In this episode of the Teacher Fellows Podcast, hosts Ryan Rarick and Lauren Merkley, along with their guest Elyse Arrington, also known as EZE (pronounced as ee-zee-ee), discuss restorative justice in education and its implementation in schools. Elyse, an experienced educator and Utah Teacher Fellow, shares insights on restorative justice practices, including the establishment of a restorative youth court at East High School in Salt Lake City. They explore how these practices, differing from traditional punitive approaches, emphasize the importance of reintegrating students into the school community. Elyse also discusses her unique and engaging 'Hip Hop and Protest' class, which combines literary analysis with contemporary interests to make learning relevant and meaningful for students. The episode underscores the significance of viewing incidents in context and creating systems that support both accountability and community healing. Join us in this enlightening episode as we explore and learn more about restorative practice in schools!
In this episode of the Teacher Fellows Podcast, hosts Ryan Rarick and Lauren Merkley invite Elyse Arrington, a secondary reading interventionist and language arts teacher from East High School in Salt Lake City, to discuss her work with restorative justice in education. Elyse shares her experiences with establishing a restorative youth court to address student infractions in a more supportive and rehabilitative way. She also introduces her innovative Hip Hop and Protest class, which integrates hip-hop culture into the English curriculum to engage students and validate their interests. The episode provides actionable insights for educators interested in implementing restorative practices and creative curricula in their schools.
00:00 Welcome and Introductions
00:25 Meet Elyse Arrington: Educator and Advocate
01:31 Podcast Overview and Listener Engagement
02:14 Diving into Restorative Justice
02:42 Understanding Restorative Justice in Schools
07:35 Youth Court: A Restorative Approach
14:01 The Impact of Restorative Justice
15:10 Hip Hop and Protest Class: A Unique Approach to Education
17:47 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
22:10 Closing Remarks and Podcast Information
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