About Us
Explore Sewickley Academy
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
dedicated to being a community that represents and celebrates
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Embracing All Identities
Sewickley Academy is dedicated to being a community that represents and celebrates different backgrounds, talents, interests, and divergent yet informed opinions.
Our goal is to elevate an inclusive community that allows all to feel welcomed. We firmly insist that every person is an important member of our community and that their voices should be shared.
We are intentional about creating systems and spaces that make this happen for our students, faculty, and parents. An inclusive curriculum, diverse clubs, student-led opt-in series, and S.E.E.D. cohort groups for faculty and staff create positive protocols for difficult conversations.
At a Glance
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D.E.I. Defined
Sewickley Academy is dedicated to being a community that promotes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as defined below.
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Diversity
Diversity is who we are. It is quantitative. Diversity is expressed in myriad forms, including race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, culture, national origin, faith traditions, age, and (dis)ability status. -
Equity
Equity is characterized by the absence of bias, harassment, and discrimination related to diverse identities. Equity promotes a sense of belonging and assures access to those resources each person needs to ensure agency and reach their full potential. Equity is not equality; it is not about everyone getting the same thing; rather, it is about each person’s getting what each needs. -
Inclusion
Inclusion takes every individual’s experience and identity into account and creates the conditions where one’s authentic self is respected, accepted, empowered, supported, and affirmed – it is the assurance of belonging.
Making Spaces for Difficult Conversations
Sewickley Academy also supports student learning through balanced voices in curriculum and heritage assemblies. We are intentional about offering spaces for difficult conversations. We believe students from PreK-12 should have access to a vigorous academic program that is wholly intertwined with social-emotional learning, empowerment, and anti-bias language.
Spaces mean everything to building an inclusive learning community from Responsive Classrooms in the Lower School, The Social Institute advisory program in the Middle School, and advisories and student-driven opt-ins (spaces for current hot topics) in the Senior School.
The Senior School has a unique and dedicated Equity and Inclusion Center that prioritizes student planning.
Assemblies and library resources are tailored to meet curiosity and best age-appropriate practices.
Spaces mean everything to building an inclusive learning community from Responsive Classrooms in the Lower School, The Social Institute advisory program in the Middle School, and advisories and student-driven opt-ins (spaces for current hot topics) in the Senior School.
The Senior School has a unique and dedicated Equity and Inclusion Center that prioritizes student planning.
Assemblies and library resources are tailored to meet curiosity and best age-appropriate practices.
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Difficult Conversations
D.E.I. Assemblies, Keynotes & Resources
The Academy believes that students should grow their confidence in leadership training in preparation for the world beyond the Academy. Students in all three divisions have leadership roles in diversity. The Middle School Student Diversity Club, the Senior School Student Diversity Leadership Council, and various cultural clubs and affinity spaces all offer a space to practice agency, confidence, and voice.
Sewickley Academy believes in creating spaces for diverse representation to share at the Academy. Heritage month assemblies throughout the year build-in reading connections and keynotes:
Sewickley Academy believes in creating spaces for diverse representation to share at the Academy. Heritage month assemblies throughout the year build-in reading connections and keynotes:
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Student Leadership in Action
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Affinity Spaces & Cultural Clubs
Sewickley Academy students are able to meet in identity spaces that support our core values. Clubs are inclusive but intentional in their focus to offer identity spaces. Here are a few:- Asian Culture Clubs
- Indian Culture Club
- French and Italian Club
- Hispanic Culture Club
- Pride Club
- Feminist Club
- Girl Up Club
- Black Student Union
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Keynotes & Multicultural Assemblies
Our commitment to multicultural education inspires the Academy to make spaces for authentic voices from within our community as well as guests from outside of our community. Here are a few examples:- Late Congressman John Lewis
- Josh Gibson Foundation and the Negro Baseball League
- Writer Damon Young
- Black History Month Assembly
- Hugh Vasquez Presents Bias and the Brain
- Native American Assembly
- Our Multicultural Selves
- History of Stepping
D.E.I. Professional Development
The entire faculty and staff at Sewickley Academy may opt in to multiple workshops throughout the year that streamline cultural competence and language.
These workshops focus on the best inclusive practices related to age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ability (mental and physical), and other cultural identifiers.
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Internal Professional Development Workshops
Sewickley Academy is unique in that professional development for faculty and staff covers identity topics through different workshops, which support cultural competency.- Regional Differences and the Independent School Experience
- Family Structure
- Gender and Sexual Identity
- Gender Inclusive Language
- Black Males and the Independent School Experience
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External Professional Development Workshops
In addition to internal workshops, faculty are encouraged to participate in local, regional, and national DEI professional development.
In addition to intentional workshops around the various cultural identifiers and experiences, the Academy recognizes that it takes an in-depth discovery into equitable and inclusive concepts. We are committed to the practical application of addressing injustices.
Community members who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ, and other identities have experienced many inequities throughout time.
We recognize diversity enhances any learning environment and is a part of the academic experience, and therefore we make space to embrace all differences.
