In this conversation. and Parents and Community Partners) were involved in the development of EnVision24 and the accompanying Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Social Justice (DEI-SJ) Plan. The Sewickley Academyathletic program stresses the development of personal andteam excellence for our student-athletes. Cirucci argued that CRT teaches children to be victims not Over-comers and that it judges people collectively not individually, which she, similar to Prager U talking points, calls racist and a threat to meritocracy due to its focus on equity not equality. According to the National Society of High School Scholars, equality gives everyone the same resources and opportunities while equity takes into consideration individuals specific needs. 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. Learn the Timeline: 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." Theyre not changing. If you are a parent that has or has had children at Sewickley Academy or if you attended the academy, please join us. 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. In short, the scope and scale of the problems faced by our school required the fresh perspective of new leadership, Birtwell said. 130 likes. Kimberly Rooney is a reporter for Pittsburgh City Paper, where this story first appeared . The parents of June 4th school wide communication. Whether we agree or disagree is not the point. 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.. In this conversation. If they want to make sure we teach both sides, and allow excuses. Sewickley Academy Interim Head of School Ashley Birtwell. 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. See All Private Schools in 315 Academy Ave, Sewickley, PA 15143 We notice you're using an ad blocker. Parents say it's creating division. student led clubs, specifically the African American Culture club Faculty report a substantial decrease in morale Edinboro Chi Alpha. If they were, and diversity was something that was important then we wouldnt be in this situation now.. hold these positions for the very first time 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 is an independent, private school, giving parents referred to by Odom as stakeholders more influence over the schools actions. Edinboro University Alumni. April 2021 - The Board of Trustees President presented "Our Proud History" (YouTube), a community introduction to the plan. 8/05/2021 - Sewickley Academy's justification for staff terminations at first was "low enrolment, " but the reasons continue to change. "2020/2021 Enrollment is the highest it's been in three years." The school has had to reduce the number of athletic teams and eliminate some sports over the years. www.sewickleyacademy.org. 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. 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? considering leaving Paid Advertisement 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." Concerned Sewickley Parents. Immediately hire a competent DEI-SJ consultant to transition the school through this difficult time. www.sewickelyacademy.org 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 . 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. Concerned Sewickley Parents. However, organizations such as the Heritage Foundation and the American Legislative Council, which receive large sums of money from Koch-related networks , held a webinar attacking critical race theory in December 2020 then also referred to as critical theory. Hi! 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. 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. 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. 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. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. - Frederick Douglas, North Star, December 3, 1847 Paid for by ConcernedSewickleyParents.org. The PAIS only pursues credible complaints "that could seriously impair the Association Independent Schools (Accreditor) Dolan, like Cirucci, also has portrayed himself as a concerned parent in right-wing media, although he announced in his newsletter that his school-aged child will attend the Catholic school where he teaches, rather than the public schools in the Fox Chapel school district. The published plan was distributed to the community. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users In your petition, you demand that several. Whoever you are, whatever you love, wherever you want to go, learning and self-discovery take place here. 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, 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. Academic Excellence on the Decline? 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. Does Sewickley Academy Teach Critical Race Theory? 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. 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. Get the Facts: Photos. 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. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. Join the Cause for a Better Future (What You Can Do): The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Commit to the Following: 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. 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. We wish to address the Concerned Sewickley Parents who authored the petition advertisement on page 7 in the Sewickley Herald's March 31 edition. Sadly, we feel this is our only recourse. In this conversation. In this conversation. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users Concerned Sewickley Parents About See all We are a Not for Profit organization. "Learning for Justice supports the educational outcomes that we want for our students. July 23, 2021 / 6:55 PM Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. Sewickley Academy received very One even attended the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Presenting herself as an independently concerned constituent, she makes no mention of working for then-Republican state Rep. Eli Evankovich. 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. 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. 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. 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. select their own faculty sponsors. 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. We seek to ensure that Sewickley Academy provides academic excellence in a diverse environment, attracts, retains, and celebrates the best faculty in the country, and provides a curriculum and culture free of ideological agendas. Vento's Pizza, home of 'Franco's Italian Army,' to close, Western Pennsylvania's trusted news source. Sewickley Academy received very high marks in 2019 for it's DEI-SJ plan. Sadly, we feel this is our only recourse. quality and effectiveness of a school's program and are in conflict with the 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. Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Borocampusrec. 6/1/21 - Sewickley Parents, an anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found threatening. NAIS Principles of Good Practice. Religious Organization. Sponsors were assigned by the administration Speak out, share this information and help us get answers from the Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees. Members plan to meet with the administration Friday at 1:00 pm to address the unexpected and numerous changes immediately before the start. Please see www.concernedsewickleyparents.org for details. 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." Low enrollment was one of the reasons Birtwell cited as an influence for the leadership changes that occurred July 21. We point this out not to boast, but to give considerable credit to the faculty and administration of Sewickley Academy. 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