Developing a Restorative Framework to Mitigate Unwanted Behavior and Foster a Safe and Supportive School Community

Format

Individual Presentation

Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

The University of Southern Mississippi

First Presenter’s Email Address

summerpannell@gmail.com

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Dr. Summer Pannell is an Assistant Professor of Educational Administration at The University of Southern Mississippi and a certified instructor for the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI). She has over two decades of experience as an educational leadership faculty member and P-12 administrator and teacher. Dr. Pannell was awarded the Excellence in Research Award for the University of Houston-Victoria School of Education and the Excellence in Teaching Award for the Department of Educational Leadership and Human Services at Stephen F. Austin State University. She was also nominated for the prestigious Minnie Piper Stevens Award during her time at Stephen F. Austin State University. During her tenure as principal, Dr. Pannell received a Champion of Change Award for her school closing achievement gaps and served on collaborative committees to develop statewide principal and teacher evaluation systems. Dr. Pannell holds superintendent, principal, and teacher certification in multiple states and holds a PhD in educational leadership from The University of Mississippi, a masters degree in curriculum and instruction from Union University, and a bachelors in education from Delta State University. Her research mainly centers on safe and supportive school structures.

Second Presenter's Institution

Georgia Southern University

Second Presenter’s Email Address

jmcbrayer@georgiasouthern.edu

Third Presenter's Institution

Georgia Southern University

Third Presenter’s Email Address

ericlanders@georgiasouthern.edu

Submitter

I am submitting this proposal as one of the presenter(s)

Location

Scarbrough 5

Strand #1

Heart: Social & Emotional Skills

Strand #2

Hands: Safety & Violence Prevention

Relevance

This session will explore the root causes of behavior and how those manifest in the context of bullying. We will provide participants with the components of a restorative framework and effective strategies for implementation in their schools. When implemented with fidelity, these strategies can help schools improve the social-emotional skills of the entire school community, reduce unwanted behaviors, and improve student outcomes.

Brief Program Description

Bullying is a significant problem in schools worldwide, affecting millions of students each year. Recent studies highlight the ongoing challenges and evolving nature of this issue. This session will explore the root causes of behavior and the components of a restorative framework. We will provide you with effective, hands-on strategies for implementation to improve the social-emotional skills of the entire school community, reduce unwanted behaviors, and improve student outcomes.

Summary

Bullying is a significant problem in schools worldwide, affecting millions of students each year. Recent studies highlight the ongoing challenges and evolving nature of this issue.

According to Kowalski et al. (2019), bullying manifests in various forms, including physical aggression, verbal harassment, and increasingly, cyberbullying through digital platforms. These behaviors can lead to severe psychological effects, such as anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts among victims (Patchin & Hinduja, 2020). Furthermore, research by Olweus (2021) indicated that bullying impacts not only the victims but also the perpetrators and bystanders, contributing to a toxic school environment.

Effective anti-bullying programs emphasize a whole-school approach, incorporating student education, staff training, and parental involvement to create a supportive atmosphere (Espelage et al., 2020). Despite these efforts, the prevalence of bullying remains high. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES, 2022) reported that about 20% of students aged 12-18 experienced bullying in the past year. Continued research and intervention are crucial to address this persistent issue and promote a safe learning environment for all students.

Rather than another program, we offer a restorative framework as a promising approach to mitigating bullying and unwanted behavior in schools by focusing on proactive measures of accountability, empathy, and community-building rather than simply punishing offenders. This method aims to transform school culture.

This session will explore the root causes of behavior and how those manifest in the context of bullying. We will provide participants with the components of a restorative framework and effective strategies for implementation in their schools. When implemented with fidelity, these strategies can help schools improve the social-emotional skills of the entire school community, reduce unwanted behaviors, and improve student outcomes.

Evidence

A restorative framework offers a promising approach to mitigating bullying and unwanted behavior in schools by focusing on accountability, empathy, and community-building rather than simply punishing offenders. When implemented with fidelity, this framework can help establish a more inclusive and respectful school environment and transform school culture.

Wachtel (2019) found that schools using restorative practices reported higher levels of student engagement and a stronger sense of community. According to Gregory et al. (2018), the implementation of restorative practices help build understanding and accountability among members of the school community.

Moreover, restorative practices prioritize the importance of healthy relationships in preventing conflict. Morrison and Vaandering (2019) highlighted that fostering strong, positive connections among students and staff can reduce the likelihood of bullying behaviors. Further, a meta-analysis by Zinsser and Zinsser (2020) reported that schools using restorative approaches experienced a significant decrease in disciplinary referrals and suspensions.

Learning Objective 1

Participants will be able to interpret student behaviors as expressions of underlying needs and emotions, and develop skills to respond empathetically and constructively

Learning Objective 2

Participants will learn to investigate and understand the root causes of unwanted behaviors, including social, emotional, and environmental factors, using a restorative approach

Learning Objective 3

Participants will acquire techniques for facilitating restorative conversations that encourage students to reflect on their behavior, understand its impact, and collaboratively develop solutions to prevent future incidents.

Presentation Year

2025

Start Date

3-4-2025 1:00 PM

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Mar 4th, 1:00 PM

Developing a Restorative Framework to Mitigate Unwanted Behavior and Foster a Safe and Supportive School Community

Scarbrough 5

Bullying is a significant problem in schools worldwide, affecting millions of students each year. Recent studies highlight the ongoing challenges and evolving nature of this issue. This session will explore the root causes of behavior and the components of a restorative framework. We will provide you with effective, hands-on strategies for implementation to improve the social-emotional skills of the entire school community, reduce unwanted behaviors, and improve student outcomes.