Restorative Works

IIRP
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Philosophy

Restorative Works! Hosted by Claire de Mézerville López, Ph.D., M.Ed., M.S., is centered around restorative practices – the study of building relationships and community. With guests from across the globe, we invite you to listen and be inspired by transformational stories from passionate restorative practitioners, community leaders, researchers, and more. Learn practical solutions to addressing harm/traumas and proactively increasing a sense of belonging in your community, schools, and at home. Explore methods to facilitate meaningful conversations that create understanding and positively impact the people around you.

  1. 4d ago

    Beyond Behavior: Restorative Practices for Every Student

    In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville Lopez welcomes Dr. Layla Dehaiman, assistant professor of special education at the University of New Mexico, to explore how school communities can become more equitable, inclusive, and transformative. Fresh from defending her doctoral dissertation with distinction, Dr. Dehaiman shares insights from her research examining how educators experience and make sense of restorative practices, offering a powerful counter-narrative to traditional implementation studies.  As a seasoned restorative practitioner, Dr. Dehaiman explains why restorative work is more than a collection of strategies: it's a philosophical shift that challenges educators to rethink discipline, relationships, and community. She discusses her research on school discipline, the school-to-prison pipeline, and the importance of centering educator voices as schools strive to build more just learning environments. The conversation also explores the role of mindfulness, co-regulation, and educator wellness. Dr. Dehaiman introduces practices like "Warm-Hearted Wednesdays" and explains why helping educators regulate their own nervous systems is essential for supporting students through challenging moments.  Dr. Dehaiman earned her doctorate in Special Education from Syracuse University, where her scholarship focused on restorative practices, equity in school discipline, and inclusive education. In her professional career in education, she has collaborated extensively with school districts, state education agencies, and institutions of higher education to design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive teacher preparation and induction programs. She has mentored and coached pre-service and early-career teachers and developed curriculum for teacher residency and certification pathways. Her work has centered on the implementation of restorative practices, social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and other holistic approaches to behavioral support, with an emphasis on fostering equitable and sustainable school environments. She was named a recipient of the 2026 Career Achievement Award, part of the Paul Bartlett Ré Peace Prize, for her work supporting students with restorative practices. Administered through the UNM Foundation, the prize honors individuals whose work advances harmony, healing, and nonviolent approaches within their communities.  Tune in for more practical insights to create more inclusive schools and remind us that investing time in relationships today creates stronger communities tomorrow.

    Beyond Behavior: Restorative Practices for Every Student

  2. Jul 30

    From Conflict to Community: Intentional Connection in Academic Environments

    In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville Lopez welcomes guest Melkam Tesfaye for a grounded conversation on restorative practices in higher education and student affairs. Tesfaye draws on her background in law, mediation, and conflict resolution to explore how approaches that are rooted in restorative practices take shape inside complex university systems, particularly within the context of Gonzaga University.  Tesfaye emphasizes that restorative practices is more than just an initiative, it is culture-building, relational leadership, and sustained engagement. She highlights a common challenge across both K–12 and higher education settings: not resistance to restorative practices, but the ongoing difficulty of finding time to implement and sustain them. From onboarding conversations to cohort-based training models, she illustrates how institutions can move beyond one-off workshops toward long-term relational learning.  Melkam is the assistant director of student conduct and conflict at Gonzaga University, where she works with resident directors on student conduct cases and manages conflict resolution services, such as educational conversations, mediation, and restorative justice conferencing. She is a trained restorative practices facilitator and serves on a divisional task force implementing restorative practices within Student Affairs. With a background in law, Melkam brings extensive expertise in mediation, adaptable dispute resolution, and restorative practices, along with a multidisciplinary perspective to conflict resolution. Melkam is a member of the Restorative Justice Network of Catholic Campuses (RJNCC) national planning team. She has led trainings on de-escalation and restorative practices in the workplace and is an active community mediator.  Tune in for stories and examples of everyday practices that are foundational to building trust, compassion, and shared accountability in academic environments.

