Schools
Rather than relying on complex behavior-management systems, Pathways to Restorative Communities (P2RC) centers strong, connected relationships as the foundation for positive student behavior. By investing time up front in restorative routines, educators reduce the need for corrective interventions, keep students in the classroom, and increase meaningful time on task.
Administrators, deans, and counselors learn practical tools for restorative conversations that support accountability, problem-solving, and self-awareness when students need to reset. These conversations help students regulate, reflect, and strengthen social-emotional skills before returning to class ready to re-engage.
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Coaching and Consulting
We offer onsite and virtual coaching to help schools and districts implement Restorative Practices. There is no single path to implementation, so we customize our coaching to the goals and context of each school community. We provide resources, develop tailored mentoring plans, serve as a strategic thought partner, and consult on circle facilitation and restorative responses.
P2RC coaches individuals, small groups, and full teams. We often model practices in real time, conduct observations with actionable feedback, and support the planning and reflection necessary for effective circles and restorative interventions.
Training
Our professional development is interactive and includes a mix of experiential and foundational learning. Participants learn the philosophy and values underpinning Restorative Practices, participate in circles, examine case studies, engage in role-plays, and work with partners and small groups. When appropriate, workshops include assignments to practice, design, and implement Restorative Practices. P2RC is a Massachusetts DESE-designated professional development provider.
Presentations
Our presentations introduce the principles and values of Restorative Justice—and answer the essential question, “What is Restorative Justice?” Restorative Justice is a relationship-centered approach that focuses on repairing harm, strengthening community, and supporting accountability through dialogue rather than punishment.
We offer one-hour, 90-minute, and two-hour presentations, available in person or virtual, to help inform and build buy-in with stakeholders, introduce a pilot program to potential early adopters, or educate community members and anyone interested in learning more. Our presentations are interactive, engaging, and designed to meet the unique needs of your school or district.
Circle Facilitation
Invite P2RC to step into your school to facilitate a restorative process with you. Sometimes it is helpful and more effective to have an outside party provide facilitation, especially if your staff is still learning the process. Bringing us in is a powerful way to model the practice, allowing people to see it in action. We work with staff, students, parents, and other impacted individuals to address conflict, repair harm, and help you move forward.
Our conflict resolution style differs from mediation services you may be familiar with. We use a series of pre-interviews to understand the issues and perspectives at play. Then we design a restorative circle to address the specific issues that have arisen, facilitating conversations that encourage connection, honest sharing, and movement toward solutions.
Team Building
Teacher burnout is a real threat to the well-being of educators, and beyond that, school culture; Restorative Practices provide teacher burnout solutions. Teachers who are sitting in circles regularly with other adults develop trusting relationships among the staff at their schools, making them more resilient and better able to apply restorative approaches in their own classrooms.
Our circles, games, and activities use practices that help your school’s staff build empathy, understanding, and rapport while strengthening skills for communicating and addressing differences effectively. Every activity we do can also be adapted for students, so participants will leave energized, connected, and prepared to share their experiences with their classes.
“I am a second grade teacher, and I don’t always leave professional development opportunities feeling hopeful about having something constructive to implement in my classroom. After this training, I truly feel optimistic that I have a new community-strengthening routine I can implement in my classroom effective immediately!”
— Teacher, training participant
Part Three, our final installment on coaching, highlights coaching’s vital role in Implementation, arguably the most important — and least addressed — aspect of using Restorative Practices in a school setting. In case you missed it, Part One of our series on Restorative Coaching shared the benefits of using coaching to complement Restorative Justice Practices training. Part Two outlined some of the themes and challenges that came up in Tier 3 (Conferencing) coaching over the past few months.