Want to know what I would do to "fix" my school if I could go back?
Sign up below to get my weekly newsletter—it's packed with free resources, practical tools, and real stories from schools I visit around the world. I share what works (and what doesn’t) to help you build a safe, positive, and restorative school—without burning out.
Restorative Practices & PBIS so genuinely,
drastically and beautifully changed my school district...
from school social worker to Director, I lead our California district in transforming all 30 schools to earn the highest school climate scores in the state (99% tile), while reducing suspensions by 77% expulsions by 99%, and a reduction in so many youth arrests that we closed down half of juvenile hall - earning state, national and international recognition.
​
What's the secret? I have taught over 600 schools in 19 countries to tackle problem behavior and create a positive school culture with my unique approach of seamlessly integrating PBIS and Restorative Practices in a simple implementation ... but simple doesn't mean easy.
​
Those results represent years of hard work from leaders who were passionate about creating a school environment that's not just safe and positive, but truly restorative.
​
Leaders like you.
Join us in our next Restorative PBIS School Leadership Academy to transform your school too!
ABOUT LAURA
Hi, I’m Laura Mooiman, LCSW—creator of Restorative PBIS™, international school culture consultant, and trainer.
If you’ve found your way here, you’re likely an educator who dreams of a school that’s not just safe and positive—but truly restorative. A place where students and staff alike feel respected, connected, and cared for. I’ve been in your shoes, and I’m here to help.
​
With over 25 years of experience as a school social worker and district administrator, I know firsthand how overwhelming it can be to juggle student behavior, bullying, punitive and disproportionate discipline, rising mental health needs, and teacher burnout—all while trying to create a positive school climate. After years of working with fragmented initiatives that didn’t stick, I developed Restorative PBIS™—a trademarked, research-based framework that integrates PBIS, Restorative Practices, and MTSS into one sustainable system.
​
As Director of Student Wellness Programs in Napa Valley Unified School District in California, I led our 30 schools to reach the highest school climate scores in the state—ranking in the 99th percentile. During that time, we reduced suspensions by 77%, expulsions by 99%, and youth arrests so significantly that the local juvenile hall downsized by half. I also led the creation of five MTSS-aligned Wellness Centers—California’s first of their kind—built on strong community partnerships and designed with sustainable staffing, training, and funding models. This work earned national and international recognition, including the prestigious Golden Bell Award for excellence in school programs.
​
Since then, I’ve supported over 600 schools in 22+ countries—public, private, and international—helping them implement trauma-informed, relational, and restorative systems that work in real-world schools.
As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from UCLA, my experience spans elementary to high school, special education, county mental health, probation, CPS, private practice, and university teaching. I’m a Certified Trainer with the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP), a Qualified Trainer with the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ), and a consultant on multiple federally funded research grants. I’ve been honored with two U.S. Congressional Recognitions for Outstanding Service to the Community.
​
Today, I work with schools and districts across the globe through live trainings, coaching, and online courses designed to help educators build safe, connected, and thriving school communities. I also share practical strategies and insights on my YouTube channel, where thousands of school leaders turn for guidance on transforming school culture and behavior.
​
At the heart of it all, I believe every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported—and every educator deserves the tools and care to make that possible.
CLIENTS
​EUROPE & ASIA
-
ALTRA Schools, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
-
GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi
-
International School of Prague, Czech Republic
-
International School of The Hague, The Netherlands
-
International School Beijing, Dulwich College
-
Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, Spain
-
Zurich International School, Switzerland
​
UNITED STATES
-
ACCEPT Edcuational Collaborative, Boston, Massachusetts
-
Calistoga Joint Unified School District, California
-
Columbus City Schools, Ohio
-
Community Teamwork, Lowell Massachusetts
-
Cotati Rohnert Park School District, California
-
Howell Mountain Elementary School District, California
-
Lincoln County School District, Oregon
-
Lynwood Unified School District, California
-
Napa County Office of Education, California
-
Napa Valley Unified School District
-
North Lawrence Community Schools, Bedford, Indiana
-
Oak Grove School District, San Jose, California
-
Oroville School District, California
-
Pajaro Valley Unified Schools, Watsonville, California
-
Petaluma City Schools, California
-
Port Angeles School District, Washington
-
Santa Rosa School District, California
-
Sonoma County SELPA, California
-
Sonoma Valley School District, California
-
St. Helena Unified School District, California
-
Woodland Joint Unified School District, California
-
Winters Joint Unified School District, California
-
Washington Unified School District, California
​​
CREDENTIALS & LICENSURE
-
​Licensed Clinical Social Worker – California & Colorado
-
Certified Trainer - International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP.org)
-
Registered Qualified Trainer - European Forum for Restorative Justice
-
Pupil Personnel Services Credential -School Social Work & Child Welfare & Attendance
-
Administrative Services Credential - California
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
​
-
European Forum for Restorative Justice, Pamplona Spain, June 2023, RJ in Schools Policy Recommendations
-
IIRP World Conference 2023 "Integrating PBIS with Restorative Practices to Co-Create Your School Culture"
-
FAQs Restorative Practices in Schools - Eric Butler, Michelle Stowe, Laura Mooiman // RJWorld 2022
-
RJWorld eConference August, 2020 “Integrating PBIS and Restorative Practices”
-
International Institute of Restorative Practices European Conference, Kortrijk Belgium, May 2019, “Integrating PBIS and Restorative Practices”
-
Napa Wellness Conference, March 2018, "Using an MTSS Model to Create a Wellness Center without Breaking the Bank.”
-
International SWPBS Conference, Utrecht, The Netherlands, November 2017 “Integrating PBIS and Restorative Practices”
-
California PBIS Conference, Sacramento, CA, October 2017, “Creating a School Wellness Program Using an MTSS Model”
-
Northwest PBIS Conference, Portland OR, February 2016, ”Integrating PBIS and Restorative Practices: How to Implement Anything without Really Trying”
-
UO Real Solutions in Classroom Management Webinar, University of Oregon Real Solutions, with Jeff Sprague and Laura Mooiman (2016)
-
PBIS National Leadership Forum, Chicago IL, October 2014, “Integrating PBIS and Restorative Practices: How to Implement Anything without Really Trying”
-
Northwest PBIS Conference, Portland OR, February 2014 with Dr. Jeffrey Sprague (University of Oregon, Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior), “From Restorative Justice to Restorative Discipline in Schools: Challenges and Opportunities”
-
National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Conference, Washington DC, February 2014 with Dr. Steve Perry and Dr. Laura Ryan
-
Northern California Safe and Healthy Schools Conference, Berkeley CA, November 2013, with Napa Police Department and Napa County Office of Education, “Integrating a Tipline into your School Safety Plan to Address Bullying”
-
School Social Worker Association of America National Conference, San Diego CA, March 2013, with Dr. Laura Ryan, “School Social Worker as PBIS Champion and District Change Agent”
-
PBIS National Leadership Forum, Chicago IL, October 2012, with Dr. Jeffrey Sprague (University of Oregon, Institute on Violence and Destructive Behavior), “From Restorative Justice to Restorative Discipline in Schools: Challenges and Opportunities”
-
Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Every Child Counts Symposium, Monterey CA, January 2013, “Matching District Policy & Procedures to Research: PBIS, Reteaching, and Restorative Justice as the Only Options”
-
Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents (ALAS) 8th Annual Summit on Hispanic Education, San Francisco CA, October 2011 with Francisco Reveles (Professor Sacramento State University), “Beyond the Gang Member Paradigm: Effective School Leadership for Latino Students”
