Lower Mountain View Road
Colchester
VT
Presenter Info: Annie O’Shaughnessy, M.Ed in Mindfulness
Date: May 17, 2019 8:30 registration 9:00-3:30 light breakfast and lunch included
Includes: Resource Binder
Target Audience: All educators K-12, Leaders, Behavior Coaches and Planning Room Teachers
The “Zero Tolerance” policies put into place in the 1990s to combat school violence, blossomed into rigid exclusionary discipline policies for many different student behaviors from tobacco, weapon, and drug possession to vandalism and disrespect. While suspension and expulsion rates rose, the policies did not have the intended effect of making schools safer and more supportive places to learn. In fact, as stated in Vermont’s Agency of Education resource book on restorative practices, “Trying to achieve safe school environments that promote learning through compliance and exclusion have been ineffective and such efforts have disproportionately negatively affected specific populations that are typically marginalized”.
The current popularity of restorative practices in schools has risen up out of the need for an alternative to exclusionary discipline policies. From the VT AOE guide: “Restorative approaches promote social engagement and connection (1) proactively to build community and connection (Tier I), (2) when things go wrong and relationship need repair (Tier II), and (3) when an individual needs more intensive support to feel a sense of belonging (Tier III). Research shows a clear connection between outcomes and students’ sense of connection, belonging, and being part of the school community”. This workshop explores Tier 2 processes—how to respond to harm in schools in a variety of restorative ways.
Achievable Outcomes:
- Examine how we know we are ready for Tier 2 work—when to proceed, when not to and why.
- Explore what is the right process and why—restorative “chat” or conversation, circle, conference.
- Practice and debrief all of three processes.
About our Presenter: Annie O’Shaughnessy has taught since 1990 in public, alternative and therapeutic settings. She pursued her M.Ed. in Mindfulness for Educators in 2016 and has taught in multiple settings, both workshops and classes throughout Vermont.
About our Presenter: Annie O’Shaughnessy has an M.Ed in Mindfulness for Educators, Level I & II Training in Modern Mindfulness, Level 1 & 2 Restorative Justice, CircleWork Leadership Training and Restorative Justice Summer Institute and has taught Mindfulness, Restorative Practices and Rites of Passage to K12 Educators.