    From Conflict to Community: Intentional Connection in Academic Environments

  3. Jul 23

    Beyond the Stage: Joy, Imagination, and Restorative Practices

    In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville López welcomes Assistant Director of Learning and Community Engagement at Manhattan Theatre Club, Gabbie Ballesteros. Together, they explore the powerful intersection of art, advocacy, and restorative practices, revealing how creative expression can strengthen relationships, amplify voices, and inspire meaningful social change.  Drawing from her work in classrooms, community organizations, and theaters across New York City and around the world, Gabbie shares how theaters create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. She discusses the parallels between restorative practices and theater, explaining how both rely on trust, vulnerability, dialogue, and shared accountability to build stronger communities.  The conversation also highlights Punch, the Broadway production inspired by a real restorative justice story, and the innovative post-show dialogue circles that invited audiences to move beyond passive viewing into authentic community conversation. Gabbie reflects on how storytelling encourages empathy, sparks curiosity, and creates opportunities for lasting transformation both on and off the stage.  Gabbie is a multi-disciplinary administrator, teaching artist, and performer who believes deeply in universal access to and engagement with the arts. In her role at the Manhattan Theatre Club, she collaborates on programs spanning classrooms and community spaces throughout New York City, across the US, and around the world that empower learners to engage joyfully and authentically with theater. Gabbie has led a session on community partnerships with the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, moderated special panel events and audience discussions, and was selected for the 2026 Emerging Leaders Program with the New York Foundation for the Arts. She has proudly served as an educator in the New York and Washington, D.C., areas and her home country of the Philippines. She strives to uplift the intersection of art and advocacy across all avenues of her work.  Tune in to hear about Manhattan Theatre Club's educational initiatives, including international playwriting programs, partnerships with community organizations, and free theater resources that make storytelling accessible to educators and learners worldwide.

    Beyond the Stage: Joy, Imagination, and Restorative Practices

  4. Jul 16

    Building Bridges: Leading in Higher Ed with Restorative Practices

    In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville López welcomes Dr. Alex Boesch, educator, higher education administrator, and organizational culture expert, for a thoughtful conversation about how restorative practices can bridge intercultural competence and social justice in higher education.  Drawing on more than 15 years of experience implementing restorative practices on college campuses, Dr. Boesch explores how circles create space for meaningful dialogue across differences. He shares real-world examples from his work at Wayne State University, including facilitating listening circles following moments of community trauma and creating spaces where students, faculty, and staff can process difficult events with care and dignity. He discusses the importance of intentional facilitation and how structures rooted in restorative practices provide emotional safety, ensuring every voice has the opportunity to be heard.  In his current role at Wayne State University, Dr. Alex Boesch leads strategic initiatives that support a positive and healthy organizational culture. He regularly designs and facilitates workshops, retreats, and learning experiences for employees. He is skilled at leading working groups to improve organizational culture. Dr. Boesch has infused restorative practices in his higher education and consulting work for 15 years. He has presented at conferences on the intersection between restorative practices, intercultural competence, and social justice.  Dr. Boesch holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Eastern Michigan University.   Tune in to discover how intentional dialogue and restorative practices can transform how we lead higher education.

    Building Bridges: Leading in Higher Ed with Restorative Practices

  5. Jul 9

    The Teacher's Sphere Collaborative Episode: The Role of Teacher Leaders in Civil Discourse

    In this special collaborative episode of Restorative Works and The Teacher's Sphere Podcast, hosts Dr. Claire de Mezerville Lopez, Dr. Kobi Nelson, and Sarah Lane explore how educators can cultivate stronger school communities through civil discourse, restorative practices, and meaningful dialogue. Our hosts invite us to examine the role teacher leaders play in fostering civil discourse among colleagues, emphasizing the importance of listening, intellectual humility, and curiosity. Sarah introduces Sphere's AWARE framework (Assert, Wonder, Accept, Respect, and Establish) as a practical tool for guiding productive conversations and building understanding across differing viewpoints. Explore how teachers, administrators, families, and staff can move beyond adversarial thinking and focus on shared goals that support student success. We dive into cognitive biases and their impact on decision-making, relationships, and school culture. Our hosts examine how self-awareness, restorative practices-rooted dialogue, and intentional engagement with diverse perspectives can help educators recognize and navigate these biases more effectively. Kobi is the content development specialist for Sphere Education Initiatives. She hosts Sphere's podcast, The Teacher's Sphere, and creates curricular resources in collaboration with K-12 teachers and content scholars. Kobi has two decades of experience teaching reading, writing, and literature in middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Kobi holds a bachelor's and master's in English as well as a master's in Curriculum and Instruction. She earned her doctorate in Education and Human Development from the University of Colorado.  Sarah is a manager of alumni and educator engagement for Sphere Education Initiatives. She also supports hosting Sphere's podcast, The Teacher's Sphere. She leads professional development across the country to partner with educators and administrators to foster spaces of civil discourse and community. She has K-12 experience as a teacher, instructional facilitator, and curriculum writer. Sarah has a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, principal certification, and is a National Board Certified Teacher.  Tune in to discover more practical insights and valuable resources for anyone committed to creating educational environments where dialogue, empathy, and diverse perspectives can thrive. Resources from Sphere Education Discussed in Today's Episode: The Civil Discourse Primer  Bias Bites Sphere's Leadership Toolkit for Civil Discourse (full of tools for leaders to use to cultivate the culture of civil discourse discussed in the episode)

    The Teacher's Sphere Collaborative Episode: The Role of Teacher Leaders in Civil Discourse

  6. Jul 2

    Consistency, Voice, and Change: What Students Teach Us About Discipline with Saundra Hensel

