Some Tulsa Schools Taking New Approach To Help Students Who Misbehave In Class

Some Tulsa area schools are implementing some new policies to help improve teacher-student relationships.

Restorative Justice is an idea that challenges students and teachers to learn from their mistakes.

According to the Restorative Justice Institute of Oklahoma, isolating a student as punishment for misbehavior can lead to shame.

Restorative Justice sees a student's behavior as road maps to understand what they need to thrive.

These policies are starting to be implemented in some schools like Tulsa Honor Academy.

Teachers and staff are being trained on Restorative Justice so there can be a greater sense of community within the schools and community as a whole.

"Our number one goal is to ensure all of our kids, all of our scholars feel like they belong. Ultimately we believe that that’s going to make our community feel safer. Our scholars want to be here more and it’s going to be a healing, loving place, which is what we’ve always dreamed of for our community," said Elsie Urueta Pollock, Founder and CEO of Tulsa Honor Academy.

Tulsa Honor Academy is still in the early stages of this work, but said the conversations it's had about Restorative Justice so far have been positive.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Restorative Justice Institute of Oklahoma.