Restorative Justice Support Empowers Taos Charter School Teachers

Over the past five years, Taos Charter School (TCS) has begun implementing restorative justice practices to address conflict. This shift in focus—away from simply punishing an offender and toward repairing the harm caused by a behavior—has helped to support a positive and safe school climate, prevent bullying, and reduce disciplinary incidents.

However, this conflict resolution style can be significantly more time-intensive, and teachers have expressed the need for additional support to ensure its implementation in a way that doesn’t cause constant disruptions to their classroom instruction and engagement with students not involved in isolated behavioral incidents. So, a TCS staff member reached out to LOR with an idea: hire a part-time facilitator to continue supporting teachers with training, practice, and integration of a restorative approach, including preventative classroom practices and guided interventions when necessary.

LOR’s support will fund a part-time Restorative Justice Intervention Coordinator for one year, as well as snacks and beverages to be provided during practice circles and as part of celebrations for improved collective behavior.