Restorative Practice Coaches

this year-long restorative practices cohort is the next step in your trauma-informed journey

restorative practice logo

We’re excited to announce our 2026-2027 RPC Cohort dates!
June 8-10, 2026
in Hutchinson Kansas

Restorative Practices in Schools

Restorative practices in schools are approaches that focus on building community, repairing harm, and resolving conflict through dialogue and relationship-building. This approach emphasizes connection and repair instead of punishment, since punitive measures rarely lead to lasting behavior change. The goal is to create a more positive, connected school environment by addressing the root causes of conflict and behavior. This approach builds empathy and accountability, while helping students and staff respond to challenges in constructive ways.

At their core, Restorative Practices are concrete skills and techniques designed to proactively strengthen the school community and prevent disruptions before they escalate. This model emphasizes the Five Dimensions of Accountability (A. K. Koppell, 2005) and builds on experiences showing that punitive approaches are often least effective with the very students who need us most. The focus of implementation is to:

  • teach advocacy, conflict resolution, and self-regulation skills.

  • expand educators’ toolkits for classroom management and academic engagement.

  • provide clear, consistent processes for addressing misconduct.

  • strengthen relationships with students who struggle to feel connected to their school community.

  • guide students in taking responsibility and repairing the harm caused by their actions.

Adopting this model requires adults to embrace a paradigm shift: seeing conflict not as a disruption, but as a doorway to proficiency in the rupture and repair cycle, which is a process that strengthens positive school culture. Through this lens, both staff and students build the mindsets, skills, and strategies needed to increase everyone’s sense of safety, belonging, and dignity.

The foundation of restorative practices is relationships. Our Restorative Practice Coaches (RPC) framework is grounded in the science of adversity and resilience, with up-to-date practices informed by the ever-expanding research of the brain, the nervous system, and the stress response system. Research shows that these systems thrive when supported by safe, caring adult relationships and purposeful opportunities for skill building.

The Restorative Practices Coaching Cohort

To help schools move from research and theory to practical action at the classroom level, the ESSDACK Resilience Team has created a year-long cohort program designed to guide schools through the implementation of restorative practices with ongoing support.

Using restorative practices helps students face their actions and work through actionable consequences that are designed to repair harm, grow self-efficacy, and teach responsibility. 

Program Highlights

  • Face-to-Face Training: Launch with three in-person days (June 8-10, 2026, in Hutchinson, Kansas).

  • Summer Virtual Support: Four July Zoom sessions to guide your team in building a school-wide professional learning plan ready for the 2026–27 school year.

  • 12-Month Action Plan and Implementation Framework: Each team will build and implement a tailored plan for implementation back home with ongoing coaching support from the ESSDACK team.

  • School Year PLCs: Three additional Zoom gatherings for cross-team learning, celebration, and problem-solving during implementation.

  • Daily In-House Support: Access to ESSDACK consultants and national experts for timely, personalized conversations and real-time guidance.

Skills and Practices You’ll Build

Your building team will gain the tools and confidence to holistically implement restorative practices, including:

  • Use of Circles (community, focus, restorative) 

  • On-Call Systems

  • Respect Agreements

  • Students of Concern process

  • Restorative Questions

  • Re-Entry process

  • Emotional Check-Ins

  • Staff Wellness

Why Join the 2026–27 Cohort?

This program is the next step in your trauma-informed journey. By joining, your school will develop a team of trained coaches and facilitators, equipped with the tools, strategies, and support needed for success. With both structured training and personalized support, your staff and students will gain the tools to create a culture of dignity, accountability, and resilience.

This is a building-wide approach. Full administrator support and building buy-in are essential before implementation. Unsure of your building buy-in? Contact us! We can help support you to achieve success. 

If you’re ready for tools that support your staff and students every day—with expert partnership at your side—then the Restorative Practices Coaching Cohort is for you.

👉 Connect with Carmen to start your application or get your questions answered.

ESSDACK Restorative Practices Team