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. www.sewickleyacademy.org. "2020/2021 Enrollment is the highest it's been in three years." In other school districts, people with similar connections are trying to join school boards. But a spokesperson for a group now calling itself Concerned Sewickley Parents said they'll meet with Birtwell next week to demand the. Why Were Six Senior Leaders Fired (Including All Of The (3) Most Senior Leaders Of Color)? / CBS Pittsburgh. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. 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. 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. 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." A competent DEI-SJ Plan is required for accreditation from the PA Association of Independent Schools, and the National Association of Independent Schools. Presenting herself as an independently concerned constituent, she makes no mention of working for then-Republican state Rep. Eli Evankovich. Recently, the administration enacted practices that prohibited teachers from participating in Why did Sewickley Academy choose "Learming for Justice" standards? 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 . To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. 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. 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. 130 likes. There are 500 other constituents in the school. Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. Go to concernedsewickleyparents.org for survey While Nesmith remembers his years at Sewickley Academy fondly, he also recognizes the longstanding issues that Sewickley Academy has with race. 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. "No. 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. Edinboro University Alumni. The Sewickley Academyathletic program stresses the development of personal andteam excellence for our student-athletes. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Sproul did not respond to a request for comment. 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. This is only the beginning of the path ahead, and I am committed to keeping communication open and transparent in every way, she said. 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 it. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. Faculty report a substantial decrease in morale Fall 2020 - After 1.5 years in development, the Board ratified the Strategic Plan EnVision24 and it's embedded DEI-SJ Plan. We need this information to communicate and engage with each other effectively. Our goal is to see the Academy grow and thrive and provide an exceptional experience to its students. 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. 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. 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. 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. One even attended the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Please enter valid email address to continue. Edinboro University Psychology Department. Sewickley Parents Organization does not contain any identifying information for its members, which Odom finds very interesting and quite contradictory as the letter is full of racial animus, and definitely anti-Black., But the language of the letter mimics rhetoric found in right-wing media, such as framing childrens academic excellence as mutually exclusive with social justice concepts.. - Frederick Douglas, North Star, December 3, 1847 Paid for by ConcernedSewickleyParents.org. 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. 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. Secondly, please consider the credibility of your demands. Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. Concerned Sewickley Parents outraged over recent siege of power at the school: 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users Three were people of color. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Answer the Following: 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. Join the Concerned Sewickley Parents and sign the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org College & university. We point this out not to boast, but to give considerable credit to the faculty and administration of Sewickley Academy. 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. "Parents, community groups upset over staffing changes at Sewickley Academy https://t.co/yTIw8C5PJv" O Search for a new Head of DEISJ with experience and qualifications represent the makeup of the student body at Sewickley Academy 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. Edinboro University Psychology Department. Stephen Nesmith is one of many Sewickley Academy alumni who are upset about the schools actions. Sewickley Academy is an independent, private school, giving parents referred to by Odom as stakeholders more influence over the schools actions. 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. See All Birtwell said that 583 students were enrolled at the school for the 2020-21 school year. presented Sewickley Academy with multiple formal complaints 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. Concerned Sewickley Parents. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 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. Members plan to meet with the administration Friday at 1:00 pm to address the unexpected and numerous changes immediately before the start. 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. 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. experience and qualifications. 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. Youth Connect conducts a series of community forums where speakers are brought in to . In your petition, you demand that several. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Teachers come under pressure as politicians, parents battle over critical race theory. 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. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. The top three leadership positions at Sewickley Academy are occupied by individuals who 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. 6/1/21 - Sewickley Parents, an anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found threatening. 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. In doing so, we recognize the passion and beliefs driving your insistence that the school make these radical changes. 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. Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. 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. Sewickley Academy 4/2020 Communication. 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. All anti-CRT pushes in the Pittsburgh region have occurred in 2021. If you are a parent that has or has had children at Sewickley Academy or if you attended the academy, please join us. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. 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. The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Commit to the Following: 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. July 23, 2021 / 6:55 PM Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. 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." 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