How a School Went From 1200 To Only 380 Suspension Days in Less Than 2 Years

Описание: RESTORATIVE CHAT w/GEORGE JOHNSON~SEL BEHAVIOR COACH~PITT COUNTY SCHOOLS (NC)
Part 1: How a School Went From 1200 To Only 380 Suspension Days in Less Than 2 Years

Disciplinary challenges have long been a concern in schools, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Pitt County Schools in North Carolina, facing high suspension rates, adopted a new approach focused on restorative practices and accountability. They shifted to a more supportive discipline model, and one school in particular, Lakeforest Elementary, is achieving remarkable results.

George Johnson is the SEL/Behavior Coach at Lakeforest Elementary. Led by George, the school reduced suspension days from over 1,200 to just 380. These changes provided students with alternative ways to correct their behavior while remaining engaged in learning. Additionally, allowing parents to opt for alternative disciplinary practices proved beneficial for families struggling with supporting suspensions. This transformation highlights the importance of balance in discipline. While consequences are necessary, students should have advocates who support them in making better choices. Pitt County’s progress is a strong example of how restorative practices can foster a positive school culture, reduce suspensions, and strengthen student-teacher relationships.

MEET KELVIN OLIVER
Kelvin Oliver is an educational consultant specializing in supporting schools by developing and implementing behavior management systems that synergize restorative practices, PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), and traditional consequences. As a campus administrator, he was instrumental in supporting the integration of Restorative Practices with PBIS and Traditional Consequences. Kelvin created a campus-based support model with weekly professional development and an implementation support team. In 2007, Kelvin started his career in Texas as a special education teacher before transitioning to general education as a sixth-grade math teacher. He transitioned to campus math specialist and district curriculum specialist before becoming an assistant principal and later campus principal.

Since 2017, Kelvin has been a consultant supporting educators, schools, and districts nationwide. In his journey as a consultant, he has had the opportunity to train educators from all 50 states. He has worked directly with school districts in states such as California, Texas, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, Idaho, Maine, and Utah, to name a few. International educators from as far as New Zealand have traveled to attend his workshops. Kelvin has extensive experience in working with various types of schools. He’s worked with medium to large urban school districts, small rural school districts, charter schools, private schools, and Native American reservations, as well as educators supporting students at state schools for deaf students. Kelvin is renowned for communicating the complexities of student behavior in schools today in a digestible way while providing concrete strategies to address challenging behavior. Currently based out of Washington, D.C., he continues to work year-round with educators, schools, and districts in all regions of the country.

To learn more about Kelvin's work, please visit www.LeavingTheVillage.com.