ACCOUNTABILITY
A FRAMEWORK
FOR PRACTICING
AND DEEPENING
WITH EARLY LEARNERS
RELATIONSHIPS
SERVING THE
STAFF, STUDENTS
AND FAMILIES
OF PRE-K AND
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL COMMUNITIES
BEYOND
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Restorative Start provides parents, educators, and caregivers of children aged 3 to 8 an accessible way to develop secure and authentic connections: with ourselves, each other, and with the children in our lives. In addition to providing inclusive structures for working through transgressions, our Restorative Justice approach fosters a culture of care and investment. Introducing this framework to early learners can lay the foundation for a lifetime of healthy relationships and active participation in community.
By inviting families to attend our WORKSHOPS alongside staff, we aim to strengthen the bridge between early learners’ school lives and home lives, utilizing a shared vocabulary and consistent expectations. Restorative Start’s investment in your community continues beyond the initial workshops, as well. We are here to help that progress continue with ONGOING SUPPORT.
THE NEEDS AND CULTURE
OF EACH COMMUNITY
WILL ALWAYS BE UNIQUE.
OUR APPROACH, HOWEVER,
CONSISTENTLY CENTERS
TWO CORE CONCEPTS:
Seeking to understand others’ experiences
Identifying with the stories we hear
Owning the impacts of our choices
Offering opportunities for repairing harm
Listening actively and authentically
Leveraging our power to encourage others
Honing the skill of accountability
Connecting intentionally with those around us
Utilizing our ability to make informed decisions
Voicing our needs and expectations
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Benjamin is serious about play, encouraged in chaos, and loves a good ol' fashioned mistake.
Having spent two decades working alongside youth in myriad capacities, he has dedicated his professional life to the practice of continuous growth and an ever-evolving love of learning.
From his time studying Developmental Psychology and Educational Practice (with a focus on Early Childhood), Benjamin brings a strong grasp of how young children experience the world. This perspective is offered with a flexible mindset and a love of human connection.
For many years, he worked in a variety of education and youth spaces, often finding himself thinking "I'd do it this way" when it came to putting values into action.
This led to the founding of an anti-bias Early Learning Center grounded in the principles of Restorative Justice, Self-Development, and Community Service.
Following seven years of school leadership, Benjamin now brings his presence and enthusiasm to NC4RJ's growing ecosystem of relationship-strengthening programming.
He is a father, a partner, a son, a brother, a friend, an uncle, a neighbor, a songwriter, a baseball fan, and a creative cook with mixed results.
OUR APPROACH
INTENTION IN TENSION. COMPASSION IN ACTION.
First and foremost, it is important to acknowledge that moving a school community toward a more restorative culture takes considerable effort. With firsthand experience in classroom teaching, school leadership, and parenting, we are intimately familiar with the demanding nature of that effort. That's why we've crafted our workshops and curriculum to minimize the strife and maximize the impact. When the daunting task of culture change is portioned out into small, accessible strategies, it feels significantly more achievable.
Conflict is inevitable. How we process that conflict, however, is a decision that we make: a decision that informs how the children in our care will respond to friction throughout their lives. By actively engaging Early Learners in activities that promote trust, connection, and accountability, we move down a path of proactive interactions, building a scaffolding for a future generation equipped with the tools necessary to navigate the complexities of life as both individuals and members of a greater whole.
At the heart of mental health, effective behavior management, and the creation of safe, inclusive school environments lies the Core Concepts of Empathy and Agency. These qualities not only shape individual well-being but also contribute to the collective harmony of educational communities, fostering environments where every student can thrive.
Restorative Start's comprehensive program for Pre-K and Elementary Schools is designed to address these foundational skills. Through a rich array of activities, engaging lessons, and intentional language, this program seeks to cultivate and bolster restorative responses from the earliest stages of development. Adapting the practical framework tested through years of direct service and training by the National Center for Restorative Justice, Restorative Start offers age-appropriate strategies for nurturing a positive school culture and empowering students with the intrinsic motivation to develop authentic relationships.