Shepard Symposium on Social Justice

In 2013, the Gay-Straight Alliance Network issued a statement supporting the use of restorative approaches to address issues of pushout, discrimination, bullying, and school discipline. As an alternative to suspensions, the assumption was that restorative approaches to discipline would address and resolve issues of LGBTQIAP+ overrepresentation in the juvenile justice system and create spaces for LGBTQIAP+ youth to “collaboratively and proactively” address and resolve conflict. In many schools that have implemented restorative practices, however, the promises of restorative justice have not materialized. Restorative initiatives have failed to address injustices or promote equitable school environments that uphold the dignity of LGBTQIAP+ youth.
In this session, Dr. Katherine Evans, co-author of The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education, will examine some of the ways in which restorative practices have been implemented, noting places where these practices have indeed fulfilled those promises to reduce exclusionary discipline, but more importantly, have fostered school environments that promote the worth and dignity of all of our youth, including those most marginalized in educational settings. Within these schools, there is a renewed commitment to building healthy school communities, to repairing harm and transforming conflict, and to establishing just and equitable learning environments. Drawing on both personal experience and professional expertise, Dr. Evans will present an approach to restorative justice that re-centers the emphasis on justice and has the potential not only to reduce exclusionary and disproportional discipline practices, but also to impact the educational experiences of all youth, particularly those who have experienced marginalization in school communities.