In short, the scope and scale of the problems faced by our school required the fresh perspective of new leadership, Birtwell said. "The firings were retaliatory against anyone in support of diversity in education and plans to attract recruit and retain people of color. Albums. 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. 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. Birtwell said the dwindling student enrollment has prompted existing students to leave for other schools, which affects the student experience. 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 school has had to reduce the number of athletic teams and eliminate some sports over the years. Administration cites "mutual separation." 7/1/21 - 18 year Head of School is terminated effective immediately. This ad was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid. 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. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In doing so, we recognize the passion and beliefs driving your insistence that the school make these radical changes. Sewickley Academy received very high marks in 2019 for it's DEI-SJ plan. Two more teachers have since left the school, as well as many minority families. 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. Our Mission - Sewickley Parents Organization Our Mission 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 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. These standards are in practice at comparable independent schools in 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 wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Herald's March 31 edition. 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. We are concerned that this is a hostile environment and our students will be ostracized," the group said. Three were people of color. submitted by various constituents. Our overriding reaction, however, is to urge you to reconsider. We studied your demands. Press Release. 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. direction; toxic environment." "The firings were retaliatory. Fall 2020 - After 1.5 years in development, the Board ratified the Strategic Plan EnVision24 and it's embedded DEI-SJ Plan. 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. Why Were Six Senior Leaders Fired (Including All Of The (3) Most Senior Leaders Of Color)? Theyre not changing. 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. NAIS Principles of Good Practice. Association Independent Schools (Accreditor) 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 post Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star. "2020/2021 Enrollment is the highest it's been in three years." Members plan to meet with the administration Friday at 1:00 pm to address the unexpected and numerous changes immediately before the start of the school year. 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. 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. Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. 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. We are one, our cause is one, and we must help each other; if we are to succeed. 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." Over 150 individuals from the Sewickley Community (Board of Trustees; Faculty and Staff representatives; Student Leaders; We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Heralds March 31 edition. www.sewickelyacademy.org Make all future Board of Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy parents and alumni. "No. To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. 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. Under the former head of school, some parents expressed concern about the current curriculum. 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. 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. Three were people of color. Consider first: Sewickley Academy has a long and successful record of preparing youth to contribute not only to Sewickley, but to the larger community. We point this out not to boast, but to give considerable credit to the faculty and administration of Sewickley Academy. Faculty report a substantial decrease in morale TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? In recent weeks, Sewickley Academy settled the federal discrimination lawsuit filed by One even attended the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. 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. The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Commit to the Following: Go to concernedsewickleyparents.org for survey 7/21/21 - "Leadership Team Purged at Sewickley Academy Following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. quality and effectiveness of a school's program and are in conflict with the Founded in 1838, Sewickley Academy is Pittsburghs oldest independent coeducational school. Sponsors were assigned by the administration 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 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. If you have a personal story you wish to share, please submit a comment below. Edinboro University Psychology Department. 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. Our Advisory Committee reviews all comments, and we will not share them publicly unless you direct us to do so . We studied your demands.. In this conversation. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users O National search for a new Head of School with experience and qualifications Is Sewickley Academy's In April 2021, however, parents at Sewickley Academy received an email about the 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. 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. Commit to all the items listed in the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org Join the Cause for a Better Future (What You Can Do): Speak out, share this information and help us get answers from the Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees. In your petition, you demand that several. Members plan to meet with the administration Friday at 1:00 pm to address the unexpected and numerous changes immediately before the start. June 4th school wide communication. Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. 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. "Learning for Justice supports the educational outcomes that we want for our students. The Facebook page shared anti-CRT content as far back as April 2021, claiming the Biden administration want[s] to rewrite American history.. The post Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star . The published plan was distributed to the community. 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. Please enter valid email address to continue. Please let us know how we can help. 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. Birtwell also said that having more students enrolled allows for the vocal, music and dramatic arts offered to improve. 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. The school has been experiencing a steady decline in enrollment since 2002, when it had 804 students. Recently, the administration enacted practices that prohibited teachers from participating in 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. TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 10 And theyre not progressive. "No. 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. Through these volunteer efforts, our funds are used to enhance student life and support faculty, staff, and administration of Sewickley Academy: Interested in volunteering with Sewickley Academy's Home and School Association? College & university. 7/21/21 - "Leadership Team Purged at Sewickley Academy Following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users Search for a new Assistant Head of School with experience and qualification The Concerned Sewickley Parent Group would prefer not to put this information in an ad. Concerned Sewickley Parents, Sewickley, Pennsylvania. SE W ICKLEY PARENTS There are 500 other constituents in the school. Join the Concerned Sewickley Parents and sign the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org In this conversation. 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. Will the Academy Confirm Today That They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in April 2021? Academy graduates join a network of more than 4,000 alumni across the globe. 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. O Search for a new Head of Senior School with experience and qualifications Rather, we are unaware of any private school successfully launching such a dramatic change in its educational focus. 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. 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. Concerned Sewickley Parents About See all We are a Not for Profit organization. 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. 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. Videos. Edinboro Chi Alpha. Sewickley Academy Sewickley Academy 4/2020 Communication. Edinboro Chi Alpha. College & university. 6/1/21 - Sewickley Parents, an anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found threatening. There is a long list of retired Heads of School who would 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Sproul also went to the Capitol for the Jan. 6 insurrection to support the right-wing conspiracy theory that the 2020 election results were tampered with to undermine former President Donald Trump. Dr. Douglas Leeks (terms not disclosed) 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. 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." A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. O An immediate replacement of the current Interim Head of School with one who has Our goal is to grow and maintain an active group of members that collectively can support Sewickley Academy. 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. Were seeing it as a movement and instead of take back your country, its take back our school, saidDominic Odom, a representative of Concerned Sewickley Parents, which formed in response to the firings of the five Sewickley Academy faculty and administrators. 8/05/2021 - Sewickley Academy's justification for staff terminations at first was "low enrolment, " but the reasons continue to change. 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.. Expressed concern about the current curriculum exclusive reporting school, as well as many minority families at... Weeks, Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan EnVision24 writing for CBSs new! Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared on! Since 2002, when it had 804 students learn more about this business and its Most recent offers recipients threatening! School has had to reduce the number of athletic teams and eliminate some sports the. 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