Circle Up, RJ!
Restorative Justice at YES Prep Northbrook HS
ABOUT US
Yes Prep Northbrook High School is a school of 800 students whose core values are Respect, Excellence, and Power. Restorative justice is the foundation of how we operate and thrive as a community.
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What is restorative justice?
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According to researcher and educator Dorothy Vaandering:
"justice is a call to recognize that all humans are worthy and to be honored simply because they are human; injustice occurs when people are objectified; and the term restorative becomes meaningful as it specifically refers to restoring people to a state of being honored as human."
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For us, it is a philosophy of being intentional about building community and repairing harm by keeping one another accountable to shared norms.
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How do we practice restorative justice?
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We use circles, which are rooted in indigenous practices, to bring people together: we sit in a circle, with no furniture between us, and pass around a talking piece that gives the holder the honor to speak or listen. Restorative justice peace circles are used during professional development for teachers, to teambuild amongst all students, and, when appropriate, to redress harm.
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How do we build capacity to maintain the program?
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We practice a youth apprenticeship model (YAM) of restorative justice, wherein youth in a leadership class train others in circles and - over time - become expert facilitators. We study the school to prison pipeline, restorative justice, and ways to improve the education system. Students then co-facilitate healing circles (a restorative justice practice) to mediate conflicts among students or between students and teachers. They also co-facilitate weekly community building circles with 9th graders in a tribe (our advisories), and travel throughout Houston training other adults and youth in restorative justice, at places such as the Harris County Department of Education, the University of Houston Downtown, and the University of Houston Clear Lake.
OUR WORK
 |  We are a growing school. In order to maintain the collective knowledge and practice of restorative justice, we onboard new staff with circle training every year. |  Students train TFA teachers in circle. |
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 Youth coordinators (YC) are chosen from the leadership class. They work with the Student Support Team (SST) to mentor and conference peers. |  Leadership students are trained in mindfulness through Niroga, and then practice it during circles they facilitate. |  Leadership students practice writing lesson plans around topics of the class that they then teach one another. |
 Students attend conferences to gain exposure to international experts such as Fania Davis. |  Students conduct workskhops around how to write a Story of Self. |  Students talk to circle expert Kay Pranis, considered the "godmother" of restorative justice, to learn about her decades of work in communities and the justice system. |
STORIES OF SELF
Every year students in the leadership class write their Story of Self, an assignment created by Marshall Ganz of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. The purpose of the assignment is to inspire others to implement restorative justice. Please click below to hear their powerful narratives. (For more information about the framing, go here.)
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Julian Erazo
Julian was the 2nd period YD. He apprenticed YCs Briana Carriaga and Ashley Linares.
Jose Lagunas
Jose was the Teaching Assistant for the 5th period 2018-19 leadership class.
Naomi Ramos
Naomi was the 3rd period YD. She apprenticed YC Ashley Luna.
Restorative Justice Youth Deans (YDs) and Youth Coordinators (YCs)
Each period of the day, YDs (Leadership 3 students) and YCs (Leadership 2 students) are available to make disciplinary decisions, facilitate circles, or partake in restorative conversations with their peers. YDs apprentice YCs and also innovate how to create restorative alternatives to In School Suspension. YDs and YCs interview for these positions and are selected by their peers.
Kasy Aviles
Kasy Aviles was the 8th period YD. She apprenticed YC Giovanni Bueno.
Alejandra Ovalle
Alejandra was the 4th period YD. She apprenticed YCs Juan Cisneros and Beanca Rodriguez.
Vincent Nunez, Leslie Lux, and Gabriel Martinez
Vincent, Leslie, and Gabriel were YCs during 6th and 7th period. They took on YD duties and were apprenticed by Dr. Wadhwa.