The 30-minute monthly meeting allows principals to connect on a pressing topic facing site-based leaders. ACSA Legislative Advocate Diana Vu welcomed principals Ryan Johnson (Enterprise High School) and Dr. Julie Hatchell (El Morro Elementary), who shared the student behavior strategies used at their sites. They also answered questions from attendees about the real-world challenges of implementing those strategies, such as cultivating staff buy-in and time commitment.

Johnson said that when he arrived at Enterprise High School in Shasta Union HSD, suspensions were “through the roof.” He formed a team to look at non-exclusionary discipline options and ultimately launched a peer-based restorative justice program with the help of Hope City Redding. Student panels are now used in lieu of suspensions.

“We have students requesting restorative justice on their own accord now, and so it has changed culture ... in a big, significant way,” Johnson said.

Hatchell said any behavior plan needs to be rooted in relationships. Her school analyzes behavior and social-emotional data every six weeks to identify where students are having challenges — whether it’s in the lunchroom or the classroom. They then pull together teachers, instructional aides and coaches to brainstorm solutions.

“So we’ve been able to encourage creative solutions ... that have worked, and then monitored what progress we have in decreasing referrals, for example,” she said. “And it’s been successful.”

ACSA Executive Director Dr. Edgar Zazueta said Principal’s Playbook was developed as a direct result of feedback from ACSA’s largest membership group.

“You probably have ... the toughest job in the system,” he told principals.

To receive a standing invitation to future meetings, reach out to Jose Vargas at jvargas@acsa.org.