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An Opportunity to Learn from Legends
Dear Friends, Over the course of my career, I have had the great privilege to learn directly from restorative justice leaders, Kay Pranis and Howard
Educators with RJ Experience: Share Your Story with the US Dept.of Ed!
Please take advantage of this opportunity to share your insights about restorative justice practices with the US Dept. of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR).
“Nothing can be Changed Until it is Faced.”
In his unfinished manuscript, Remember this House, James Baldwin wrote: “Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it
OUTSTANDING Guides for Restorative Justice in Education
As you integrate restorative justice into your learning community, remember that there is no single path to achieving integration. Remember also, that this is a
My Gentle Invitation to Awaken
One of the sweetest parts of my day as a young mother was kissing my sleeping children awake. Slipping quietly to their bedside or wherever
To Support Your AMAZING Work
These weeks and months you have been barraged with unreasonable demands, uncertain outcomes, unbearable stress. You have held your students together, held your families together
Study Guide for Intro to Restorative Justice: Why it Works
Welcome! Print the following study guide to follow along with the webinar. (I’ll give you the answers along the way and at the end.) This
We Need a New Ancient Paradigm
October 12th is a big day in the Americas—Dia de la Raza (Race Day) in Mexico and many South American countries, Thanksgiving Day in Canada
Study Guide for Intro to Restorative Justice: The Restorative Philosophy–What, How & Why
Welcome! Print the following study guide to follow along with the webinar. (I’ll give you the answers along the way and at the end.) This
Glass Half Full
A colleague recently sent me a Hechinger Report column titled The Promise of Restorative Justice Starts to Falter Under Rigorous Research. In this May 6,
“To Build Small Children . . .”
Over two years ago the Michigan legislature unanimously passed a series of bills requiring schools to consider restorative justice practices when faced with suspending a
Shape a Brighter Future for Students and Your Community
HOW WILL YOU TOUCH THE FUTURE? Your school discipline policies and culture directly impact the futures of every child in your learning community. When students
RJ Integration: Learning From the Masters
I have always celebrated snow days. This winter, however, eleven of my thirteen scheduled trainings were postponed because of snow days. So, I had to
RJ Works for Adults Too!
This week I went to a school to provide the first part of my Restorative Justice 101 professional development to the faculty. With the chairs
RJ for Very Young Children
I often get questions from elementary educators about how RJ works with very young students. When the language and techniques are adapted to the age
Shining a Restorative Spotlight on Sexual Aggression
Regardless of where you come down on the Supreme Court nomination hearings, you have probably noticed that they have laid bare a problem in American
So Many Reasons to Incorporate Circles Into Learning Communities!
Editor’s Note: This post is much longer and wonkier than most, but it offers a strong scientific case for classroom circles. April 24, 2018 Education
Michigan’s Teacher of the Year on How to Inspire Students to WANT to Learn
Michigan’s 2017-18 Teacher of the Year knows a thing or two about inspiring students to want to learn. He shares his thoughts in this June
The Numbers Don’t Lie. Our Trainings ROCK!
It’s been a busy few months for restorative justice trainings in Michigan schools! Over the past year, Schertzing Communications, LLC has conducted 37 training sessions,
You Might Be an RJ User If . . .
Apologies to comedian Jeff Foxworthy for this riff on his Redneck series, but his jokes are a great way to highlight something I often hear
Now THAT’s What I’m Talkin’ About!
According to CNN, the bipartisan group of U.S. Senators who developed the compromise that funded CHIP and ended the federal government shutdown used a talking
On the Shortest Day of the Year
Happy Winter Solstice, and thank you for joining me this year in learning about restorative justice. At this time when the sun seems farthest away,
Addressing One Cause of Truancy Restoratively
If you have attended my Introduction to Restorative Justice or Restorative Justice 101 sessions, you’ve heard me use truancy as an example of how our
Restorative Justice v. Bullying
I just opened the blog from last week’s Ed.Gov newsletter. The article, touting the First Lady’s and Secretary DeVos’ school visit to highlight bullying struck
Seven Mesmerizing Minutes to Give You Hope
If you know me, you will not be surprised to learn that I listen to National Public Radio (NPR). The other day I was late
The Results are in: Trainings’ Approval Percentage in High 90s
After every training we ask attendees to complete evaluation forms to help us measure how we’re doing. As you can see, responses have been overwhelmingly
Here to help
August 1st brings new legal requirements affecting your school discipline process. Are you ready to comply with the new law requiring your school to consider
Get Ready to Comply with New School Discipline Laws
With Memorial Day upon us, the end of the school year is just a blink away. In your summer planning for the 2017-18 school year,
Implementing RJ: What does it Look Like? Where do you Begin?
As the current school year draws to a close, administrators are looking ahead to 2017-18. Looming large is the new Michigan law requiring schools to
When I present on Restorative Justice . . .
I share the basics. Restorative justice discipline is based on ancient principles of addressing the harm resulting from misconduct, rather than focusing on what rule
Zero Tolerance: How Did We Get Here?
In the late 1990s when zero tolerance policies started in our nation’s schools they were designed to keep students safe. This was the Three-Strikes-and-You’re-Out era
Time to Build Restorative Justice into Training Plans
This August a new law takes effect requiring schools to consider restorative justice before imposing any long-term suspension or expulsion. Further, the law creates a
It’s Official! Michigan Using RJ To Keep Kids in School
Last week I was honored and delighted to celebrate Governor Snyder’s signing of legislation that loosens Zero Tolerance chokehold on school discipline. Under legislation sponsored
By Any Other Name
I had lunch last week with a friend who asked me about my work. I gave her my elevator speech explanation of Restorative Justice, and
Heart-Expanding Training
In the early 2000s, I had the privilege of working in schools as Restorative Justice Coordinator. In that role, I deeply admired the children and
Stronger than Death
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text] A key element of restorative justice is the question “How do we heal the harm as much as possible?” In my mind, that
Zeroing in on Zero-Tolerance
Over the holidays, the Michigan legislature gave learning communities a great gift–a bi-partisan bill package that updates the Revised School Code (MCL 303.1310). This legislation
Thinking About Community
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5twHP954mI&feature=youtu.be” title=”Community”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]I’m thinking about COMMUNITY. What happens to a baby separated from caregivers and their circle of support? The infant dies. Humans