NEW ROCHELLE, NY — More than 30 parents and educators attended a workshop on Restorative Practices led by Dr. Susan Villani of the Center for Education Equity, in New Rochelle High School on Monday.
Guided by Dr. Villani, participants formed groups to discuss the topic, which is an approach to addressing challenging behavior by building a sense of community among students with strategies such as community circles. After talking about it, participants listed the benefits they saw from the approach, including building relationships, restoring a sense of community and fostering a sense of collective ownership.
Dr. Villani’s presentation included a video showing how restorative practices are used in Wake County, North Carolina.
“This is a fantastic tool to help ground the students,” parent Peter Cantone said after the presentation. “It can reduce conflict, help them gain self-confidence and self-awareness and even build a camaraderie with each other.”