Restorative Practices offer a powerful framework for strengthening relationships, building trust, and fostering a sense of belonging in school communities. 

Traditional systems of punishment and exclusion have often been shown to be inequitable and ineffective in supporting long-term student success. This raises an important question: how do we support the shifts in mindset and practice needed to create more restorative school systems and build the collective capacity of educators, students, and communities to navigate this change?

What to Expect

This ongoing professional learning series brings Vermont educators together to explore, practice, and sustain restorative practices at the classroom, school, and district levels. Grounded in Vermont’s Educational Quality Standards (EQS) and the IRIS Framework, the sessions build on one another, supporting educators in developing relational and instructional practices that foster student engagement, belonging, and shared responsibility for learning. 

Participants will engage in restorative circles, affective language, and other relational approaches while exploring strategies for implementation across diverse school contexts. This interactive experience invites educators to collaborate, practice new skills, and reflect on how restorative approaches can strengthen their classrooms and school communities.

Outcomes 

1. Equip teachers with Restorative Practices (RP) for classroom community building, conflict resolution, and student engagement
2. Integrate (IRIS) framework to promote equity, cultural responsiveness, and social justice
3. Align RP strategies with Vermont’s State Board of Education Ed Quality Standards
4. Support teachers with strategies to address classroom challenges restoratively
5. Create school cultures that nurture and sustain educators

Intended Audience 

This series is exclusively for Vermont educators. If you are an educator outside of Vermont looking to learn more about restorative practices in education, click here. 

Building a Team 

Participants are welcome to attend this learning series individually; however, attending as part of a team can deepen both the learning experience and the impact back in your school community. 

If possible, consider forming a team that includes a range of perspectives, such as teachers, administrators, and students, who can learn together and help bring restorative practices back to your broader community.

Cost

• $100/individual
• $325/teams of 4 (Teams of four can add up to three additional teachers who are within their first four years of teaching, for free per school)