December 2, 2021
“5 Leaders, 5 Stories” highlights City Schools’ approach to student wholeness
Baltimore City Public Schools’ implementation of restorative practices continues to gain attention from educational thought leaders.
As part of the Blueprint for Success’ emphasis on student wholeness, schools across the district are using restorative practices to improve school climate — building meaningful relationships in school communities, reframing school discipline, and supporting student safety, well-being, and success.
In particular, restorative practices prioritizes relationships and community building and repairing relationships when trust is broken.
Last year, City Schools collaborated with Open Society Institute-Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University Institute for Education Policy, and the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law on the report: “Restorative Practices in Baltimore City Schools: A Research Update and Implementation Guide.”
The study found that in our schools where restorative practices had been implemented:
School suspensions dropped by 44% in one year
- 72% of school staff reported improved school climate
- 69% of school staff reported improved student respect for one another
- 64% of school staff reported improved student respect for staff
Now the Gates Foundation’s Principal Project — a forum to explore ideas that are working in education that reaches more than a million educators nationwide — has published essays from five Baltimore education leaders about their experiences with Restorative Practices including:
- Brandon Pinkney, Principal at Walter P. Carter Elementary-Middle School
- Matt Hornbeck, Principal of Hampstead Hill Academy
- Wyatt Oroke, English Language Arts teacher at City Springs Elementary/Middle School
Read “Restorative Practices Roundup: 5 Leaders, 5 Stories.”
Watch the video below about restorative circles in City Schools produced by Wide Angle Youth Media:
Restorative Circles from Wide Angle Productions on Vimeo.