Restorative Schools Manager - Azusa Unified School District

Western Justice Center (WJC) is a leader in the field of conflict resolution education with in-depth school-based and community-based partnerships throughout the Greater LA Area. WJC drives transformational change in education by empowering youth, educators and administrators to be equal partners in creating safe, inclusive learning environments. Our holistic approach supports sustainable systemic change by working with school and community partners to implement restorative approaches to violence reduction and conflict resolution as evidence-based, trauma- informed alternatives to punitive discipline. We walk humbly as part of the larger movement to heal the impact of the school-to-prison pipeline and level the playing field. We have a warm, collaborative, inclusive team culture where we “lead from any seat,” practice what we teach, and invest in each other. Our hybrid work environment encourages a mix of on-site, in school and remote work.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Reporting to the Conflict Resolution Education Programs Director, the Restorative Schools Manager (the “Manager”) will lead our ongoing districtwide, multi-year partnership with Azusa Unified School District (“AUSD”). The Manager is supported by their peers on the Restorative Schools team and a dedicated Program Assistant, who form a community of practice, discovery and creativity working collaboratively with an eye toward impact and respect for each community’s inherent self-knowledge. 

Our partnership with AUSD, which launched in 2019, has established restorative practices and student-led peer mediation district-wide (K-12), is nested within the district’s Community Schools Partnership Program, and is being studied by Cal Poly Pomona’s educational doctorate program. While continuing to deepen implementation at each school site, the Manager will work closely with district leaders and with the Cal Poly research team on sustainability and long-term systemic impact in this next phase of our partnership. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Development and Implementation

• Lead a Project to achieve the following goals: (1) reduce conflicts that impede student success; (2) reduce the number of behavioral citations, suspensions, expulsions and unexcused absences resulting from more traditional forms of school discipline; (3) improve student social and emotional learning; (4) improve school climate, including methods that foster student safety and support; (5) collect demonstrative evidence of program impact and effectiveness, including through participatory research; (6) use conflict resolution education as an avenue for academic and career advancement; (7) work collaboratively with the Community Schools team to ensure that our efforts are aligned and integrated with theirs; (8) integrate our work into district policy and the Local Community Accountability Plan (LCAP); and (9) building infrastructure to sustain the work long-term and ensure its systemic impact.   
• Lead all training, facilitation and implementation of WJC programs with participating AUSD schools, working closely with AUSD designated staff, after school partners and student leaders to support each school site effort. And, provide ongoing support for those school site teams through: (1) coaching and mentorship on how to recruit, support, and empower student peer mediators and how to integrate peer mediation into disciplinary interventions and other settings; (2) coaching and mentorship for administrators, educators and support staff on how to integrate restorative circles (community-building, healing, reentry) into their curriculum, classrooms, disciplinary interventions and other settings; (3) partnering with AUSD to ensure that qualitative and quantitative data demonstrating program impact and effectiveness is collected and utilized on a school-site and/or district-wide level; (4) consulting and onsite facilitation in cases of complex inter-group conflict; (5) collaborating with AUSD’s district leadership team to ensure consistency and cross-pollination across the participating school sites; and (6) providing access to materials that are on School Tools and/or available for pilot testing. 
• Supervise all Project team members and work collaboratively with the larger Conflict Resolution Education Programs team to ensure the effective delivery of WJC training programs, including ABCs of Conflict, Circle Workshops, Mediation Boot Camp and Peer Mediation Invitational. The AUSD Project team will include interns, volunteers, and (in year 2) a Project position with expertise to be determined, depending on the needs identified by the AUSD Restorative Schools Manager and WJC’s Conflict Resolution Education Programs Director. 
• Serve as a member of the district-wide restorative practices leadership team and on the advisory body responsible for AUSD’s Community Schools Initiative efforts; submit quarterly progress reports to AUSD that describe key accomplishments and goals achieved.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by your supervisor and as requested by AUSD’s Community Schools Director as needed for the Project to succeed. 

Storytelling, Research and Movement-Building Partnership Support

• Collaborate with the Conflict Resolution Education and Development & Communications team to promote WJC programs, generate powerful storytelling content, and identify and cultivate students and educators for leadership opportunities and recognition. 
• Support WJC’s research partners by connecting them with key stakeholders in the community, helping them recruit participatory research volunteers, and supporting the collection of necessary quantitative and qualitative data (internally and with research partners). Ensure that data is collected and organized from various school sites, integrated into WJC’s program data dashboard and shared with internal teams (grant writing, fundraising, communications, etc.). 
• Engage as needed with movements, initiatives and community groups that WJC partners with.  

