In this episode of the Teacher Fellows Podcast, hosts Ryan Rarick and Lauren Merkley invite Elyse Arrington, a secondary reading interventionist and language arts teacher from East High School in Salt Lake City, to discuss her work with restorative justice in education. Elyse shares her experiences with establishing a restorative youth court to address student infractions in a more supportive and rehabilitative way. She also introduces her innovative Hip Hop and Protest class, which integrates hip-hop culture into the English curriculum to engage students and validate their interests. The episode provides actionable insights for educators interested in implementing restorative practices and creative curricula in their schools.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:25 Meet Elyse Arrington: Educator and Advocate

01:31 Podcast Overview and Listener Engagement

02:14 Diving into Restorative Justice

02:42 Understanding Restorative Justice in Schools

07:35 Youth Court: A Restorative Approach

14:01 The Impact of Restorative Justice

15:10 Hip Hop and Protest Class: A Unique Approach to Education

17:47 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

22:10 Closing Remarks and Podcast Information

GUESTS ON EPISODE:

• Elyse Arrington - Reading Interventionist, Language Arts Teacher, and Restorative Justice Practitioner in Salt Lake City School District

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Connect with Elyse Arrington
  • Email: earrington.hiti@gmail.com
  • Instagram/Threads:@bebelyse

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS:

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Teacher Fellows Website: teacherfellows.org

Linkedin: Utah Teacher Fellows

Twitter: @TeachFellowsPod or @HSG_UT

Instagram: @TeacherFellowsPodcast or @hsg_ut

Facebook: @utahteacherfellowsprogram

Email us: socialmedia@hopestreetgroup.org

PART OF THE SHOW

Hosts:

• Lauren Merkley (@lmerkles) -- Taught AP English Language and Composition, Creative Writing in Granite School District, 2020 Utah Teacher of the Year
• Ryan Rarick (@Coach_Rarick) -- Education Pathway Teacher for Washington Country School District

Production Team:

• Kayla Towner (@mrstowner9) -- Technology Specialist and Product Manager for Utah Education Network (UEN)

Info Drop Spokesperson:

• John Arthur (@9thEvermore) -- Co-Director of the Teacher Fellows, 6th Grade Teacher in Salt Lake School District, 2021 Utah Teacher of the Year, 2021 National Teacher of the Year Finalist.