The so-called restorative circles aim to build trust and understanding and reduce misbehavior. They’re popping up in schools all over the county, in part from the efforts of agencies like Restorative Resources and the Sonoma County Office of Education, which have trained educators on these practices.
The Santa Rosa nonprofit last year received $100,000 from the county to launch the alternative justice program. It was one of the recommendations issued by the Community and Local Law Enforcement Taskforce formed after the 2013 shooting of 13-year-old Andy Lopez, who, at the time of his death, was involved in a similar program.
It formed the Restorative Culture Collaborative, which brought together 20 middle and high schools to address their students’ social-emotional needs and explore strategies that could promote equity, empathy and engagement on their campuses. Many trained all faculty and staff in restorative practices, said Jessica Progulske, the SCOE work-based learning coordinator who led the collaborative.
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