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Restorative Justice in Education

Explore the principles and values underlying restorative justice practices and understand their relevance in educational settings.

In this course, participants will explore the principles and values underlying restorative justice practices and understand their relevance in educational settings. Learners will explore the biology of stress and the power of breath for self-care within a restorative framework as well as "The Circle" process. Modules will go into real-world examples of restorative justice practices and how they foster empathy, accountability, trust, and comfort.

Who is this for?

K-12 teachers, staff, and administrators, higher-ed faculty, and student affairs staff.

  • Program Details
  • What You'll Learn
  • Program Details

    Course Format: Online, self-guided

    Cost: $150

    CEUs (Continuing Education Units): 1

    Length of Course: 5-6 hours

    Time Limit: Upon registering, students have one year to complete the course.

    What You'll Learn

    When you've completed the program, you will be able to:

    • Identify the mind-body connection between stress, and the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system.
    • Be aware of biological reactions to trauma by recognizing and understanding emotions and biological reactions to it and how breathing can impact these reactions.
    • Perform several breathing techniques.
    • Implement self-care behaviors.
    • Recognize the school to prison pipeline.
    • Reflect on adult and white supremacy and the weaponization of whiteness in schools.
    • Envision transformational possibilities regarding how schools could work differently.
    • Define restorative justice.
    • Describe restorative practices and the historical basis and connection to reconciliation.
    • Describe how Restorative Justice can be used in schools and its benefits.
    • Compare traditional school culture and restorative culture.
    • Connect the levels involved in the circles process, how to set up a circle, the agreements and skills needed for a successful circle.

    Program Details

    Course Format: Online, self-guided

    Cost: $150

    CEUs (Continuing Education Units): 1

    Length of Course: 5-6 hours

    Time Limit: Upon registering, students have one year to complete the course.

    What You'll Learn

    When you've completed the program, you will be able to:

    • Identify the mind-body connection between stress, and the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system.
    • Be aware of biological reactions to trauma by recognizing and understanding emotions and biological reactions to it and how breathing can impact these reactions.
    • Perform several breathing techniques.
    • Implement self-care behaviors.
    • Recognize the school to prison pipeline.
    • Reflect on adult and white supremacy and the weaponization of whiteness in schools.
    • Envision transformational possibilities regarding how schools could work differently.
    • Define restorative justice.
    • Describe restorative practices and the historical basis and connection to reconciliation.
    • Describe how Restorative Justice can be used in schools and its benefits.
    • Compare traditional school culture and restorative culture.
    • Connect the levels involved in the circles process, how to set up a circle, the agreements and skills needed for a successful circle.

    Course Authors

    Dr. Fry worked with young adults in Student Affairs on campuses in Illinois, Wisconsin, California, Missouri and Minnesota before moving to St. Paul to pursue her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of St. Thomas. Her passion then became preparation of high school students for post-secondary success.

    In 2005, Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) began the AVID College Readiness program, and Dr. Fry became the Program Manager from 2005 to 2010. In 2010, she was named the first director of the Office of College and Career Readiness for SPPS.

    In 2014, she left the school district to begin a non-profit focused on assisting vulnerable youth, especially those from foster care. In the school district, she saw the devastating outcomes for kids that had been in and out of home placements. As an adoptive mother, she understood that those same outcomes could have occurred for her own child. Irreducible Grace Foundation was born out of the need to support youth in out-of-home placements to finish high school and go to post-secondary opportunities.


    The Black Youth Healing Arts Center in St. Paul, MN, provides cultural, ancestral, and innovative processes to healing for Black youth foremost, while creating safe spaces and healing opportunities for all youth of color.