Schools as Ecological Systems

The 5 levels of ecological systems as it applies to Black youth

• Micro: individual systems (e.g. students, families, teachers, administrators)

• Mezzo: interactions between individual systems

• Macro: policies,

• Exosystem

• Chronosystem

Name the difference (define) between school climate and culture. Give some examples of each.

• School climate: students’ immediate experience of school environment

• School culture: deeper, shared norms, beliefs, and assumptions prevalent within school environment

Give examples of factors that are part of a school climate.

• safety

• belonging

• relationships

• fairness

• engagement

• trust

Give examples of factors that are part of a school culture.

• norms

• values

• routines

• stories

• expectations

• flow of power

Describe restorative practices.

proactive and reactive practices that build strong relationships, foster community, and repair harm. not punitive

Describe trauma-informed practices.

• Shifting from “what’s wrong with you?” to “what happened to you?”

How can restorative practices shape systemic interventions?

• How adults define misbehavior

• Who gets a voice after conflict/harm occurs

• Moving from exclusion/punishment to consequences

• Returning to damaged vs repaired communities

• Requiring skills, time, consistency, and organizational support from adults