4/2020 Communication. College & university. College & university. Similar omissions of affiliations with Republican officials are common across anti-CRT coverage. 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. 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. See All College & university. 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 . The PAIS only pursues credible complaints "that could seriously impair the "2020/2021 Enrollment is the highest it's been in three years." Go to concernedsewickleyparents.org for survey Presenting herself as an independently concerned constituent, she makes no mention of working for then-Republican state Rep. Eli Evankovich. Edinboro University Alumni. And theyre not progressive. students are considering leaving This ad was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid. We promise we will never sell your information or spam your email. "Parents, community groups upset over staffing changes at Sewickley Academy https://t.co/yTIw8C5PJv" It's pushing for a school "curriculum and culture free of ideological agendapolitical bias and social indoctrination.". While Nesmith remembers his years at Sewickley Academy fondly, he also recognizes the longstanding issues that Sewickley Academy has with race. 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. 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. 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. Sadly, we feel this is our only recourse. 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. 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Our overriding reaction, however, is to urge you to reconsider. 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. For these reasons, pause to consider your demands. Why did Sewickley Academy choose "Learming for Justice" standards? June 4th school wide communication. 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. 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. A competent DEI-SJ Plan is required for accreditation from the PA Association of Independent Schools, and the National Association of Independent Schools. 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. Hi! When Inequality Exists In One Area of a Community, It Affects the Whole Community In this conversation. There are 500 other constituents in the school. 130 likes. Press Release. The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Commit to the Following: Association Independent Schools (Accreditor) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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. Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? 6/1/21 - Sewickley Parents, an anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found threatening. 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. Paid for by concernedsewickleyparents.org 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 . 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. Recently, the administration enacted practices that prohibited teachers from participating in 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. Press Release. The African American Culture club is the only club where the students were not allowed to 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. PITTSBURGH Earlier this year, critical race theory got its moment in the right-wing media spotlight. 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. considering leaving As parents and alumni, our mission is to be engaged with 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. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users Kimberly Rooney is a reporter for Pittsburgh City Paper, where this story first appeared . Fall 2020 - After 1.5 years in development, the Board ratified the Strategic Plan EnVision24 and it's embedded DEI-SJ Plan. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users We need this information to communicate and engage with each other effectively. O Search for a new Head of DEISJ with experience and qualifications 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. All anti-CRT pushes in the Pittsburgh region have occurred in 2021. Sewickley Academy is an independent, private school, giving parents referred to by Odom as stakeholders more influence over the schools actions. Secondly, please consider the credibility of your demands. 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