Instructors
Our professional development instructors are engaging restorative practitioners that bring years of experience in studying, teaching, and applying restorative practices in a variety of settings.
Nikki Chamblee, Ph.D.
Instructor and Implementation Coach
Dr. Nikki Chamblee has been an educator for over 19 years. She currently serves as an Instructor and Implementation Coach for the IIRP. In this role, she provides training and coaching to support districts in effectively planning Implementation. Her area of focus is the interweaving of restor
Jennifer Hiestand
Instructor and Implementation Coach
Jennifer Hiestand is an IIRP instructor and implementation coach. Previously, Jennifer worked with the IIRP model programs, Community Service Foundation and Buxmont Academy (CSF Buxmont). She worked with CSF Buxmont for over 20 years in various roles. As a school counselor she provided individual
Whitney Howarth, Ph.D.
Instructor and Implementation Coach
Dr. Whitney Howarth is an IIRP instructor and implementation coach with more than 25 years of experience in the field of education. She has extensive experience providing professional development and teacher training for K-12 teachers (both in-service and pre-service). Her international
Matthew Johnson, M.P.A.
Instructor and Implementation Coach
Matthew Johnson is an instructor and implementation coach with the IIRP. His passion is collaborating with schools to create restorative spaces where all voices are affirmed and valued. Previously, he spent the last decade in public schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota as a school administrator
Trisha N. Tinsley, B.A.
Instructor and Implementation Coach
Trisha Tinsley has 20 years of experience in social services and community organizing. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Seattle University and has been trained and certified as a business and life coach. Having spent 10 years as a coach and a corpora
Keisha N. Allen, D.Min.
Instructor
Keisha Allen serves as the Executive Director of Black Family Development Inc. Training Institute (BTI) in Detroit, Michigan. Her mission to restore civil societies allows her to use restorative practices as an explicit framework to cultivate work with educators, elected officials, justice pr
Sarah Barbour, M.S.
Instructor
Sarah Barbour supports the design and implementation of school-wide behavioral support systems and restorative discipline processes for independent and public school districts. She also facilitates transformational coaching cycles with administrative school leaders. Sarah’s career spans over 20
Tawio Barksdale, Ed.D.
Instructor
Dr. Tawio Barksdale is an IIRP instructor, author, educational consultant, and has served in various roles in K-12 public schools for over 20 years. His passion is building positive and engaging learning communities so that ALL stakeholders - especially students – can achieve their highest
Bill Boyle, M.A.T.
Instructor
Bill Boyle is an experienced restorative practitioner and facilitator of equity and inclusion learning experiences. He has worked diligently to form schools that serve as places of belonging for all students as the foundation for learning. Bill is the former Director of the Model Center, Bowers A
Suzanne Butler, M.Ed.
Instructor
Suzanne Butler is an IIRP instructor and dedicated educator with over twenty years of experience. She is a social-emotional learning (SEL) program specialist for an educational nonprofit. Suzanne provides direct service to many schools across the country, such as professional development tra
Jennifer Coker, M.A.
Instructor
Jennifer Coker is an IIRP instructor, adjunct professor at College of Charleston, and leadership coach. Throughout her three decades in K-12 public education in Ohio and South Carolina, she served as a Special Education Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, and Executive Director in the Di
Elizabeth Dalzell, M.S.
Instructor
Elizabeth Dalzell is an IIRP instructor with over 20 years of experience in public education. She currently serves as a middle school principal in Colorado. She began learning more about restorative practices with the IIRP in 2014, becoming a trainer in her school district for the implementation o
Joseph Devlin, M.R.P.Y.C.
Instructor
Joseph Devlin is an IIRP instructor, adjunct professor at Bucks County Community College, and founder of Family Sobriety Now. He has more than 20 years of experience in the specialty of addiction treatment. His passion lies in helping individuals reach sobriety and to live fulfilling lives by conn
Sheryl Douglas, B.A.
Instructor
Sheryl Douglas started her life-long career in education as an English Language Arts teacher and later transitioned into educational consulting. For over two decades she has provided professional development services to educators in numerous school districts across the country. She has conduc
Graciella Drew, M.A.Ed.
Instructor
Graciella Drew is a restorative practices trainer, providing training and/or consulting in multiple urban and suburban school districts throughout the United States. She serves as an instructor, trainer and coach for multiple organizations, including the IIRP Graduate School and supports a variety
Chad Ferguson, M.Ed.
Instructor
Chad Ferguson is an IIRP instructor and educational consultant, working with school and district teams to reflect on their practice and plan and implement strategic school improvement efforts. He has a passion for working for and with families in underserved communities, young people who have stru
Steve Fiedeldey, M.A.
Instructor
Steve Fiedeldey is an IIRP instructor with a diverse background in education. He is a passionate and dedicated advocate for children, with experience as an adjunct professor, school psychologist, and educational leader. Steve is the director of special education and founder of Fiedeldey Consultin
Shermont Robert Fox, Sr., M.A.
Instructor
Shermont Fox has over 35 years of experience transforming the lives of students and families with schools all over the country. He has been a teacher at the School District of Philadelphia and a therapist, behavior and crisis specialist in the behavioral health field before moving into a leadershi
Jeremias Garcia, M.S.
Instructor
Jeremias Garcia is an IIRP instructor, as well as the Assistant Administrator for Diakon Youth Services in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, a Basketball Official, Trainer, and Coach, and a Safe Crisis Management instructor. He has more than 20 years of experience working with at-risk-youth. His
Julia Getty, M.S.
Instructor
Julia Getty is an instructor with the IIRP. She has trained and coached public school, independent school, and college-level educators, staff, and administration across the United States since 2019. Previously, Julia enjoyed a 10-year career in independent school education, teaching middle school
Jeff Godowski, M.Ed.
