Restorative Leadership: Secondary Principals' Perceptions of Restorative Practices on Discipline, Safety, and Campus Culture
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D)
Department
Educational Leadership
Date of Award
Spring 2025
Abstract
Restorative practice is a community-building program promoted as a tool to provide educational leaders with alternatives to zero-tolerance policies, as well as provide a safer environment for students and faculty. Zero-tolerance and exclusionary discipline strategies have plagued education since their inception during the 90s, and little research supports the effectiveness of these strategies as best practice. This interpretive qualitative study seeks to interpret the impact of restorative practices on the decisions school leaders make involving discipline and school safety. The research will take an in-depth look at the framework of restorative practices and how those principles correlate to the school setting. Because restorative programs are diverse by design, the structure of the restorative program and level of implementation play a significant role in the impact of administrative decision-making involving exclusionary practices. Interviews with administrators were conducted to analyze the impact of the program and its influence on campus leadership. The data retrieved from observations, interviews, and campus data informed researchers on how the restorative framework influenced administrative decision-making in the areas of discipline, campus culture, campus climate, and overall school safety. Analysis of this data will provide insight into the framework of restorative practices and its influence on campus leadership. This study will add to the overall research surrounding the restorative practices framework, educational leadership, disciplinary strategies, and school safety.
Advisor
Julia Ballenger
Subject Categories
Education | Educational Leadership
Recommended Citation
Riley, Terrviunce, "Restorative Leadership: Secondary Principals' Perceptions of Restorative Practices on Discipline, Safety, and Campus Culture" (2025). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. 1277.
https://digitalcommons.tamuc.edu/etd/1277
