I Spent 25 Years as a School Social Worker & District Administrator
And I know how heavy this work can feel.
I’ve worked alongside principals who were pulled in a dozen directions before lunch.
Behavior referrals stacking up.
Teachers asking for support and feeling frustrated when nothing seems to stick.
Parents demanding answers.
Districts pushing to reduce suspensions while staff worry about losing consistency or control.
We tried what most schools try.
PBIS. Restorative Practices. SEL. MTSS.
Each had value. Each promised change.
But implemented separately, they created confusion instead of clarity.
Everything changed when we stopped treating them as competing initiatives—and started weaving them into one clear, practical, schoolwide approach.
What Happened When We Got Aligned
As a district administrator, I helped lead the implementation of this integrated approach across all 30 schools in one public school district — not as a short-term pilot, but as a long-term systems change that began in 2008.
The results were real and lasting:
- 75% reduction in suspensions
- 99% reduction in expulsions
- 97th–99th percentile school climate scores on the California Healthy Kids Survey
- Youth arrests dropped so significantly that our local juvenile hall downsized
- Creation of California’s first MTSS-aligned Wellness Centers, earning state and national recognition
This did not happen because one person had all the answers.
It happened because adults became aligned. Staff had shared language. Leaders had a clear framework. Students experienced more consistency. And schools had a practical system for teaching expectations, responding to behavior, repairing harm, and restoring relationships.
I'm on a mission...
I believe schools can help build the kind of world we all want to live in — one where children are taught responsibility without shame, held accountable without being cast aside, and surrounded by adults who believe repair is possible.
That is why I created Restorative PBIS® — to help school leaders build systems where care and accountability work together, and every adult knows how to respond with clarity, consistency, and compassion.
The Resume
A little more about my background
I bring both clinical expertise and real school leadership experience to this work — which means everything I teach is designed for the real pressures, constraints, and complexity of schools.
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Master of Social Work, UCLA
- Creator of Restorative PBIS®
- 25+ years of experience across schools, mental health, child welfare, and restorative practices
- Former school social worker and district administrator
- Led districtwide Restorative PBIS® implementation across 30 schools
- Certified Trainer, International Institute for Restorative Practices
- Qualified Trainer, European Forum for Restorative Justice
- Golden Bell Award Winner for Excellence in School Programs
- Two-Time U.S. Congressional Recognition for Outstanding Service
Start Where You Are
Start
with a free tool
Restorative PBIS® Discipline Flowchart is a clear, step-by-step guide to help adults respond to behavior with more consistency, accountability, and care.
Try
ready-to-use circle scripts
The Circle Script Starter Pack has ready-to-use scripts to help staff begin using circles for connection, reflection, and classroom community.
Train
Your Whole Staff
A ready-to-use Schoolwide Training Program that helps every adult respond to behavior with more clarity, consistency, and care — without building staff training from scratch.
Join the Newsletter
Get practical strategies for building calmer, more consistent schools — delivered straight to your inbox.
Each week, I share ideas, scripts, and schoolwide practices to help your staff respond to behavior with more clarity, consistency, and care.
I RESPECT YOUR PRIVACY. NO. SPAM. EVER
