Monroe One recognized Partners in Restorative Initiatives (PiRi) as our 2025 Community Champion for Public Education. The annual event, held by ACT for Education, celebrates the partnership between local public schools and area businesses and individuals.

Below is the nomination submitted for PiRi:

Partners in Restorative Initiatives (PiRi) has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the success of Monroe One BOCES students and the betterment of local public schools through their commitment to restorative practices. Their work in our schools has fostered a culture of accountability, empathy, and healing, ensuring that both students and staff have the tools needed to build relationships, prevent harm, and repair it when necessary. Their efforts exemplify partnership, support, and service in action.

PiRi’s approach is rooted in community-building and conflict resolution, helping to establish foundational restorative mindsets that have significantly improved school culture and climate. They provide training, guidance, and direct intervention, equipping staff and students with the necessary skills to navigate challenges in a constructive and meaningful way.

Over the past three years, PiRi has expanded its collaboration with Monroe One to integrate students more deeply into restorative work. Their commitment to fostering student voice has been particularly impactful, leading to the development of student restorative champions at multiple Monroe One sites, including Bird/Morgan and O’Connor Academy.These student leaders play a key role in peer mentoring, equity referral processes, and conflict resolution, strengthening the very fabric of their school communities.

Their influence has been transformative, evident in the reduction of behavioral referrals, suspensions, and physical restraints as schools shift towards proactive and restorative responses. Through their expertise, staff and students have adopted affective statements, enhancing communication and fostering an environment where individuals feel heard and valued.

Beyond their work within Monroe One, PiRi serves as a regional leader in restorative practices, offering training and support to area schools through their partnership at 15 Linden. Their efforts have directly contributed to Monroe One’s revisioning of its Code of Conduct, ensuring that policies align with the principles of equity, accountability, and restoration.

PiRi embodies the essence of a Community Champion. Their dedication to lifelong learning, their role as a model for restorative practices, and their ability to inspire support for quality public education through both action and word make them a deserving recipient of this recognition. Their partnership has not only enriched Monroe One BOCES but has also created lasting, positive change for students, staff, and the broader community.

We are grateful to PiRi for their dedication, service, and the transformative impact they’ve made in our schools and across the region. Congratulations to Partners in Restorative Initiatives—Monroe One’s 2025 Community Champion!