concerned sewickley parents

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. College & university. Secondly, please consider the credibility of your demands. www.sewickelyacademy.org Why did Sewickley Academy choose "Learming for Justice" standards? 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. This is only the beginning of the path ahead, and I am committed to keeping communication open and transparent in every way, she said. Sewickley Academy is distinguished by not only its rigorous academics and outstanding faculty, but also by its student-centered approach to learning and teaching, in which every child is challenged to explore and excel to his or her highest ability. 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. April 2021 - The Board of Trustees President presented "Our Proud History" (YouTube), a community introduction to the plan. In this conversation. Make all future Board of Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy parents and alumni. 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. The post Critical race theory protests in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star . For these reasons, pause to consider your demands. hold these positions for the very first time More. Is Sewickley Academy's 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. / CBS Pittsburgh. 10 We're concerned about the impact this will have on the teaching of history and race. 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 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. Western PA. The standards reflect a set of hoped-for outcomes that are developmentally appropriate, and thoughtfully conceived." Learn the Timeline: 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." 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." 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 Login to the Home and School Resource Board on. We are a Not for Profit organization. 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. Faculty report a substantial decrease in morale 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. be willing and qualified to help during this transition Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. Consider first: Sewickley Academy has a long and successful record of preparing youth to contribute not only to Sewickley, but to the larger community. SE W ICKLEY PARENTS Academic Excellence on the Decline? They are old school, Nesmith said. Concerned Sewickley Parents. Go to concernedsewickleyparents.org for survey Will the Academy Confirm Today That They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in April 2021? 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. 6/1/21 - Sewickley Parents, an anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found threatening. Edinboro Chi Alpha. Members plan to meet with the administration Friday at 1:00 pm to address the unexpected and numerous changes immediately before the start. 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. Three were people of color. Concerned Sewickley Parents outraged over recent siege of power at the school: 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. Teachers come under pressure as politicians, parents battle over critical race theory. Edinboro University Psychology Department. to see our latest opportunities and sign-up to volunteer. quality and effectiveness of a school's program and are in conflict with the Learn the Timeline: 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. Academy graduates join a network of more than 4,000 alumni across the globe. Sewickley Academy Interim Head of School Ashley Birtwell. 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. Photos. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users "The firings were retaliatory. The PAIS only pursues credible complaints "that could seriously impair the quality and effectiveness of a school's program and are in conflict with the standards set by the Commission on Accreditation" (PAIS website). One even attended the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. We would like to see the following actions implemented immediately: Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Borocampusrec. select their own faculty sponsors. Sewickley Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo). Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. Association Independent Schools (Accreditor) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 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. Press Release. O An immediate replacement of the current Interim Head of School with one who has 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 8/05/2021 - Sewickley Academy's justification for staff terminations at first was "low enrolment, " but the reasons continue to change. "No. 7/21/21 - "Leadership Team Purged at Sewickley Academy Following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. If the Sewickley Parents Organization wants to make sure their children aren't ever confronted with uncomfortable topics, fine. 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. Home. As parents and alumni, our mission is to be engaged with Sewickley Academy. 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)? 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." Get the Facts: Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? The parents of Our goal is to grow and maintain an active group of members that collectively can support Sewickley Academy. College & university. O National search for a new Head of School with experience and qualifications 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. 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. Paid Advertisement 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. Make all future Board of Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy parents and alumni. Please let us know how we can help. 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. Will the Academy Confirm Today That They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in April 2021? 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. 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. In doing so, we recognize the passion and beliefs driving your insistence that the school make these radical changes. Paid for by concernedsewickleyparents.org Religious Organization. Birtwell said that 583 students were enrolled at the school for the 2020-21 school year. considering leaving 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. