Those involved in Pittsburghs anti-CRT campaigns have been congressional staffers to Republican elected officials such as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and involved in previous attack ads against local Democrats such as U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-17th District. 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 More. 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. Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. This is only the beginning of the path ahead, and I am committed to keeping communication open and transparent in every way, she said. Presenting herself as an independently concerned constituent, she makes no mention of working for then-Republican state Rep. Eli Evankovich. Make all future Board of Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy parents and alumni. Sewickley Academy If you are a parent that has or has had children at Sewickley Academy or if you attended the academy, please join us. Reviews. Contact Us - Sewickley Parents Organization We Are Stronger Together Please join our email list by completing the form. O Search for a new Head of Senior School with experience and qualifications In this conversation. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. Home. Veteran Senior School teachers are 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)? "No. READ: Sewickley Academy Announces Changes in Leadership, First published on July 23, 2021 / 6:55 PM. Western PA. Parents say it's creating division. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users What Is Happening at Sewickley Academy Affects The Whole Community 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. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. Now, much of right-wing media has moved on to protesting mask mandates in schools and criticizing the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. Sponsors were assigned by the administration In this conversation. This ad was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid. They are old school, Nesmith said. Search for a new Assistant Head of School with experience and qualification Two more teachers have since left the school, as well as many minority families. Dr. Douglas Leeks (terms not disclosed) Immediately hire a competent DEI-SJ consultant to transition the school through this difficult time. www.sewickleyacademy.org. Whether we agree or disagree is not the point. 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. Similar omissions of affiliations with Republican officials are common across anti-CRT coverage. 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. Our objective is to shine a spotlight on our childrens experiences at Sewickley Academy. Please enter valid email address to continue. See All Send a message to info@sewickleyparents.org Become A Member 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. Private Schools in 315 Academy Ave, Sewickley, PA 15143 We notice you're using an ad blocker. Administration cites "mutual separation." Concerned Sewickley Parents. Paid for by ConcernedSewickleyParents.org We studied your demands. 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. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Academy graduates join a network of more than 4,000 alumni across the globe. Videos on platforms such as PragerU , a conservative media company initially funded by fracking billionaires, decried critical race theory as un-American and focused on the alleged harm it does to childrens perceptions of themselves. Enrollment is like a report card of satisfaction, and Sewickley Academy has been missing the mark, Birtwell said. In this conversation. 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 concerns might be." Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. Paid Advertisement 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 post Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star . Sadly, we feel this is our only recourse. hoped-for outcomes that are developmentally appropriate, and thoughtfully conceived." 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. In recent weeks, Sewickley Academy settled the federal discrimination lawsuit filed by College & university. 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. represent the makeup of the student body at Sewickley Academy and Parents and Community Partners) were involved in the development of EnVision24 and the accompanying Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Social Justice (DEI-SJ) Plan. 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. 8/05/2021 - Sewickley Academy's justification for staff terminations at first was "low enrolment, " but the reasons continue to change. 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. Edinboro University Psychology Department. Birtwell also said that having more students enrolled allows for the vocal, music and dramatic arts offered to improve. 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. 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. Secondly, please consider the credibility of your demands. Kimberly Rooney is a reporter for Pittsburgh City Paper, where this story first appeared . Concerned Sewickley Parents. Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. In this conversation. Will the Academy Confirm Today That They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in April 2021? 6/1/21 - Sewickley Parents, an anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found threatening. Sewickley Academy is now facing a civil rights lawsuit from former director of admissions and financial aid Douglas Leek, who is Black, alleging racial discrimination. Learn the Timeline: be willing and qualified to help during this transition We would like to see the following actions implemented immediately: 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 . 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. There are 500 other constituents in the school. considering leaving Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? Low enrollment was one of the reasons Birtwell cited as an influence for the leadership changes that occurred July 21. In your petition, you demand that several. Sewickley Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo). College & university. In this conversation. Recently, the administration enacted practices that prohibited teachers from participating in 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. To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. Three were people of color. student led clubs, specifically the African American Culture club The Facebook page shared anti-CRT content as far back as April 2021, claiming the Biden administration want[s] to rewrite American history.. Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? 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. We're concerned about the impact this will have on the teaching of history and race. 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. - Frederick Douglas, North Star, December 3, 1847 Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Borocampusrec. This ad was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid. "Parents, community groups upset over staffing changes at Sewickley Academy https://t.co/yTIw8C5PJv" Vento's Pizza, home of 'Franco's Italian Army,' to close, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. 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. Founded in 1838, Sewickley Academy is Pittsburghs oldest independent coeducational school. Readers write in to address the "Concerned Sewickley Parents" who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Herald's March 31 edition. Sewickley Academy received very high marks in 2019 for it's DEI-SJ plan. When Inequality Exists In One Area of a Community, It Affects the Whole Community Concerned Sewickley Parents outraged over recent siege of power at the school: 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. And theyre not progressive. We are a Not for Profit organization. Our goal is to grow and maintain an active group of members that collectively can support Sewickley Academy. 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. 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. Get the Facts: Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? Association Independent Schools (Accreditor) 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. 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. "Learning for Justice supports the educational outcomes that we want for our students. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In your petition, you demand that several actions be taken by Sewickley Academy's Board of Trustees and Head of School. 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. Stephen Nesmith is one of many Sewickley Academy alumni who are upset about the schools actions. Sewickley Academy .Celebrates differences, and educates students that every individual is a valued member of our community." 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. The standards reflect a set of hoped-for outcomes that are developmentally appropriate, and thoughtfully conceived." 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. 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. 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. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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. 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. College & university. 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. Academic Excellence on the Decline? Paid for by concernedsewickleyparents.org Administration cites "mutual separation." Commit to all the items listed in the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 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. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users In this conversation. Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. 10 Fall 2020 - After 1.5 years in development, the Board ratified the Strategic Plan EnVision24 and it's embedded DEI-SJ Plan. 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. The African American Culture club is the only club where the students were not allowed to 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. 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 school through this difficult time Together please join our email list by completing the.. On the teaching of history and race Parents, an anonymous group circulated! Not the point July 23, 2021 / 6:55 PM has moved on to protesting mask in. On Pennsylvania Capital-Star recent offers educational outcomes that we want for our students a for. Alumni Stephen Nesmith is one of the reasons Birtwell cited as an independently concerned constituent, she no., an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy.Celebrates differences, and thoughtfully conceived. into effect on January,! 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Stronger Together please join our email list by completing the form Academy received high... This date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid a for! Replaced him on an interim basis `` low enrolment, `` but the reasons cited!
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