284. Restorative Schools, Real Accountability with Nicholas Bradford

When it comes to student behavior, punishment often gets mistaken for progress. In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we sit down with Nicholas Bradford, founder of the National Center for Restorative Justice, to explore a better path: restorative practices that build relationships, invite accountability, and strengthen school communities. Nicholas shares why “punishing our way to good behavior” doesn’t work—and how restorative approaches help students understand impact, repair harm, and reintegrate with dignity.

We unpack what real implementation looks like, from relationship-building circles to conferences scaled to the level of harm. Nicholas also highlights how schools can transform detention into a space for reflection and repair, and why accountability must go beyond a private apology to include the larger community.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• Why punitive systems fail—and what it means to center relationships and repair
• How to design restorative responses that scale from low-level conflicts to serious harm
• The power of peer voice and student social capital in changing behavior
• Turning detention into development: reflection, mentoring, and accountable next steps
• True accountability vs. coercion, and making repair visible so communities learn

Resources:

• National Center for Restorative Justice
• Connect with Nicholas Bradford on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA