Student Accountability Matters: Rethinking Restorative Justice Practices in Schools

Balance Your Teacher Life: Personal Growth Tips, Habits & Life Coaching to Empower Educators to Avoid Burnout

If you're feeling fed up with the lack of student accountability, chaos in the classroom, and lack of admin support, then this email is for you. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Justin Bader - the incredible voice of reason taking over TikTok for exhausted teachers everywhere.

School leaders - you MUST listen!
Teachers - you will feel so seen and validated!
Topics we cover in this episode:
✨ The Hot Mess of Restorative Practices

• The well-intentioned but disastrous move to remove student consequences and redefine failure as success
• Tales of students returning to class with candy bars after outrageous behavior
• How this approach stole all accountability and enabled chaos

✨ Dismantling the "Load Bearing Wall" of Progressive Discipline

• The invisible backbone that kept classroom management functional has been decimated
• Creating predictable consequences is key for a safe, calm learning environment
• Without it, the message is "you can aft how you want without consequences"

✨ The Role of Ideological, Agenda-Driven "Research"

• Most discipline studies are "absolute garbage" with massive logical holes
• The unfounded claims that avoiding discipline improves student outcomes
• How quality research got hijacked by fads and alternative discipline camps

✨ Getting Back to Basics with Firm Boundaries

• Rewind 10-15 years to the old-school wisdom that still worked: high standards, counseling, engaged lessons, fair consequences
• Prioritize creating a viable learning environment above all else
• "We've gone off the rails by making other goals the primary objective"

✨ What Effective Leadership Really Looks Like

• It's not just subject matter expertise - wisdom and backbone are crucial
• Having experience in a highly functional organization to model healthy leadership
• Keeping the main thing (learning) the main thing through the boring basics

✨ Why PBIS program research was solid, but it's being implemented incorrectly
Justin's advice? Fix the foundational pieces like progressive discipline first. Then build your creativity and innovation on that solid base - not the other way around. Regain that empowered stance as an educator by reestablishing firm boundaries and consistent accountability... and so much more!
For comprehensive FREE evidence-based resources on PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLE go to:
https://www.principalcenter.com/pd/
To learn more about The Elevated Teacher Experience visit: www.gracestevens.com/elevate

Want to truly thrive in teaching without sacrificing your personal life? Check out the Elevated Teacher Experience here
Check out the best-selling Positive Mindset Habits for Teachers book here
And the #1 new release for educators Beat Teacher Burnout with Better Boundaries book here

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