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.
Justin Pinard
Outreach Coordinator and School Counselor Center for Technology, EssexBiography
Personal: In my free time I partake in a variety of outdoor activities such as, hiking, biking, soccer, tennis, golf, and of course, roller blading. Growing up in Vermont, being active has always been an important value of mine. However, when I’m not on the go, I balance things out with movies, tv series, and video games. I also enjoy photography, listening to music, and catching live concerts.
Professional: My work is founded in a master’s degree in counseling and a certification in holistic restorative education. In addition, I have over seven years of combined experience as a School Counselor and Restorative Practices Coordinator in VT. This has included providing counseling supports, teaching classes related to CASEL’s SEL competencies, identity formation, and DEI, conflict resolution, alternative disciplinary and learning pathways, co-advising various youth groups (e.g., GSA’s), working on an AOE task force advocating for non-exclusionary discipline in VT, and over three years of experience volunteering on restorative panels through the Essex Community Justice Center. I’m super excited for my new venture as an Outreach Coordinator for one of Vermont’s technical education centers.