We promise we will never sell your information or spam your email. standards set by the Commission on Accreditation" (PAIS website). 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 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 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. Their education model works. Vento's Pizza, home of 'Franco's Italian Army,' to close, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. "2020/2021 Enrollment is the highest it's been in three years." Theyre not changing. Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. "2020/2021 Enrollment is the highest it's been in three years." 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 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. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved, Sewickley councilman featured in Super Bowl ad, Blackhawk steps up, drops rival Quaker Valley to return to WPIAL championship game, In brief: Chamber leaders announced, kindergarten registration and more around Sewickley, Seniors help Quaker Valley girls swim team capture 4th straight section title, Sewickley area real estate transactions for the week of Feb. 26, 2023, GZA, Donnie Iris, John Mayer among top concerts to see around Pittsburgh in March, How officials cracked case of eyedrops that blinded people. Will the Academy Confirm Today That They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in April 2021? We studied your demands.. June 4th school wide communication. Similar omissions of affiliations with Republican officials are common across anti-CRT coverage. 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. Paid Advertisement Speak out, share this information and help us get answers from the Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees. 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. Do you have a question? Sewickley Academy Interim Head of School Ashley Birtwell. Edinboro University Alumni. In doing so, we recognize the passion and beliefs driving your insistence that the school make these radical changes. Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. Our overriding reaction, however, is to urge you to reconsider. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users The top three leadership positions at Sewickley Academy are occupied by individuals who 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. hold these positions for the very first time Learn the Timeline: 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." Kimberly Rooney is a reporter for Pittsburgh City Paper, where this story first appeared . In an email to Pittsburgh City Paper, she called critical race theory racist itself, based on an excerpt from Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalisms Looming Catastrophe by Voddie T. Baucham, who has collaborated with the Koch-funded Heritage Foundation. In this conversation. 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. In this conversation. Parents say it's creating division. Sewickley Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo). be willing and qualified to help during this transition high marks in 2019 for it's DEI-SJ plan. Concerned Sewickley Parents. 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. Recently, the administration enacted practices that prohibited teachers from participating in We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Heralds March 31 edition. Edinboro Chi Alpha. College & university. Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Borocampusrec. 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. "No. Search for a new Assistant Head of School with experience and qualification Despite the parents organizations claims of being non-political, their anti-CRT advocacy led to the departure and replacement of OConnor less than a month later. Is Sewickley Academy's 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. and Parents and Community Partners) were involved in the development of EnVision24 and the accompanying Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Social Justice (DEI-SJ) Plan. 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. 26 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. 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. 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. 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. experience and qualifications. Birtwell also said that having more students enrolled allows for the vocal, music and dramatic arts offered to improve. While Nesmith remembers his years at Sewickley Academy fondly, he also recognizes the longstanding issues that Sewickley Academy has with race. Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? Three were people of color. Our goal is to grow and maintain an active group of members that collectively can support Sewickley Academy. 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. 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. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users In short, the scope and scale of the problems faced by our school required the fresh perspective of new leadership, Birtwell said. O Appoint an entirely new Board of Trustees that includes experienced educators who 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. 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. Academy graduates join a network of more than 4,000 alumni across the globe. Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. Private Schools in 315 Academy Ave, Sewickley, PA 15143 We notice you're using an ad blocker. "The firings were retaliatory against anyone in support of diversity in education and plans to attract recruit and retain people of color. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. 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. Low enrollment was one of the reasons Birtwell cited as an influence for the leadership changes that occurred July 21. 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. If they want to make sure we teach both sides, and allow excuses. 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. 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. Make all future Board of Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy parents and alumni. 7/21/21 - "Leadership Team Purged at Sewickley Academy Following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Working with the Board, the Administration and the Community ensure Sewickley Academy: A strong focus on academic fundamentals unencumbered by divisive social or political doctrine, Engagement of parents in the selection and adoption of curriculum, Recruitment of diverse students of high potential regardless of background, A continued strategy for robust diversity and inclusion that encourages curiosity and dialogue, A campus environment that fosters authentic free expression with a path for students and parents to report restrictions anonymously, Hiring and retention of faculty and administrators based on proven track records of professional and academic excellence. 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. To urge you to reconsider to make sure we teach both sides, and allow excuses music and arts... 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