Camille Tyson Jacobs, in fulfilling the requirements for a PhD in Leadership and Change at Antioch University, has published her dissertation titled Restorative Leadership: A Generative Exploration with Women School Leaders.
As schools increasingly adopt restorative practices, Tyson Jacobs explores how these practices challenge traditional leadership models by focusing on the relational, justice-centered values that restorative leadership embodies. Her mixed-methods study identifies restorative leadership as a dynamic process of knowing, being, and doing, emphasizing self-awareness, relational repair, participatory decision-making, and collective well-being.
Key findings suggest that while many principals practice restorative leadership without formally recognizing it, the model has transformative potential for improving school climates, disrupting inequitable systems, and promoting both leader and community well-being. Based on these insights, Tyson Jacobs proposes several actionable recommendations, including the establishment of Restorative Leadership Intensives (RLIs) for principals, the integration of restorative leadership in leadership development programs, and advocacy for gender-equitable leadership models.
Read Restorative Leadership: A Generative Exploration with Women School Leaders here.
