ERIC Number: EJ1018535
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Sep
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1529-8957
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Restoring Relationships
Umphrey, Jan
Principal Leadership, v14 n1 p24-29 Sep 2013
Matthew R. Willis, an assistant principal at William C. Hinkley High School in Aurora, CO, is the 2013 NASSP/Virco National Assistant Principal of the Year. In this interview with "Principal Leadership," he is asked to relate what he believes are his largest accomplishments in his role as assistant principal at William C. Hinkley. He replies that they are the school's master schedule, development of professional learning communities, math achievement score increases, concurrent enrollment program, and restorative justice. He defines restorative justice as a framework for dealing with wrongdoing or conflict within established relationships between adults and students or peers. One of its primary purposes is to heal the harm and reestablish the relationship between the parties involved. Willis is quick to emphasize that he does not want to call restorative justice a program, but rather a new way of thinking about discipline and conflict resolution. The traditional form of discipline was centered on punishment. This approach however, is modeled around accepting responsibility, resolution, and restoring the relationship. As a result, students are spending more time in class and thus are closing academic gaps and breaking down the school-to-prison pipeline. Evidence of a cultural shift in the building is found in the results from the recently released student climate survey, and Willis shares his belief that restorative justice is one piece to the puzzle of creating real opportunity and hope for students and community.
Descriptors: Assistant Principals, Administrator Role, Dual Enrollment, Justice, Conflict Resolution, Teacher Student Relationship, Responsibility, Instructional Leadership, Communities of Practice, Institutional Mission, School Culture, High Schools, Teacher Role, Leadership Qualities
National Association of Secondary School Principals. 1904 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1537. Tel: 800-253-7746; Tel: 703-860-0200; Fax: 703-620-6534; Web site: http://www.principals.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: High Schools; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A