Leading restoratively in schools refers to all the things we do to lead, guide and partner with our community (staff, students, parents, and community partners) to create the culture needed for every student to succeed socially and academically. Restorative leaders master the art of holding ourselves and others to a high level of accountability while…
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As an experienced circle keeper, I have learned a lot from my mistakes. One of my most impactful lessons was learning the value of what I call the “The five key components of restorative circle.” These components help create the physical space needed for safety and support regardless of who is in the circle (e.g.…
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On July 19, 2017, I facilitated a circle for incarcerated men who are students in the Common Good Atlanta program at Phillips State Prison. Common Good Atlanta serves as a liaison between prisons offering college courses for incarcerated men and universities teaching the courses. While heading to the prison with Dr. Elizabeth Beck, who invited…
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In Georgia, thousands of students and staff will be returning to school in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma that began on September 11th, 2017. News and social media have been filled with updates and pictures showing the impact of Hurricane Irma. Many Georgia residents were impacted by the loss of electricity and falling trees while…
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Edutopia.org has been addressing the use of Restorative Practices in schools. In November, 2016, Maurice J. Elias wrote a blog interviewing Dr. Brian Smith who is a research scientist with the Committee for Children. In this blog, Dr. Smith explains how punitive approaches to discipline impact students (particularly students of color), why Restorative approaches support students, and how Restorative approaches connect to Social and Emotional Learning (SEL).
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