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Driving Into the Storm
The sky opened up on my way to work, and I could barely see the road ahead. It was one of those unusually dark Arizona mornings when the desert looks unfamiliar. Rain hammered the windshield. The wipers struggled to keep up. I slowed down, tightened my grip on the steering wheel, and focused on what I could see. And somewhere in that downpour, it hit me: this drive felt a lot like leading a turnaround school. Limited visibility. Uncertainty around the next corner. The respons
Melissa France
Oct 74 min read
When Compliance Isn’t Care: Why Middle School Turnaround Work Needs Restorative Practices, Not PBIS
In middle school turnaround work quiet is not the same as healthy and compliant is not the same as cared for.
In my latest Turnaround Unscripted post, I dig into emerging research and lived leadership experience to make the case that PBIS often centers surveillance and normalization, while restorative practices build voice, accountability, and real behavioral growth. If we want transformation instead of performance, we have to choose restoration over compliance.
Stephanie Nardi EdD
Feb 75 min read
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