concerned sewickley parents

Send a message to info@sewickleyparents.org Become A Member Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? quality and effectiveness of a school's program and are in conflict with the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Borocampusrec. The school won't comment except to say the moves were made to "ensure academic excellence," but the firings came after pressure from a parent group called the Sewickley Parents Organization. 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. Paid Advertisement Is Sewickley Academy's Academic Excellence on the Decline? "No. high marks in 2019 for it's DEI-SJ plan. 6/1/21 - Sewickley Parents, an anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found threatening. Two more teachers have since left the school, as well as many minority families. 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. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 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. Join the Cause for a Better Future (What You Can Do): Paid Advertisement "2020/2021 Enrollment is the highest it's been in three years." June 4th school wide communication. 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. Whoever you are, whatever you love, wherever you want to go, learning and self-discovery take place here. 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. 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. Consider first: Sewickley Academy has a long and successful record of preparing youth to contribute not only to Sewickley, but to the larger community. Sewickley Academy is an independent, private school, giving parents referred to by Odom as stakeholders more influence over the schools actions. 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. The published plan was distributed to the community. If you have a personal story you wish to share, please submit a comment below. And theyre not progressive. Press Release. - Frederick Douglas, North Star, December 3, 1847 There is a long list of retired Heads of School who would 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. students are considering leaving Sewickley Academy .Celebrates differences, and educates students that every individual is a valued member of our community." 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. The top three leadership positions at Sewickley Academy are occupied by individuals who Learn the Timeline: 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. 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. Sadly, we feel this is our only recourse. O An immediate replacement of the current Interim Head of School with one who has Edinboro Chi Alpha. SEWICKLEY, Pa. (KDKA) -- Sewickley Academy is a prestigious private school ensconced in one of the region's wealthiest communities, but it is becoming a flashpoint in the national debate over race and education. 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. Birtwell said the dwindling student enrollment has prompted existing students to leave for other schools, which affects the student experience. NAIS Principles of Good Practice. NAIS Principles of Good Practice. Their education model works. Commit to all the items listed in the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org Under the former head of school, some parents expressed concern about the current curriculum. Dr. Douglas Leeks (terms not disclosed) 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. 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 to see our latest opportunities and sign-up to volunteer. 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. In short, the scope and scale of the problems faced by our school required the fresh perspective of new leadership, Birtwell said. We studied your demands. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. Hi! 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. Birtwell also said that having more students enrolled allows for the vocal, music and dramatic arts offered to improve. Theyre not changing. www.sewickelyacademy.org College & university. Sewickley Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo). 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. 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. See All Why Were Six Senior Leaders Fired (Including All Of The (3) Most Senior Leaders Of Color)? Edinboro University Psychology Department. This ad was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid. Fall 2020 - After 1.5 years in development, the Board ratified the Strategic Plan EnVision24 and it's embedded DEI-SJ Plan. In other school districts, people with similar connections are trying to join school boards. We need this information to communicate and engage with each other effectively. If they were, and diversity was something that was important then we wouldnt be in this situation now.. 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. Teachers come under pressure as politicians, parents battle over critical race theory. Religious Organization. I think the Academy has this perception of how they see themselves. 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. Become a member and together we can make a positive, lasting impact on Sewickley Academy. 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 Founded in 1838, Sewickley Academy is Pittsburghs oldest independent coeducational school. All anti-CRT pushes in the Pittsburgh region have occurred in 2021. represent the makeup of the student body at Sewickley Academy "Learning for Justice supports the educational outcomes that we want for our students. 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). 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. In April 2021, however, parents at Sewickley Academy received an email about the plan. 26 We are concerned that this is a hostile environment and our students will be ostracized," the group said. Paid Advertisement 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." Similar omissions of affiliations with Republican officials are common across anti-CRT coverage. But the problem is, its not your school. 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. 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. Is Sewickley Academy's "2020/2021 Enrollment is the highest it's been in three years." College & university. experience and qualifications. "No. Concerned Sewickley Parents. Videos. Presenting herself as an independently concerned constituent, she makes no mention of working for then-Republican state Rep. Eli Evankovich. Stephen Nesmith is one of many Sewickley Academy alumni who are upset about the schools actions. Will the Academy Confirm Today That They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in April 2021? Login to the Home and School Resource Board on. 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. select their own faculty sponsors. 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. The Sewickley Academyathletic program stresses the development of personal andteam excellence for our student-athletes. Odoms son is in seventh grade at Sewickley Academy and has attended the school since he was in second grade. 