What does it take to build trust with parents who arrive in your office angry or fearful? Our guest on this first episode of Season 11 is Dr. Amy Newman, principal of Newton Elementary in Surrey, British Columbia. She believes the answer lies in restorative leadership—meeting hard conversations with listening, compassion, and resilience. In this episode, she shares how “being like grass” , a quote from Richard Wagamese, allows leaders to bend under pressure without breaking, while modeling this approach for staff and students. From restorative circles to daily hallway conversations, Amy shows how trust is built step by step, moment by moment. She describes how “softening” isn’t weakness but a powerful way to shift energy in the room and open space for real dialogue. With stories of working with students on the edges and building trust with families, Amy brings restorative leadership to life.#education

What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#Leadership #Education #SchoolLeadership #ConflictResolution #Resilience
#RestorativePractices#restorativejustice#traumainformedpractice#emotionalintelligenceinschools#RestorativeLeadership #Principals #VicePrincipals #EducationalLeadership #TrustBuilding #SchoolCommunity,#ListenToUnderstand #LeadWithCare #BeLikeGrass #TransformConflict

Steve may be “retired,” but his reflections in this episode couldn’t be more relevant.

He shares sharp insights on education’s colonial legacy, especially within Indigenous communities, and challenges us to imagine systems that actually change. From his favorite podcast guests (including Barbara Coloroso and Edward Valandra) to his new role in public recreation, Steve shows how restorative thinking transcends the classroom. This episode is a masterclass in applying relational practice to new phases of life, leadership, and learning.What happens when a seasoned principal and trainer starts winding down… but never really stops?

In this heartfelt episode, Steve reflects on the long arc of his restorative journey—from alternatives to suspension in the early 2000s to podcasting, Indigenous education insights, and even working marathons. Alongside Stan and Shelley, he shares how storytelling, shared meals, and mismatched perspectives created powerful learning for educators and teams. This is a tribute to the value of lived experience—and the importance of stepping back while lifting others up. What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#SchoolLeadership,#Principal,,#leadership,#restorative practice,#listening,#relationshipbuilding,#connection,#sustainability,#distributedleadership,

How do you lead a school where office referrals are piling up—and it feels like all you do is suspend students? In this episode , Part 1 of 2, with co-host, Steve Young ,he shares the exact aha moment that led him to adopt restorative practices. With data showing an 80% drop in office referrals and teachers learning to ask better questions, this episode explores how small shifts lead to cultural transformation. Steve recounts how early experiments with RP turned into school-wide practice. Over three years, student suspensions dropped, staff confidence grew, and discipline became something teachers owned again. What made the difference? Modeling, data, and asking the right questions—not mandates. We also dive into how RP becomes a natural part of your leadership style—and how to bring reluctant staff along for the ride. What resonated with you? What challenges do you face in your day to day principal practice? Take 5 minutes to share your thoughts at https://www.restorative.ca/cff

Be sure to check out the website https://restorative.ca

#SchoolLeadership,#Principal,,#leadership,#restorative practice,#listening,#relationshipbuilding,#connection,#sustainability,