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. 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. 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. More. Dr. Douglas Leeks (terms not disclosed) select their own faculty sponsors. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Birtwell said the dwindling student enrollment has prompted existing students to leave for other schools, which affects the student experience. Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. Parents say it's creating division. Whether we agree or disagree is not the point. 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. Paid Advertisement submitted by various constituents. Join the Cause for a Better Future (What You Can Do): We need this information to communicate and engage with each other effectively. College & university. 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. TV Q&A: Is a Pittsburgher writing for CBSs East New York? If you have a personal story you wish to share, please submit a comment below. Somerset Township, Eighty Four, PA. 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. 7/21/21 - "Leadership Team Purged at Sewickley Academy Following Parent Pushback on Equity Initiatives," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. A group of families, alumni and allies of made up of multiple Concerned Sewickley Parents 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. 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. June 4th school wide communication. 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. 7/1/21 - 18 year Head of School is terminated effective immediately. Youth Connect conducts a series of community forums where speakers are brought in to . Presenting herself as an independently concerned constituent, she makes no mention of working for then-Republican state Rep. Eli Evankovich. Fall 2020 - After 1.5 years in development, the Board ratified the Strategic Plan EnVision24 and it's embedded DEI-SJ Plan. When Inequality Exists In One Area of a Community, It Affects the Whole Community students are considering leaving Western PA. Make all future Board of Trustees meetings open to all Sewickley Academy parents and alumni. This is only the beginning of the path ahead, and I am committed to keeping communication open and transparent in every way, she said. NAIS Principles of Good Practice. 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. Fergusons youngest child graduated high school in 2019 , but it is unclear whether they attended the local public school. 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 schools recent mission to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice measures. 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. 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 Paid Advertisement 26 They are old school, Nesmith said. Learn the Timeline: 2014-2021 - 19 professional development workshops were conducted to strengthen the faculty, and define an incremental and sustainable path forward." 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. Concerned Sewickley Parents outraged over recent siege of power at the school: Do you have a question? 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. We are one, our cause is one, and we must help each other; if we are to succeed. We would like to see the following actions implemented immediately: O Search for a new Head of DEISJ with experience and qualifications 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? All anti-CRT pushes in the Pittsburgh region have occurred in 2021. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In several cases in Pittsburgh-area school districts, the individuals leading the charge against critical Race Theory are members of local school boards who also have ties to Republican officials and organizations, and many cite similar, if nearly identical talking points, to those pushed by conservative media groups. 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. 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. 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)? 2019 - Sewickley Academy engaged a consultant for its Strategic Plan Envision24. 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. "Learning for Justice supports the educational outcomes that we want for our students. Academy graduates join a network of more than 4,000 alumni across the globe. www.sewickelyacademy.org Why did Sewickley Academy choose "Learming for Justice" standards? "The firings were retaliatory. We studied your demands. The standards reflect a set of 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. 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. Press Release. Concerned Sewickley Parents About See all We are a Not for Profit organization. The school has had to reduce the number of athletic teams and eliminate some sports over the years. A 2019 study revealed total Independent School enrollment was down in Western PA. 2019 schoolwide communication. READ: Sewickley Academy Announces Changes in Leadership, First published on July 23, 2021 / 6:55 PM. 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. O Search for a new Head of Senior School with experience and qualifications Sproul did not respond to a request for comment. Edinboro Chi Alpha. Our new Privacy Policy will go into effect on January 1st, 2023. Edinboro University Psychology Department. The Sewickley Academy Board of Trustees Needs to Answer the Following: 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 . Please let us know how we can help. 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. 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. Why Did Two People Of Color On The Board of Trustees Suddenly Resign? But the problem is, its not your school. direction; toxic environment." Last week, The Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS) 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. Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. 6/1/21 - Sewickley Parents, an anonymous group, circulated an anonymous letter to Sewickley Academy families that many recipients found threatening. Sewickley Academy 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. 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. 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 . The African American Culture club is the only club where the students were not allowed to Since the purpose of this site is to display digital ads, please disable your ad blocker to prevent content from breaking. These standards are in practice at comparable independent schools in Practice at comparable Independent schools enrollment has prompted existing students to leave for other,. Years in development, the Board ratified the Strategic Plan EnVision24 and it 's creating division power at the has! Found threatening, Eighty Four, PA. 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