Every school leader works to foster healthy, meaningful relationships among their students. Schools should be places where young people not only learn but also grow in their ability to connect, collaborate, and build friendships. But when conflict arises, repairing those relationships can feel daunting. Providing students with tools to repair relationships and implementing restorative justice (RJ) with fidelity can do more than restore peace. It can lay the groundwork for students to build trust, show empathy, and create enduring connections with one another.
In this post, I'll highlight the integral role restorative justice plays in fostering positive outcomes for students both socially and academically and demonstrate some strategies and tools that can help ensure your teams are equipped to support students so that disciplinary practices become opportunities to create lasting change. Before we dive in, let's take a quick look at how we guide students through perspective taking in Alongside...
CHAT SPOTLIGHT: What Would Kiwi Say?
In the chat above, Alongside's clinician-designed chatbot, Kiwi the llama, guides a student through a perspective taking exercise using the EMPOWER framework:
- Engage: Provide empathy and validation
- Motivate: Help the user understand how a skill helps them
- Practical Examples: Learn through practical examples
- Operationalize: Apply the skill to their own life
- Work on it: Put the skill into action in real life
- Evaluate: Follow-up on how it goes
- Reinforce: Celebrate progress and effort not just the outcome!
Additional Alongside chat modules that support restorative justice practices are highlighted below.
WANT TO TRY IT YOURSELF? Educators can create a demo account to see how Alongside helps students with conflict resolution or whatever they are strugging with.
The Role of Relationships in Academic and Social Success
Research has long shown that a positive school culture and climate are foundational to students’ success. Students who feel connected to their peers and teachers are more likely to exhibit prosocial behaviors, achieve academic success, and engage in their learning environments. A positive school climate also reduces risky behaviors and fosters a sense of safety and belonging, both of which are essential for student well-being.
When peer relationships are strong, students are better equipped to navigate challenges and thrive. Schools that prioritize relational well-being often see improvements in behavior and overall school performance. Restorative justice provides a framework for schools to actively cultivate these positive relationships, ensuring that every student feels seen, valued, and supported.
Restorative Justice: A Path to Connection
Restorative justice shifts the focus from punishment to healing. It encourages students to take responsibility for their actions, make amends, and rebuild trust within their school community. Through practices such as restorative circles, mediation, and facilitated dialogues, RJ creates a space where students can openly share their perspectives, listen to one another, and find common ground.
At its heart, RJ is about relationships. It teaches students how to navigate conflict in a way that strengthens their connections rather than tearing them apart. When students feel understood and valued, they are more likely to approach their peers with compassion and a willingness to resolve issues constructively.
The Transformative Power of Restorative Justice
When schools adopt restorative practices, the results can be profound:
- Stronger Peer Connections: RJ fosters an environment where students learn to appreciate each other’s perspectives and experiences. In Chicago Public Schools, RJ led to noticeable improvements in students' sense of safety and belonging.
- Improved Academic Outcomes: Research highlights that a positive school culture directly correlates with higher academic achievement. When students feel connected and safe, they are more engaged in their learning.
- Empathy and Accountability: RJ equips students with tools to reflect on their actions and understand their impact on others. These skills are key to building and maintaining positive relationships.
- Conflict Prevention: Open dialogue through restorative circles and mediation helps prevent minor disputes from escalating, creating a more harmonious school climate.
While RJ provides a robust framework for repairing relationships, the success of these practices often hinges on students' emotional readiness. This is where Alongside, a well-being app for students, becomes a valuable ally.
The Alongside app offers tools that help students process their emotions, build self-awareness, and approach conflicts with a clearer mindset. By supporting students' mental health, Alongside lays the foundation for them to engage more fully in restorative practices.
Alongside chat modules that integrate with RJ include:
Perspective Pro
This module helps students take a step back, reflect on their actions, and consider the perspectives of others.
Compromise Champion
This module provides students with tools to navigate challenging interactions and turn conflicts into win-win situations.
Apology Ambassador
The apology ambassador module supports students as they craft meaningful apologies and make a plan to rebuild trust with peers.
Listening Legend
In this module, students learn to strengthen relationships through active listening. Students can also vent as Kiwi provides a nonjudgemental space to feel heard and understood.
By equipping students with these resources, Alongside helps them prepare emotionally for restorative conversations, making RJ practices more impactful and sustainable.
Building a Culture of Connection
Healthy relationships are the cornerstone of any thriving school community. Restorative justice offers a way to not only mend broken bonds but also build new ones rooted in empathy, trust, and mutual respect. When paired with tools like Alongside, schools can create an environment where every student feels valued and supported.
Together, these approaches pave the way for a brighter, more connected future for our students. Let’s prioritize relationships—because when students learn to care for one another, they are better prepared to care for the world around them.
About the Author: Clarke Heyes, Ph.D., LMFT, is a Senior Clinical R&D Manager at Alongside.
References
- "Do Restorative Practices Work?" NEA. Tim Walker, 2023.
- "A Systematic Evaluation of Restorative Justice Practices: School Violence Prevention and Response." Journal of School Violence, 2020
- "Effectiveness of Restorative Justice in US K-12 Schools: A Review of Quantitative Research"
- "Effective Strategies for Building and Sustaining a Positive School Culture and Climate." Academy of Educational Leadership Journal, 2023
- "Understanding and Promoting School Climate, Bullying, and Social-Emotional Learning." School Psychology Review, 2024
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