By Laura Mooiman, LCSW
Have you ever been in an uproarious, ear-splitting cafeteria with clangs and shrieks echoing from every shiny surface?
I recently visited an elementary school cafeteria where students were rushing around in clumps and groups, with no teachers or staff in sight. They were allowed to sit anywhere they wanted and, as a result, some kids were milling around in uncertainty, while others raced from table to table in hyperactive glee. Students shouted louder and louder in order to be heard over the deafening noise of dozens of conversations, the scraping of chairs, and the clattering of trays.
Laura Mooiman, LCSW, is an international education consultant, speaker, and creator of Restorative PBIS™, a trademarked framework that integrates Restorative Practices, PBIS, and MTSS to improve school culture and student behavior. With over 25 years of experience as a school social worker and district administrator, she has supported more than 600 schools across 22 countries and has been honored with two U.S. Congressional Recognitions for Outstanding Service to the Community.