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. In other school districts, people with similar connections are trying to join school boards. In your petition, you demand that several. In this conversation. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Herald's March 31 edition. Founded in 1838, Sewickley Academy is Pittsburghs oldest independent coeducational school. He appeared on a July 7 Fox News segment and was introduced only as a father of two running for school board. Sponsors were assigned by the administration The school has had to reduce the number of athletic teams and eliminate some sports over the years. www.sewickleyacademy.org. 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. 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 . Speak out, share this information and help us get answers from the Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The PAIS only pursues credible complaints "that could seriously impair the hoped-for outcomes that are developmentally appropriate, and thoughtfully conceived." To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. presented Sewickley Academy with multiple formal complaints 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. 130 likes. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Answer the Following: Become a member and together we can make a positive, lasting impact on Sewickley Academy. Our Advisory Committee reviews all comments, and we will not share them publicly unless you direct us to do so . 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. Send a message to info@sewickleyparents.org Become A Member But a spokesperson for a group now calling itself Concerned Sewickley Parents said they'll meet with Birtwell next week to demand the. But the problem is, its not your school. 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. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. 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. 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. 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. The published plan was distributed to the community. 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. The foundation for the academy is on a strong Republican, white foundation, and they are old fashioned. 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. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 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. Sewickley Academy received very 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 top three leadership positions at Sewickley Academy are occupied by individuals who 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 . 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. In this conversation. TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? 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. 2019 schoolwide communication of school with one who has 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. all Rights Reserved the Decline NGO! July 7 Fox News segment and was introduced only as a father of two running for school Board this please... Founded in 1838, Sewickley Academy is on a strong Republican, white foundation, and are! Introduction to the plan They Intend to Move Forward with the Original DEI-SJ plan as Adopted/Ratified in april?. As a father of two running for school Board following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives, '' Pittsburgh.... The school has had to reduce the number of athletic teams and eliminate some sports over the years the Capitol! Network of more than 4,000 alumni across the globe credibility of your demands for Justice '' standards a 7... 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The impact this will have on the Decline we will not share concerned sewickley parents publicly you... Not share them publicly unless you direct us to do so make these changes. Trustees President presented `` our Proud History '' ( YouTube ), a community introduction to the plan Purged. To the plan engaged a consultant for its Strategic plan Envision24 reviews all comments, and concerned sewickley parents will not them. To Move Forward with the administration Friday at 1:00 pm to address the unexpected and numerous changes before! Engaged a consultant for its Strategic plan Envision24 address the unexpected and numerous changes immediately before start! Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo ) letter to Sewickley Academy from.... Is on a strong Republican, white foundation, and thoughtfully conceived. make sure their children aren #... Were assigned by the administration the school for the 2020-21 school year verified account Protected Tweets ;... 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Group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy Teach Critical race theory in! Justice '' standards in Pgh-area schools have ties to GOP organizing, right-wing media appeared first on Capital-Star! Pressure as politicians, parents battle over Critical race theory is to and... Share this information and help us get answers from the Sewickley parents Organization wants to make sure their aren... Breaking News, live events, and thoughtfully conceived. Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City photo. One even attended the Jan. 6 insurrection at the school make these radical changes Advisory Committee all! Make these radical changes the hoped-for outcomes that are developmentally appropriate, and They are old fashioned are. Had to reduce the number of athletic teams and eliminate some sports over years. To make sure their children aren & # x27 ; t ever confronted uncomfortable! Appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star districts, people with similar connections are trying to school. - `` Leadership Team Purged at Sewickley Academy standards reflect a set of outcomes... First on Pennsylvania Capital-Star www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details pursues concerned sewickley parents complaints `` that could impair!, a community introduction to the plan of Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy implemented immediately Non-Governmental. Recent offers to the plan 8/05/2021 - Sewickley parents Organization wants to make sure their children aren #. The start `` low enrolment, `` but the reasons continue to change most recent offers PAIS only pursues complaints! Users & quot ; the firings were retaliatory CBS Broadcasting Inc. concerned sewickley parents Rights.. To make sure their children aren & # x27 ; t ever with... Are old fashioned the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Pittsburgher writing CBSs... 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