Restorative Practices Specialist

Restorative Practices Specialist

Essex Westford School District (EWSD) has opportunities for a full-time Restorative Practices Specialist to join our team at Essex High School beginning in the  school year. This position is open until filled, candidates who apply before July 8, 2026 will receive initial consideration.

This role is designed to support EHS's advancement toward integrating restorative practices into all aspects of our community. This could include but is not limited to community building, restorative options for behavior interventions, direct work with students to resolve conflict, coaching teachers and students around intent vs. impact, and supporting the greater social-emotional learning work at EHS through a restorative lens.

EWSD offers excellent benefits including generous paid time off, medical and dental insurance, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, and a retirement plan with up to 6% employer contribution.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Facilitates Tier I community-building opportunities with students and staff to strengthen classroom and school wide relationships
• Coordinates a team and assigns the appropriate person, including themself as appropriate, to facilitate Tier II conflict resolution meetings.
• Facilitates Tier II and Tier III restorative conferences, conflict-resolution meetings, harm-repair processes and re-entry meetings as needed.
• Follows up with the parties involved in restorative processes to ensure next steps have been implemented successfully.
• Pairs students with the appropriate MTSS intervention as a next step when appropriate in collaboration with PLC team.
• Work collaboratively with administrators, district office staff, Equity coordinator, SEL coordinator and other building-level staff.
• Create and update new and existing restorative materials including but not limited to: a menu of educational options/modules for interventions after hazing, harassment, and bullying incidents occur, language and prompts for teachers to support students when conflict occurs, a menu of SEL/equity modules in collaboration with SEL and Equity coach.
• Works with administration to create new professional development materials/agendas, using our community partner resources as needed.
• Deliver professional development and coaching to build capacity and the number of people at the school trained and willing to facilitate Tier II conferences.
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with students, staff, parents, guardians, administration, and community partners.
• Collaborates with the assigned PLC team to identify needs and areas of support including classrooms, individual students, and other groups within the building. Coordinates with leadership to adjust and prioritize as needs arise within the building.
• Participates in school-wide faculty, department, and PLC meetings as well as additional meetings with community partners and district leadership as needed.
• Collaborates with EWSD and EHS leadership and staff for the purpose of designing professional development opportunities and aligned with the school-wide goal of implementing and maintaining restorative practices.

Candidates with the following qualifications are encouraged to apply:

• Minimum of one (1) years' professional experience in a field related to restorative practices within education systems. Bachelor's Degree or higher is preferred
• Strong background in education required.
• Previous teaching/school administrative experience and/or strong background in supporting at-risk populations using a restorative lens.
• Demonstrated capability of instructing, motivating, and managing teachers, coaches, and a team.
• Strong knowledge base in Social and Emotional Learning strategies and best practices.
• High expectations for students and families in low-income communities.
• Strong organizational abilities.
• Must be able to meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws related to education, labor, and industry.
• Able to effectively handle conflict and stress; able to remain calm and professional when challenged.

Our district vision is: "Growing hearts and minds, for a better today and tomorrow: every day, every way, every one."

EWSD is committed to building a culturally diverse and inclusive environment. Successful candidates must be committed to working effectively with diverse community populations and are expected to strengthen such capacity if hired. Candidates with experience living or working in another country, the ability to fluently speak more than one language, and/or peace corp experience are encouraged to apply.

EWSD conducts thorough screenings of all applicants being recommended for hire, which may include contacting references not listed on your application. Selected individuals are subject to criminal records background checks and child and adult abuse registry checks. Any offer of employment will be contingent upon acceptable results of these checks at the sole discretion of the Superintendent or his/her designee. Please  for…