    In this second part of our conversation with Saundra Hensel, alongside co-hosts Dr. Michael Washington and Dr. Doug Judge, we continue exploring the long-term, system-wide implementation of restorative practices in a large school district. With over a decade of experience, Saundra shares how integrating restorative practices with social-emotional learning, trauma-informed care, and behavior supports can strengthen school culture and climate. Revisit the first part of our conversation here. The conversation highlights how students often have strong opinions about discipline but many fail to receive the space to share them. Engaging students, "catching them doing the right thing" and using student voice to move the conversation towards a deep reflection about what it means to build an intergenerational community. Through practical examples, Saundra illustrates how small relational shifts, like listening, adapting, and showing vulnerability, can transform challenging dynamics between students and educators. This conversation also reflects on sustainability, leadership commitment, and the structures needed to support lasting change, offering valuable insights for anyone engaged in system-wide restorative practices implementation. Saundra Hensel has been an educator in various roles for over 35 years. She left a career in higher education administration to teach high school in Chicago Public Schools, then moved to Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, KY, in 2009. In fall 2016, Saundra was asked to join a team at the district level that was to begin implementing restorative practices. She is currently the behavior systems manager, supporting schools in implementing restorative practices and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. Saundra is a National Board Certified Teacher in English, with a bachelor's degree in interpersonal and small group communication and a master's degree in education and school administration. Tune in to learn more about Saundra's insights and discover, along Claire and co-hosts Mike and Doug, some major take aways regarding restorative practices implementation!

    Consistency, Voice, and Change: What Students Teach Us About Discipline with Saundra Hensel

  7. Jun 25

    Building Belonging for Stronger Campus Communities with Heather Gardley

    In this episode of Restorative Works!, we are joined by Heather Gardley, a leader deeply committed to advancing community-centered approaches through restorative practices in higher education. Heather shares insights from her work supporting schools and organizations in building cultures rooted in trust, belonging, and accountability. Heather invites us to consider how we can implement restorative practices on campuses to build community, whether that be during new student orientation, student employee training, problem solving spaces, or when conflicts occur. Through moving stories of real-world impact, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how restorative practices can help transform not only institutions, but also the ways we show up for one another in our daily work. Heather Gardley serves as the Director of Student Conduct, Rights & Responsibilities at California State University, East Bay. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, she is recognized as a strategic and thoughtful leader committed to fostering ethical development, student advocacy, and retention. Her work is grounded in a student-centered approach, with a strong emphasis on care, accountability, and growth. A dedicated restorative practitioner, Heather brings a balanced perspective to student conduct work, prioritizing both responsibility and support. Heather earned her bachelor's degree from San José State University and a master's degree in organizational communication from CSU East Bay. She is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., reflecting her ongoing commitment to service, leadership, and community engagement. Tune in to discover how restorative practices can transform educational higher ed spaces and support the work of joining students and strengthening campus community.

    Building Belonging for Stronger Campus Communities with Heather Gardley

  8. Jun 18

    The Web of Rights: Centering Student Voice in Schools with Dr. Cameron McCuaig

    In this episode of Restorative Works!, host Claire de Mezerville Lopez is joined by educator and researcher Dr. Cameron McCuaig to explore what it truly means to center student voice and reimagine schools as spaces of service, dignity, and community. Cam challenges traditional models of education by contrasting compliance-driven systems with a more relational, student-centered approach. Using real classroom experiences, he invites listeners to reconsider the role of educators: not as directors of learning, but as guides who walk alongside students, helping them navigate barriers and pursue meaningful engagement. Through powerful stories from his work with young children, Cam illustrates how even the youngest learners can understand complex ideas like rights, responsibility, and mutual care. At the heart of this episode is a compelling reminder: restorative practices are not simply reactive tools, but proactive, preventative ways of being that prioritize relationships and belonging. Dr. Cameron McCuaig is a Canadian French Immersion principal, educator, speaker, and creator of the Web of Rights, a practical framework that helps schools move from compliance-driven discipline toward structured, rights-informed learning communities grounded in dignity, student voice, and shared responsibility. He holds a Doctor of Education from Northeastern University, where his research examined democratic school models in Ontario public elementary schools. With more than two decades of experience in schools and professional learning spaces, he supports educators and school communities through workshops, webinars, consultation, and practical implementation tools. Through Student Rights Education, he shares strategies for rethinking classroom management, conflict, and school culture with greater dignity, clarity, and accountability. Follow him at @dr.cammccuaig and tune in to discover how centering rights, voice, and relationships can transform not only classrooms, but the future of education itself.

    The Web of Rights: Centering Student Voice in Schools with Dr. Cameron McCuaig
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Restorative Works! Hosted by Claire de Mézerville López, Ph.D., M.Ed., M.S., is centered around restorative practices – the study of building relationships and community. With guests from across the globe, we invite you to listen and be inspired by transformational stories from passionate restorative practitioners, community leaders, researchers, and more. Learn practical solutions to addressing harm/traumas and proactively increasing a sense of belonging in your community, schools, and at home. Explore methods to facilitate meaningful conversations that create understanding and positively impact the people around you.

Information

  • Creator
    IIRP
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    178
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Restorative Works

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