Instructor
Jeff Godowski is an IIRP instructor, Assistant Dean at Cornell University, and owner of JP Godowski Consulting, LLC. Jeff was introduced to the IIRP and restorative practices in 2013 at the University of Vermont through one of the earliest applications of restorative practices as a community
Peter Heineman, M.S.
Instructor
Peter Heineman has been an urban elementary, middle and high school educator for over 30 years. He currently works at Green Street Academy in West Baltimore where he teaches social studies, coordinates restorative practices and is a member of the Instructional Leadership Team. Lead
Michelle Kunnen, M.S.
Instructor
Michelle Kunnen is an IIRP instructor who brings a diverse international background to her work as an instructor and implementation coach, having lived and worked in New Zealand, Japan, Syria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Her experience includes consulting, administration, and provid
Rachel Kutney
Instructor
Rachel Kutney is an IIRP instructor and training and consulting specialist at Chester County Intermediate Unit in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She specializes in the implementation of restorative practices, social-emotional learning (SEL), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), an
Lynne Lang, M.S.
Instructor
Lynne Lang has worked for over 30 years in public health, managing community coalitions, and developing school health and safety curriculum. In 2009, she developed Virtue-Based Restorative Discipline (VBRD), a model for restorative practices rooted in habits for human excellence. Her background in
Julie Malloy, M.P.A., M.R.P.Y.C.
Instructor
Julie Malloy has nearly 20 years of experience in management consulting and direct service. She has trained adults in restorative practices and strategy development in New York City, New Jersey, Chicago and Washington, D.C., and has worked with staff and youth in juvenile justice facilities, schoo
Suzanne Petersen, M.A.
Instructor
Suzanne has worked as a mental health counselor for over 30 years in a variety of settings, including schools, community mental health and inpatient behavioral health facilities. As the Supervisor of Student Support Services in a large school district, she was responsible for implementing restorat
Eric Rainey, M.A.
Instructor
Eric Rainey has over 25 years of experience in a variety of roles in the fields of education and childcare services, including graduation coach, classroom teacher, behavior intervention specialist and recreation supervisor. Eric holds a Bachelor in Physical Education with a Minor in Mass Comm
Neil L. Ray, M.S.W.
Instructor
Neil Ray is an IIRP instructor working with schools and districts nationwide on the introduction and implementation of restorative practices. Neil has served in communities and schools of Philadelphia and Northern Delaware for over 20 years in various capacities including; school social worker, be
Stephen Rayfield, Ed.D, M.S.A., CAEL
Instructor
Stephen Rayfield is an IIRP instructor with extensive experience in education, consulting and coaching, research, administration, and organizational development. He describes himself as a collaborator with a very "with" mentality. He values this foundational perspective which builds tr
Lee Rush, M.Ed.
Instructor
Lee draws on over 45 years of business experience in the fields of education, healthcare and non-profit management. During this time, he has served in a range of positions including teaching and counseling at the secondary level, administering a day-treatment program in an alternative school
Dawn Schantz, M.S.
Instructor
Dawn Schantz has more than 30 years of experience in Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system, from Juvenile Probation Officer to counselor with the IIRP model program, Community Service Foundation. In 2015, she became Pennsylvania’s Motivational Interviewing Consultant, responsible for overseei
Kate Shapero, M.S.
Instructor
Kate Shapero is an IIRP Instructor and Science Education and Restorative Practices Specialist with over 20 years of experience. After completing her undergraduate degree, she developed and taught science curriculum in independent and alternative schools in the Philadelphia area. Working with pre-K
Jeannette Siemers, M.Ed.
Instructor
Jeannette Siemers is an IIRP instructor and cofounder and lead restorative practices facilitator for Together in This, LLC. She has over 25 years of experience in public education, both as a teacher, teaching students from 2nd grade to college, and as a high school administrator. Her passion
Gina Sweet-Comrie, M.Ed.
Instructor
Gina Sweet-Comrie has dedicated more than 20 years to working with special education students residing in Philadelphia, PA and surrounding counties. She is certified by the Department of Education in Special Education Supervision. Her experience includes customizing special edu
LeTicia F. Taylor, M.Ed., ESL, RJ
Instructor
LeTicia has more than 20 years of experience in education. Now retired from the school system, she continues her work by partnering with organizations committed to creating meaningful change. LeTicia is a passionate advocate for youth and is dedicated to helping them realize and benefit from
Rodney Toulson, J.D.
Instructor
Rodney Toulson has extensive experience working and training in inner city schools. He is a former Director of Restorative Practices in Baltimore City Public Schools and has worked with students in Middle Grade Partnerships and the Upward Bound Program. Rodney collaborates and trains with the Cent
Ken Trautwein
Instructor
Ken Trautwein is an IIRP instructor and has nearly 25 years’ experience teaching Middle School and High School science. In regard to restorative practices, Ken embraces the explicit practices and has been using them to build classroom community in his educational spaces. His backg
Deanna L. Webb, Ed.D.
Instructor
Deanna Webb has dedicated over 15 years to working as a special education teacher across grade levels in public and alternative schools and 10 years to training adult learners in best practices with diverse learners, ways to handle challenging behaviors, and the use of restorative practices with s
Jen Williams, M.S.
Instructor
Jen Williams is a Middle School Counselor in Pennsylvania and is a 2016 alumni of the IIRP Master of Science program. Her passion for restorative practices started early in her career when she attended a coffee meet and greet at one of the Buxmont locations. Recently, she published a bo
Carla R. Young, M.A.T.
Instructor
Carla R. Young is an administrator, diversity champion and Director of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access at Cranbrook Schools and an Instructor for the IIRP. She is a member of the Association of Independent Michigan Schools (AIMS) Diversity Committee and has presented at the NAIS Peop