Leadership & Personnel Management

• Contribute as a leader to WJC’s fun, caring, diverse and inclusive culture; ensure effective internal communications and collaboration across teams to further the goals of the Conflict Resolution Education team and of the organization.
• Set high standards for professionalism, work product and collegiality and hold your team (including any interns or volunteers) responsible for maintaining them, providing professional development and training opportunities to cultivate team members’ skills and professionalism and helping the team to establish work plans, performance objectives and goals.

Experience and Qualifications

WJC is looking for a person who is values and mission-driven, adaptive, self-directed, detail- oriented and passionate about empowering youth and who has: 

• Bachelor’s degree required in education, psychology, sociology, racial justice, criminal justice, gender or ethnic studies or other fields relevant to WJC’s work. 
• Graduate degree in education, dispute resolution, restorative justice, peace-building or other fields relevant to WJC’s work is preferred but not required.    
• Three or more years of experience that involves training, facilitation and Project implementation in areas related to conflict resolution education, peer mediation, community- building circles, restorative case conferencing, juvenile or adult diversion, youth development and/or gang intervention work. Experience in a school campus environment is preferred. 
• Demonstrated skills in motivating, developing, and leading a team, and in coordinating and supporting the community-building activities of others; holds team and self accountable for reaching or exceeding goals. 
• Superior written and oral communication skills, with attention to detail and the ability to articulate a compelling case for community engagement with WJC programs. Fluency in spoken and written Spanish is preferred but not required. 
• Ability & willingness to travel to El Monte multiple times weekly and to other school sites and regional training locations as needed. 

Personal Qualities 

• Creative thinker, good listener and nimble strategist; comfortable receiving input from many sources, able to analyze & formulate disparate information into a sound, well-organized plan.
• Extroverted and innovative; derives energy from connecting with individuals, works collaboratively; creates opportunities for engagement and builds enthusiasm for WJC.
• Emotionally mature with a warm sense of humor and the flexibility and sensitivity to work respectfully with diverse personalities and situations.
• Embraces conflict as an opportunity for growth, learning and transformation. 
• Has a personal and/or professional connection with WJC’s mission; is passionate about addressing the disparate impact that exclusionary discipline has on young people in communities affected by the multi-generational effects of systemic racism and poverty.  

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time position allowing for a combination of office, in the field and remote work. The annual salary starts at $70,000 commensurate with experience. WJC offers a comprehensive benefits package, including paid vacation, holidays and sick time, and medical, dental, vision and life insurance with employee buy-up options for dependents. WJC offers 10 paid holidays, 2 floater holidays for religious and cultural observances, and a Wellness Week between Christmas and New Year’s. WJC is a CalSavers participating organization. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

WJC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively creates a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. WJC does not discriminate against any person because of race, color, or ethnicity; sex, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity; national origin, disability, age, religion, or creed. WJC values the chance to be in community with BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and other people whose lived experiences enrich and inform our work. WJC supports open opportunities for people impacted by the carceral system. WJC requires all staff to be up-to-date on COVID and other relevant vaccinations.  Live Scan background check is part of the hiring process. 

HOW TO APPLY

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis but interviews may start as early as April 7, 2025.

To apply, please send an email to careers@westernjustice.org with a single document that includes your cover letter, resume, and completed answers to the questionnaire below. Please limit your answers to no more than 250 words per question or per sub-question.

1. WJC is looking for future team members who are excited about joining us in our journey at the intersection of mediation, educational equity, racial justice and systemic change. Why is this position the right one for you now and how do you connect with our mission?
2. WJC is looking for someone with direct experience in the K-12 educational setting as well as direct experience with conflict resolution education related work (i.e., restorative practices, peer mediation, restorative case conferencing, diversion, counseling, gang intervention work, etc.). 
   1. What do you bring to the table?
   2. What are the top obstacles you have seen to effective implementation?
   3. How have you overcome those obstacles? (Provide one concrete example.)
3. We value the ability to pivot, remain flexible, keep an open mind, stay creative and embrace the process of “building the plane while we fly it.” 
   1. What unique talent, experience or insights would you bring to our highly collaborative work environment?
   2. WJC’s pursuit of our mission often involves periods of intensive work to reach our goals. How do you take care of yourself and set healthy boundaries?
   3. How do you navigate conflict at work? In terms of dealing with conflict, where do you have room to grow?
4. What is something that we could not learn about you from an online search?
5. How did you hear about this position?