The Restorative Approaches (RA) Collaborative is comprised of Vermont trainers, researchers, Community Justice Center (CJC) staff, and school educators and leaders. Membership in this collaborative is based on a deep commitment to the development of the restorative approach in Vermont schools, not on any specific criteria related to experience as a restorative approach trainer in schools.
Some members have worked in a wide range of schools throughout Vermont and beyond while others bring expertise from restorative justice work to their community justice centers. Many have experience in both community and school-level restorative justice work.
Therefore it is important each school does its own research before contacting a collaborative member. You can start that work by searching this directory and reading the profiles.
Lisa Bedinger
Co-Director; Starling Collaborative
Being an educator today requires a much broader and deeper set of skills, knowledge, and capacity than most teacher and leader preparation programs offer. With increasing rates of . . .
Susan Cherry
After 10 years of service, Susan Cherry recently retired from the Community Restorative Justice Center in St. Johnsbury. Prior to her role as Executive Director, she spent 35 years teaching at St. Johnsbury Schools . . .
Alisa Del Tufo
Founder; Threshold Collaborative
My focus is on centering the voice and experience of those who have been harmed by violations of both a personal and social nature . . .
Karen Dolan
Restorative Justice Specialist; Essex Community Justice Center
RP Practitioner for the past three years with experience implementing community restorative justice panels, Tier 1 and Tier 2 school-based trainings. . .
Laura Ellis
School Psychologist and VT PBIS Coach
My name is Laura Ellis and I am a Nationally and Vermont State Certified School Psychologist, Vermont Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) . . .
Jody Emerson
Superintendent/Director of Central Vermont Career Center School District
Currently serving as the Superintendent/Director of Central Vermont Career Center School District, and was the Associate Principal of U-32 Middle & High School in Montpelier, VT, for eight years. Jody served as an . . .
Bernice Garnett
University of Vermont
Bernice Garnett, MPH ScD: Dr. Bernice Garnett is the Adam and Abigail Burack Green and Gold Associate Professor in the College of Education and Social Services (CESS) at the University of Vermont (UVM). Dr. Garnett is . . .
Lindsey Halman
Executive Director; UP for Learning
Lindsey is committed to exploring radically inclusive education and multiple ways of knowing. She believes there is no more compelling time than right now to ask, . . . .
Jon Kidde
Principal Consultant; Green Omega, L3C
Jon Kidde has been exploring the concepts of restorative justice (RJ) for over 20 years and has played a critical role in the conceptualization, application, and enhancement of restorative justice . . .
Camille Koosmann
Materials Specialist; Starling Collaborative
Camille is a restorative practitioner, trainer, and coach who has been in the field of restorative practices since graduating from Champlain College in 2016. Camille has worked applying restorative approaches in many settings, most recently in K-12 schools throughout Vermont.
Virginia Litchfield
Youth and Family Restorative Liaison; Burlington Community Justice Center and Burlington School District
Virginia is based at Edmunds Middle School and uses restorative approaches to help reduce racial and ethnic disparities in school discipline and develop alternatives to suspension.
Kayla Loving
Education Justice Organizer with the Education Justice Coalition of Vermont.
Mel Motel
Director; Brattleboro CJC
Since 2003, the Brattleboro Community Justice Center has been engaging community members in building community and repairing harm using restorative principles, practices, and processes. . . .
Emily Neilsen
Restorative Approaches Coordinator and Coach; Lamoille Restorative Center
Annie O’Shaughnessy
Co-Founder of Starling Collaborative
Annie O’Shaughnessy is an educational consultant, trainer, eductor, and speaker supporting schools to develop integrated, human-centered approaches to school change . . .
John Oliver
Director of Community Education Initiatives; Centerpoint
John Oliver (he/him), MA is currently the Director of Community Education Initiatives at Centerpoint, a multifaceted human services organization based in Winooski and South Burlington, VT. John is a teacher, writer, and educational leader who has been committed to the implementation of Restorative Approaches in classrooms, schools, and communities for 10 years.
Michael Szostak
Restorative Practices Coordinator; Brattleboro Union High School
Michael Szostak is a restorative justice and practices educator, consultant, and mediator. After a 30-year career in . . .
Jessica Villeneuve
Director; Starling Collaborative
Jessica is the current Executive Director at Starling Collaborative and a former principal.
Amy Wheeler-Sutton
Training & Development Coordinator; Vermont BEST/PBIS Project
Amy Wheeler-Sutton is the Co-Director of the BEST Project/VTPBIS Project and the TA Provider for the Champlain region. . . .