At a visit to Mary Moss @ J. Albert Adams Academy, I was lucky enough to observe Assistant Principal Tiffany Stewart-Kline and P.E. Teacher, Lauren Cole as they worked to repair a relationship between Ms. Cole and a student who had disrespected her in class. Ms. Cole had built a strong relationship with this student and was disappointed when he was so disrespectful one day in class. The student liked Ms. Cole and wanted their relationship to “go back to what it was,” but he knew he’d crossed a line and was not sure how to return to her class. Ms. Stewart-Kline visited Ms. Cole in the gym between classes and, standing between them and turning from the student to the teacher, Ms. Stewart-Kline used the Five Restorative Questions to expertly help this teacher and student create an honorable pathway back to class for the student. Restorative Questions provide a framework that helps adults as they guide students through a reflection of their actions, what harm they caused, and how they can repair that harm. This helps them be part of creating an honorable pathway back to the classroom–and to learning!

Both the student and Ms. Cole were very receptive and cooperative because of their foundation of relationship before the event, and both welcomed the conversation. No further discipline consequences were needed for this student and Ms. Cole was happy to have him back in the class!  The whole thing took about 7 minutes.  Way to go, Ms. Cole and Ms. Stewart-Kiline!