Diversity Coordinator Training

Abstract

The Restorative Justice Program in The Schools is an agency that helps students, facilities and family members resolve conflict in a restorative method and helps them understand the result of their actions. Historically, students of color continue to have a higher suspension rate than white students. Providing coordinators with answers to help students with their questions about race and ethnicity in the schools can help eliminate students\u27 own misunderstandings that contribute to disputes that result in suspensions. The contributing factors are minimal parental engagement and implicit bias and discriminatory practices. The consequences include academic achievement gap and increased drop out risk. The project\u27s purpose is to provide a comprehensive workshop training for RJP school coordinators to have conversations with students about race and ethnicity so students will be able to engage in the conversation. The most important findings were that the school coordinators needed guidance on the topic of race and ethnicity and were more comfortable speaking about ethnicity rather than race. After the workshop training their confidence increased about the topic. It is recommended that the workshop training continues to be implemented and be updated every academic year