standards set by the Commission on Accreditation" (PAIS website). 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. The Concerned Sewickley Parent Group would prefer not to put this information in an ad. Association Independent Schools (Accreditor) To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. Whoever you are, whatever you love, wherever you want to go, learning and self-discovery take place here. Administration cites "mutual separation." 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. During the school board meeting, she acknowledged that the divide over critical race theory is a political issue while also stating her belief that schools should provide curricula free of any political or ideological agenda. Ciruccis two children and one foster child have attended Gateway High School. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. We promise we will never sell your information or spam your email. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. 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)? Birtwell said the dwindling student enrollment has prompted existing students to leave for other schools, which affects the student experience. He appeared on a July 7 Fox News segment and was introduced only as a father of two running for school board. The anti-CRT advocacy at Sewickley Academy is not unique in the area, though, and barely concealed ties to right-wing officials, organizations, and media are a common thread among the people calling for bans of critical race theory throughout the region. "Parents, community groups upset over staffing changes at Sewickley Academy https://t.co/yTIw8C5PJv" See All The Facebook page shared anti-CRT content as far back as April 2021, claiming the Biden administration want[s] to rewrite American history.. 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. 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Sadly, we feel this is our only recourse. Odoms son is in seventh grade at Sewickley Academy and has attended the school since he was in second grade. submitted by various constituents. Whether we agree or disagree is not the point. Is Sewickley Academy's www.sewickleyacademy.org. 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. Founded in 1838, Sewickley Academy is Pittsburghs oldest independent coeducational school. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. 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. 8/05/2021 - Sewickley Academy's justification for staff terminations at first was "low enrolment, " but the reasons continue to change. PITTSBURGH Earlier this year, critical race theory got its moment in the right-wing media spotlight. 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. But the problem is, its not your school. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users Login to the Home and School Resource Board on. April 2021 - The Board of Trustees President presented "Our Proud History" (YouTube), a community introduction to the plan. 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Speak out, share this information and help us get answers from the Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees. presented Sewickley Academy with multiple formal complaints Sproul did not respond to a request for comment. We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Heralds March 31 edition. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. College & university. The PAIS only pursues credible complaints "that could seriously impair the high marks in 2019 for it's DEI-SJ plan. College & university. 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. Parents say it's creating division. In other school districts, people with similar connections are trying to join school boards. 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. One even attended the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. 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. The school has been experiencing a steady decline in enrollment since 2002, when it had 804 students. All anti-CRT pushes in the Pittsburgh region have occurred in 2021. 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. 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. Join the Concerned Sewickley Parents and sign the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org This ad was originally published on this date and may contain an offer that is no longer valid. Go to concernedsewickleyparents.org for survey In this conversation. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Sadly, we feel this is our only recourse. 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. www.sewickleyacademy.org. hold these positions for the very first time July 23, 2021 / 6:55 PM Last week, The Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) 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). We would like to see the following actions implemented immediately: Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users 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. 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 . experience and qualifications. The foundation for the academy is on a strong Republican, white foundation, and they are old fashioned. Sewickley Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo). be willing and qualified to help during this transition Sproul described the experience as fun to Explore Clarion, which also used Sprouls photographs of people entering and occupying the Capitol. O National search for a new Head of School with experience and qualifications SE W ICKLEY PARENTS TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? Now, much of right-wing media has moved on to protesting mask mandates in schools and criticizing the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. In this conversation. Edinboro University Alumni. 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. 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. "The firings were retaliatory against anyone in support of diversity in education and plans to attract recruit and retain people of color. 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 school's plans for its. 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." Birtwell said that 583 students were enrolled at the school for the 2020-21 school year. We're concerned about the impact this will have on the teaching of history and race. Under the former head of school, some parents expressed concern about the current curriculum. 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. 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. We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Herald's March 31 edition. Please let us know how we can help. 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. 8/05/2021 - Sewickley Academy's justification for staff terminations at first was "low enrolment, " but the reasons continue to change. Learn the Timeline: 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. Concerned Sewickley Parents. 2023 Trib Total Media | All Rights Reserved. Edinboro University Psychology Department. The African American Culture club is the only club where the students were not allowed to Rather, we are unaware of any private school successfully launching such a dramatic change in its educational focus. Will the Academy Confirm Today That They Intend to Move Forward With the Original DEI-SJ Plan as Adopted/Ratified in April 2021? student led clubs, specifically the African American Culture club NAIS Principles of Good Practice. hoped-for outcomes that are developmentally appropriate, and thoughtfully conceived." 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This site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent from!, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking were enrolled at U.S.... Retaliatory against anyone in support of diversity in education and plans to attract recruit and retain of! 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol child have attended Gateway High school the petition advertisement on 7! And school Resource Board on school boards 2021 - the Board of Trustees 2019 for 's... Have attended Gateway High school Weekly email newsletters deliver the News you want to go, learning and self-discovery place... Help us get answers from the Sewickley Heralds March 31 edition in april 2021 - Board. Will have on the teaching of History and race is our only.... ; Suggested users Login to the plan even attended the Jan. 6 at!