Restorative Justice Coordinator - Job Code 505051

Description

Restorative justice is grounded in the worldview that fostering connection and belonging, addressing people's needs, and building their skills is more effective in creating a healthy and safe community rather than punitive measures. The Restorative Justice Coordinator reports to the school principal and works directly with students, staff, admin, families, and school stakeholders to facilitate restorative practices, build schoolwide systems and capacity for restorative justice, and advance the reach of restorative justice in the CPS community.

Main job function:

Cultivate a schoolwide culture of healing and safety through accountability, skill-building, and relationships.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Facilitate restorative practices across universal, targeted, and intensive tiers of support with all school community stakeholders
   1. Facilitate Tier 1 proactive restorative practices with administrators, staff, students, and families (e.g. check-ins, establishing shared values, community building, restorative conversations, classroom talking circles and restorative communication to build community and celebrate students and achievements).
   2. Facilitate and connect students, families, staff and administrators to appropriate Tier 2 and 3 responsive restorative practices (e.g. restorative conversations, peace circles, Peer Conference, re-entry processes, responding to crisis or trauma, and offering support).
   3. Setting up and maintaining physical space for the implementation of restorative practices at all tiers (e.g. creating a school Peace Room or assisting teachers in creating classroom-based spaces for restorative work).

2. Provide training and coaching to build capacity within school community in restorative justice mindset and skills
   1. Design and lead training for staff and administrators on restorative justice (intro to restorative justice, restorative communication, restorative conversations, talking circles, peace circles). Develop scope & sequence that meets the school’s restorative justice needs and goals.
   2. Model and co-facilitate restorative practices in classrooms and in staff meetings, with an objective of building staff capacity to facilitate, including a restorative discipline protocol to communicate school-wide expectations for restorative justice practices
   3. Provide individual and team coaching for administrators and staff to develop restorative justice skills; observe the facilitation of restorative practices and provide constructive feedback. When individual student social, emotional, and/or behavior issues arise, consult with school staff on restorative prevention, de-escalation, and intervention strategies, and identify opportunities for minimizing or addressing behavior issues in the future
   4. Collaborate with and seek input from stakeholders, including parents and community members, through outreach, focus groups, and shared leadership
   5. Develop students’ restorative justice skills through Peer Conference, restorative justice workshops for students, and restorative justice leadership and facilitation opportunities for students (including student-led community events)

3. Participate in the Chicago and CPS restorative justice community to further the growth of restorative justice
   1. Participate in programming for Restorative Justice Coordinators, including communities of practice and coaching
   2. Connect the school to local restorative justice-related community partners, resources, tools, professional development, etc.
   3. Attend regular professional development training and coaching in restorative justice, cultural competency, anti-racism, trauma responsiveness, circle practice, and related topics

4. Develop data-informed strategic goals for schoolwide restorative practices implementation within the school’s Continuous Improvement Work Plan. Collecting and analyzing schoolwide data on the implementation of restorative practices to identify areas for growth, inform training and coaching offerings.

Required Training and Experience:

• A College Degree; Public Administration, Education or Human Services preferred.
• Previous experience in a school setting/or working with adolescents
• Two years of training and/or experience in restorative justice and circle practice
• Ability to work after school and weekend hours
• Four years of direct experience implementing conflict mediation (e.g. de-escalation, facilitating conversations to repair harm) and positive youth development in a school or community setting
• Four years of experience building relationships and collaborations with students, teachers, administration, parents, and/or community partners
• Ability to interface with students, families, teachers, school leaders, and classroom support staff to find creative solutions to challenging problems