Restorative Practices and a Cell Phone Policy That Actually Works

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If you're like me, you might have seen these nightmare "restorative practices" videos making the rounds on social media. I put restorative practices in quotes because seeing a kid misbehave, get a lollipop, and go back to class with no consequences seems like insanity to me; nothing is restored, and I would argue that, if that's what is happening, it is making the relationship worse.

So, when I read Amanda Jamerson's story (she won the 2026 National High School Assistant Principal of the Year), I knew her story would give us some insight. Amanda, or "AJAM the Advocate" as she's called online, tells how her team cut office discipline referrals by 69% over three years and how they built a cell phone policy that is actually working on a five-building campus. I also like that she calls her work "heart work" because it is.

Show notes, the full transcript, and links: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e1011

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • Why a high schooler said it was "fair" to have his cell phone taken
  • Why kids who get lunch detention with AJAM almost never come back
  • What she checks before she'll act on a student referral
  • A simple classroom routine for cell phone management that doubles as attendance
  • Three questions a suspended student answers before coming back
  • Some mistakes AJAM has observed with restorative practices
  • How she helps her teachers know what to say when they are in the emotional moment of a student referral

Check out this episode!

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