Sponsors were assigned by the administration Now, much of right-wing media has moved on to protesting mask mandates in schools and criticizing the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. Become a member and together we can make a positive, lasting impact on Sewickley Academy. We studied your demands. Our goal is to grow and maintain an active group of members that collectively can support Sewickley Academy. Sadly, we feel this is our only recourse. 8/05/2021 - Sewickley Academy's justification for staff terminations at first was "low enrolment, " but the reasons continue to change. NAIS Principles of Good Practice. Sewickley Academy 4/2020 Communication. College & university. Home. 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 . Cirucci did not mention, however, that she is the executive administrator for state Rep. Bob Brooks, R-Westmoreland, and in charge of constituent outreach for the conservative lawmaker, whose district lies just outside of Gateways boundaries. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. Cirucci has obfuscated her affiliation with elected Republican officials before, including when she appeared in a conservative super PACs attack ad against Lamb, in 2018. Association Independent Schools (Accreditor) A competent DEI-SJ Plan is required for accreditation from the PA Association of Independent Schools, and the National Association of Independent Schools. 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. Sewickley Academy received very Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. 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. Speak out, share this information and help us get answers from the Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees. 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. 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. Teachers come under pressure as politicians, parents battle over critical race theory. 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. Sproul did not respond to a request for comment. Administration cites "mutual separation." Western PA. Join the Concerned Sewickley Parents and sign the petition at https://concernedsewickleyparents.org Faculty report a substantial decrease in morale We have witnessed so much of this over the years, beginning with our four children who completed 43 student-years at the academy all flourished thereafter, each in their own way. 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. "Learning for Justice supports the educational outcomes that we want for our students. 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. Edinboro University Psychology Department. Birtwell also said that having more students enrolled allows for the vocal, music and dramatic arts offered to improve. 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. Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. 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. Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. Sewickley Academy Go to concernedsewickleyparents.org for survey 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. 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. quality and effectiveness of a school's program and are in conflict with the Ashley Birtwell has replaced him on an interim basis. high marks in 2019 for it's DEI-SJ plan. 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. 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 . Edinboro University Psychology Department. Press Release. 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. Veteran Senior School teachers are Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. Founded in 1838, Sewickley Academy is Pittsburghs oldest independent coeducational school. Sewickley Academy alumni Stephen Nesmith ( Pittsburgh City Paper photo). To learn more about this business and its most recent offers. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 130 likes. 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. In this conversation. Sewickley Academy .Celebrates differences, and educates students that every individual is a valued member of our community." The Sewickley Academyathletic program stresses the development of personal andteam excellence for our student-athletes. Concerned Sewickley Parents. Under the former head of school, some parents expressed concern about the current curriculum. The Koch family , which made its money in the fracking and oil refining industries and actively opposes climate change legislation, funds conservative platforms and organizations such as The Manhattan Institute, the Heritage Foundation, and the American Legislative Council. 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 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. Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. 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. 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. 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." Sewickley Academy 4/2020 Communication. Make all future Board of Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy parents and alumni. / CBS Pittsburgh. 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 studied your demands.. 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. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Religious Organization. Enrollment is like a report card of satisfaction, and Sewickley Academy has been missing the mark, Birtwell said. 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. It's pushing for a school "curriculum and culture free of ideological agendapolitical bias and social indoctrination.". If they were, and diversity was something that was important then we wouldnt be in this situation now.. TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. O Search for a new Head of DEISJ with experience and qualifications We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Heralds March 31 edition. 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." hold these positions for the very first time Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. 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. In your petition, you demand that several actions be taken by Sewickley Academys Board of Trustees and Head of School. Contact Us - Sewickley Parents Organization We Are Stronger Together Please join our email list by completing the form. 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