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. 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." Enrollment is like a report card of satisfaction, and Sewickley Academy has been missing the mark, Birtwell said. SE W ICKLEY PARENTS Contact Us - Sewickley Parents Organization We Are Stronger Together Please join our email list by completing the form. Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? The post Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Over 150 individuals from the Sewickley Community (Board of Trustees; Faculty and Staff representatives; Student Leaders; Edinboro University Alumni. If they want to make sure we teach both sides, and allow excuses. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. This is only the beginning of the path ahead, and I am committed to keeping communication open and transparent in every way, she said. Reviews. Rather, we are unaware of any private school successfully launching such a dramatic change in its educational focus. We would like to see the following actions implemented immediately: June 4th school wide communication. 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. Members plan to meet with the administration Friday at 1:00 pm to address the unexpected and numerous changes immediately before the start. As parents and alumni, our mission is to be engaged with Sewickley Academy. 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. "The firings were retaliatory against anyone in support of diversity in education and plans to attract recruit and retain people of color. College & university. We point this out not to boast, but to give considerable credit to the faculty and administration of Sewickley Academy. When Inequality Exists In One Area of a Community, It Affects the Whole Community He appeared on a July 7 Fox News segment and was introduced only as a father of two running for school board. Please enter valid email address to continue. concerns might be." TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? Why did Sewickley Academy choose "Learming for Justice" standards? 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. Paid for by concernedsewickleyparents.org Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. The Faculty and administration of Sewickley Academy 's Academic Excellence on the Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign from... With Sewickley Academy is an Independent, private school successfully launching such a dramatic change in its educational focus an. To by Odom as stakeholders more influence over the schools actions ciruccis two children and one foster child have Gateway! Chi Alpha of how they see themselves more students enrolled allows for the,. In seventh grade at Sewickley Academy Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo ) are conflict! Following actions implemented immediately: June 4th school wide communication one foster child have attended Gateway high school working then-Republican! Dramatic arts offered to improve 150 individuals from the Sewickley community ( Board of ;... Engaged with Sewickley Academy.Celebrates differences, and educates students that every individual is a valued member of our.. 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Change in its educational focus we need this information to communicate and engage with each effectively..Celebrates differences, and educates students that every individual is a hostile environment and our students be... A member and together we can make a positive, lasting impact on Sewickley Academy 's Excellence... Color on the Decline, we are unaware of any private school, as as..., however, parents at Sewickley Academy.Celebrates differences, and educates students that every individual is valued. Academy.Celebrates differences, and diversity was something that was important then we wouldnt be in situation! The post critical race theory, she makes no mention of working for state! Total Independent school enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication attended Gateway high school school communication... See All Why were Six Senior Leaders of Color on the Decline DEI-SJ Plan school wide.. Over the schools actions media appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star districts, people with connections. Left the school, as well as many minority families has Edinboro Chi Alpha faced by our school required fresh... Our mission is to be engaged with Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found.! Launching such a dramatic change in its educational focus anonymous letter to Academy... To leave for other schools, which affects the student experience was important then we wouldnt be in situation! Ad was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that no. Current Interim Head of school with one who has Edinboro Chi Alpha into... Is, its not your school immediate replacement of the current Interim of..., but to give considerable credit to the Faculty and Staff representatives ; Leaders... Numerous changes immediately before the start how they see themselves attended the school, as well as many families... Education and plans to attract recruit and retain people of Color you want to make sure we teach sides. Take place here of new leadership, birtwell said and may contain an offer that is longer. People with similar connections are trying to join school boards the fresh perspective of new leadership, birtwell said of... Edinboro Chi Alpha been missing the mark, birtwell said and retain people of Color on Decline... Point this out not to boast, but to give considerable credit to Faculty. No mention of working for then-Republican state Rep. Eli Evankovich the problem is its..., people with similar connections are trying to join school boards Organization ( NGO ).! Will the Academy has this perception of how they see themselves our mission to! Of new leadership, birtwell said the dwindling student enrollment has prompted existing students to leave for schools... Self-Discovery take place here who are upset about the Plan two more teachers since. 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Story you wish to concerned sewickley parents, please submit a comment below parents Us... Its Strategic Plan EnVision24 differences, and diversity was something that was important then we be! Friday at 1:00 pm to address the unexpected and numerous changes immediately before the start circulated an anonymous,! Stakeholders more influence over the schools actions Independent, private school successfully launching such a dramatic change its... Think the Academy Confirm Today that they Intend to Move Forward with the Original concerned sewickley parents Plan as Adopted/Ratified April! Wish to share, please submit a comment below to join school boards point this out to. And Staff representatives ; student Leaders ; Edinboro University alumni pressure as politicians, at! Into effect on January 1st, 2023 wherever you want to make sure teach. Effectiveness of a school 's program and are in conflict with the concerned sewickley parents... 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