PANEL DISCUSSION with
Restorative Practices Experts:
Tuesday, April 20th, 6:30-8:00 pm
(Suggested donation: $15)
The evening will begin with a brief overview of Restorative Practices (RP). We’ll introduce the essential goals and framework of RP, as well as its benefits in strengthening relationships and reducing disciplinary problems in school. Our panel of Restorative Practices educators and parents will share what RP looks like when used in the school setting, and how that can be reflected at home.
Restorative Practices WORKSHOP:Saturday, April 24th, 9:00-11:00 am
(Suggested donation: $40)
Our second session will be in the format of a hands-on workshop. We will provide participants with a deeper understanding of the Restorative Practices framework with an opportunity to actively practice the skills they have learned.
DISCUSIÓN EN PANEL con Expertos en prácticas restaurativas:Martes 20 de abril, 6: 30-8: 00 pm
(Donación sugerida: $ 15)
La tarde comenzará con una breve descripción de las Prácticas Restaurativas (RP por sus siglas en ingles). Presentaremos los objetivos esenciales y el marco de trabajo del RP, así como sus beneficios para fortalecer las relaciones y reducir los problemas disciplinarios en la escuela. Nuestro panel de educadores y padres de prácticas restaurativas compartirán cómo se ve el RP cuando se usa en el entorno escolar y cómo se puede reflejar en el hogar.
TALLER de Prácticas Restaurativas:Sábado 24 de abril, 9: 00-11: 00 am
(Donación sugerida: $ 40)
Nuestra segunda sesión tendrá el formato de un taller práctico. Proporcionaremos a los participantes una comprensión más profunda del marco de prácticas restaurativas con la oportunidad de practicar activamente las habilidades que han aprendido.
Register Today // Regístrese HoyWhat are Restorative Practices? // ¿Qué son las prácticas restaurativas?
Restorative Practices (RP) is a social science focused on proactively building relationships among community members (IIRP Staff, 2021). As opposed to traditional authoritarian modes of instruction and discipline, RP takes into consideration the contextual factors affecting one’s behaviors, rather than merely distributing punishments for misbehaviors. Furthermore, RP strives to avoid conflict altogether by strengthening relational bonds and improving modes of communication before incidents may occur. RP has been found to be effective in reducing child discipline problems in school and at home, increasing collaboration between families and school staff, increasing parental engagement, and decreasing parental concerns for their children’s futures (Ingraham et al., 2016).
Here is a short video showing Restorative Practices in the community. //
Restorative Practices in Education Presenters
Michelle Bridgers Norwood cares deeply about creating a restorative family environment for all students and families in Student U. She believes this is key to collaborating to solve systemic injustices in our community. Michelle is a graduate of North Carolina Central University with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and a concentration in Education. She taught for three years in Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools before joining Student U as the High School Program Coordinator, walking with students and families on their journey through high school. The proverb, It takes a village to raise a child, guides her work in creating strong communities to support students. Over the past five years, Michelle has supervised over 150 part-time staff at Student U and supported over 200 students. As a former teacher and current partner with Durham Public Schools, Michelle sees the value in approaching situations with a Restorative Mindset and looks forward to sharing this practice with others.
Christel Greiner Butchart, MA currently leads the Peaceful Schools NC initiative at Carolina Friends School. With 15 years of experience as an educator, Christel works to empower teachers, students, and school communities in effectively implementing a social curriculum founded in student education and practice of conflict resolution strategies. Christel is Rotary Peace Fellow, receiving her Masters in International Relations with a focus on Peace and Conflict Resolution at the University of Queensland, AU. At Carolina Friends School, she teaches Conflict Resolution and Rehearsal For Life, based on Augusto Boal’s Theater of the Oppressed. Internationally, Christel has worked with students and teachers in Myanmar (Burma) and Australia, teaching peace education and developing relevant conflict resolution curriculum. She recently completed the IIRP Restorative Justice training and is eager to support other educators in their pursuit of restorative practices in schools.
Charlie Butchart, BA. Director of Culture and Citizenship, Central Park School for Children (CPSC). Charlie has 16 years of administrative and teaching experience from pre-K through eighth grade. A Certified IIRP Restorative Practices trainer, Charlie has led Peaceful Schools training for our schools in North Carolina as well as the CAPSLE program in Melbourne, Australia. As an administrator at CPSC, Charlie runs Restorative Practices circles for students, provides staff training, and leads the CPSC Culture Team which supports all aspects of social-emotional learning K-8. He also regularly applies his Restorative Practices toolbox at home with his two young sons, aged 3 and 6.
Anita Scott Neville is a Durham native and graduate of Durham Public Schools. Since her graduation from UNC Greensboro, Anita’s career has been rooted in public service; particularly human service including community development and education and instruction for citizens in transition. Anita serves as Restorative Practices Coordinator and Equity Champion at The School for Creative Studies. Her passion and belief in the “science” of restorative practices led her to become a licensed trainer and to complete graduate certification from the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP). Anita is also the founder and principle of CommYUnity Matters, LLC, a non-profit collective whose goal is to work with individuals and groups in support of their efforts to address issues that affect their ability to be of maximum service. Having served in local and federal government as well as private and non-profit agencies, Anita brings to her work an appreciation for the broad scope of community needs that could benefit from a restorative practices platform. Service to students and families who seek to strengthen their relationships is her primary focus. Anita’s self-reflections honor the spirit of “Ubuntu – I am because you are” and her awareness that community matters.
Crystal Small is the Middle School Counselor and 504 Coordinator at Central Park School for Children. She was born and raised in New York City by her mother who was a schoolteacher and father who was a Police Officer with the NYPD. Crystal attended North Carolina Central University in 1993 and graduated with a double bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Psychology and a master’s degree in Counseling. Crystal is a certified IIRP Restorative Practices trainer. She writes, “I help children understand their worth, teach them how to navigate social situations, and help them develop into advocates for the future they want to see.” We are honored to have Crystal sharing her passion for children by supporting teachers in their commitment to Restorative Practices.
