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Building Relationships and Restoring Community in Schools

About Us

Teachers and principals make a tremendous impact on the lives of students. According to research, teachers and leaders account for up to 75% of student outcomes. With such an impact, it is critical schools cultivate an environment where students, teachers, and administrators can reach their fullest potential.

 

The National Institute for Restorative Discipline, subsidiary of the NLDC, works to help schools foster positive relationships and build a caring school community that supports even the most at-risk students. Our certified restorative discipline trainers work alongside school leaders, teachers, students, and community members to develop a Restorative Discipline program and implementation plan that is tailored to your school's needs. We partner with regional universities and organizations to host Restorative Discipline Institutes, train administrators and teachers in Restorative Discipline, and work hand in hand with schools and districts to ensure successful implementation of Restorative Discipline.

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Click below to find a Restorative Discipline Institute in your area or contact us directly if you would like to discuss how we can help you to get Restorative Discipline in your school or district.

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For Upcoming Institutes

#RelationshipsBeforeRigor

Our Mission

Our mission is simple...to help schools build relationships and restore community through restorative discipline practices.

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Today's schools face a myriad of challenges from high-stakes accountability to the everchanging lives of their students. The personal struggles that lie outside the schoolhouse affect students academically, socially, and emotionally. We are committed to helping schools create a safe and caring climate where students and staff feel like a valued part of the school community and reached their fullest potential by putting relationships before rigor.

What is Restorative Discipline?

Restorative Discipline is an emerging practice used to strengthen relationships and build community in schools. Rooted in the science of relationships and community that can be traced back more than 5,000 years, restorative discipline practices can help teachers and school leaders cultivate a climate that promotes positive relationships, inclusivity, and success for all! 

What is a Restorative Approach?

The fundamental hypothesis of restorative practices is that human beings are happier, more cooperative, more productive, and more likely to make positive changes in their behavior when those in positions of authority do things with them rather than to them.

Why the NIRD?

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The NIRD is a pioneer in bringing restorative discipline practices to schools. Our certified restorative discipline practices trainers are committed to providing training and professional learning opportunities that reflect restorative justice principles accepted by experts in the field as authentically restorative.

 

“Restorative Discipline is a whole-school, relational approach to building school climate and addressing student behavior that fosters belonging over exclusion, social engagement over control, and meaningful accountability over punishment.  Its practices transform the way we perceive the term 'discipline' by replacing fear, uncertainty, and punishment as motivators with belonging, connectedness and the willingness to change because people matter to each other.  Through Restorative Discipline Practices, schools can build relationships, restore community, and effect true positive change”

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Dr. Summer Pannell

Founder & Director

National Institute for Restorative Discipline 

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