Testimonials
In 2023, I had the opportunity to spend three full days with George Conant at his Restorative Practices. The workshops included:
- Introduction to Implementing Restorative Practices
- Using Restorative Practices to Create a Positive Classroom
- Creating an Inclusive & Equitable School Climate
I have been involved in education for over 26 years. I started my journey as a high school language teacher in Chicago and then transitioned to the middle school classroom for another 19 years after moving to Maine. Throughout these years, I have participated in many professional development sessions. However, those three days in August with George changed my entire professional trajectory.
Let me explain. I have always believed that every student’s voice matters. Education and learning are fundamentally based on relationships with students more than anything else. I often felt that I viewed teaching from a different perspective. Those three days with George were a game-changer! Before that, I had learned about the vocabulary surrounding the "why" and the power and transformation of circles. I experienced the impact of the talking piece and fully embraced the mindset of what Restorative Practices entail.
The three-day conference had a significant impact on our entire middle school. We decided to hire George to coach additional teachers, as he had already worked with our staff and trained them on Restorative Practices. However, I faced a challenge: I was just one of 65 teachers. I wondered how I could help coach both teachers and students in adopting a restorative mindset in our school. Ultimately, I realized that the best way to do this was to leave my tenured position and seek a new opportunity. So, eight months after the three-day training with George, I made that change.
I am pleased to share that I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year as the new Dean of Students at Lake Region Middle School. Every office referral, interaction, and conversation we have with students and staff is grounded in a restorative mindset. In less than a year, we have witnessed significant improvements. For example, in 2024, my school had 178 ISS out-of-school suspensions (OSS). Through our restorative approach, we have reduced this to 50 ISS OSS this year. This conservative estimate indicates that we have provided students with over 1,000 additional hours of classroom time!
It’s been an incredible journey, and George was a major catalyst for this change. These workshops are truly invaluable!
Guy Vincelette, Dean of Students, BARR Coordinator, Lake Region Middle School, Naples, Maine
“I am an administrator in SAU23, in northern New Hampshire. We invited George to help our district begin transitioning to using restorative practices. George trained our administrative team, met with our middle school staff, and facilitated a School Board training on restorative practices. The feedback was amazing. George is passionate, highly knowledgeable, has a great sense of humor, and is a dynamic trainer. His day in our district was transformative!”
Bob Griffin, Principal, Haverhill Cooperative Middle School