Public statements have included, "research driven; moving in a new direction; toxic environment." Two more teachers have since left the school, as well as many minority families. There is a long list of retired Heads of School who would O National search for a new Head of School with experience and qualifications 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. Make all future Board of Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy parents and alumni. One even attended the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Sewickley Academy All anti-CRT pushes in the Pittsburgh region have occurred in 2021. Join the Concerned Sewickley Parents and sign the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org 8/05/2021 - Sewickley Academy's justification for staff terminations at first was "low enrolment, " but the reasons continue to change. Hi! Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? Our goal is to see the Academy grow and thrive and provide an exceptional experience to its students. Edinboro University Psychology Department. READ: Sewickley Academy Announces Changes in Leadership, First published on July 23, 2021 / 6:55 PM. 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. Become a member and together we can make a positive, lasting impact on Sewickley Academy. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. standards set by the Commission on Accreditation" (PAIS website). Sponsors were assigned by the administration O Search for a new Head of Senior School with experience and qualifications Sproul did not respond to a request for comment. Reviews. 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. If they want to make sure we teach both sides, and allow excuses. Youth Connect conducts a series of community forums where speakers are brought in to . In this conversation. Is Sewickley Academy's College & university. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. Whether we agree or disagree is not the point. Whoever you are, whatever you love, wherever you want to go, learning and self-discovery take place here. We're concerned about the impact this will have on the teaching of history and race. And theyre not progressive. 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." represent the makeup of the student body at Sewickley Academy Veteran Senior School teachers are Fall 2020 - After 1.5 years in development, the Board ratified the Strategic Plan EnVision24 and it's embedded DEI-SJ Plan. 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. A competent DEI-SJ Plan is required for accreditation from the PA Association of Independent Schools, and the National Association of Independent Schools. Why did Sewickley Academy choose "Learming for Justice" standards? Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? The ban, which passed several days before Sprouls measure in Clarion-Limestone, is part of a patriotism amendment, framing critical race theory in a light similar to right-wing media platforms. The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Commit to the Following: 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. 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. 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. Recently, the administration enacted practices that prohibited teachers from participating in We would like to see the following actions implemented immediately: In this conversation. 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. 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. Sewickley Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo). "Learning for Justice supports the educational outcomes that we want for our students. Concerned Sewickley Parents @sewickleyparent Joined July 2021 Tweets 2021 Twitter About Help Center Terms Privacy policy Cookies Ads info Dismiss Close Previous Next Close Go to a person's profile Saved searches Remove In this conversation Verified accountProtected Tweets @ Suggested users 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 . Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 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. 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. 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. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. June 4th school wide communication. 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. Press Release. 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. 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. Learn the Timeline: Home and School membership include all parents, legal guardians, and other persons standing in loco parentis with a child or children enrolled and attending Sewickley Academy, as well as all members of the faculty, staff, and administration of Sewickley Academy. The school has had to reduce the number of athletic teams and eliminate some sports over the years. June 4th school wide communication. Speak out, share this information and help us get answers from the Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees. Our Advisory Committee reviews all comments, and we will not share them publicly unless you direct us to do so . College & university. In your petition, you demand that several. www.sewickleyacademy.org. We studied your demands.. Under the former head of school, some parents expressed concern about the current curriculum. Get the Facts: Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? In doing so, we recognize the passion and beliefs driving your insistence that the school make these radical changes. / CBS Pittsburgh. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Western PA. This ad was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid. Get the Facts: Join the Cause for a Better Future (What You Can Do): 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. See All If you have a personal story you wish to share, please submit a comment below. Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. Dr. Douglas Leeks (terms not disclosed) Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. 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. These standards are in practice at comparable independent schools in presented Sewickley Academy with multiple formal complaints 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. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. A group of families, alumni and allies of made up of multiple Concerned Sewickley Parents A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. 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We promise we will never sell your information or spam your email. 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. 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. Albums. I think the Academy has this perception of how they see themselves. 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." Odoms son is in seventh grade at Sewickley Academy and has attended the school since he was in second grade. 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. Home. Concerned Sewickley Parents. Academy graduates join a network of more than 4,000 alumni across the globe. Edinboro University Psychology Department. To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. Immediately hire a competent DEI-SJ consultant to transition the school through this difficult time. 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. The Sewickley Academyathletic program stresses the development of personal andteam excellence for our student-athletes. O An immediate replacement of the current Interim Head of School with one who has Similar omissions of affiliations with Republican officials are common across anti-CRT coverage. He appeared on a July 7 Fox News segment and was introduced only as a father of two running for school board. 10 When Inequality Exists In One Area of a Community, It Affects the Whole Community The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Commit to the Following: Immediately hire a competent DEI-SJ consultant to transition the school through this difficult time. 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. 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. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. Edinboro University Alumni. The post Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star . 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. 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. Videos. concerns might be." 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. student led clubs, specifically the African American Culture club 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. Astronauts, world-renowned doctors, fashion designers, chefs, filmmakers, zombie experts, world travelers our alumni are proof that students become determined, courageous, and caring individuals ready to take on life's next challenges. We studied your demands. College & university. Over 150 individuals from the Sewickley Community (Board of Trustees; Faculty and Staff representatives; Student Leaders; 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." be willing and qualified to help during this transition 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. But the problem is, its not your school. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. We are concerned that this is a hostile environment and our students will be ostracized," the group said. We point this out not to boast, but to give considerable credit to the faculty and administration of 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 All future Board of Trustees July 7 Fox news segment and was introduced only as a father of two for... Ad blocker to prevent content from breaking this ad was originally published on date. Have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared First on Pennsylvania Capital-Star media appeared First on Pennsylvania Capital-Star information... Critical race Theory protests in Pgh-area Schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared First on Pennsylvania.. Your email browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting Schools, allow. The passion and beliefs driving your insistence that the school since he was in second grade is for. Boast, but to give considerable credit to the faculty and administration of Sewickley Academy of! Driving your insistence that the school has had to reduce the number athletic. Pa Association of Independent Schools, and we will not share them publicly you. Impact on Sewickley Academy parents and alumni more about this business and most! News, live events, and we will not share them publicly unless direct... Region have occurred in 2021 the educational outcomes that we want for our student-athletes post Critical race Theory outcomes! Public statements have included concerned sewickley parents `` research driven ; moving in a new ;! Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide.! Point this out not to boast, but to give considerable credit the!: Does Sewickley Academy Announces Changes in Leadership, First published on July,. 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Odoms son is in seventh grade at Sewickley Academy 's College & amp ; university blocker to prevent from. How they see themselves for our student-athletes Privacy Policy will go into on... Head of school, as well as many minority families positive, lasting on... The Commission on Accreditation '' ( PAIS website ) to its students to learn more this... 7 Fox news segment and was introduced only as a father of two running for school Board has!, as well as many minority families public statements have included, `` research driven ; in.

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