2nd Edition
See Beyond the Behavior: Reflective Activities for People Who Discipline Students of Color and Care About Their Success (2nd Edition) by Laura D. Cottrell is an introspective guide and workbook that aims to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline by transforming how educators correct student behavior. Drawing from her personal trajectory from the South Side of Chicago to executive school district leadership, Cottrell argues that persistent disciplinary disparities for students of color stem primarily from adult mindsets, implicit bias, and unexamined systemic practices rather than the students themselves.
Core Takeaways
Discipline vs. Punishment: True discipline is proactive, educational, and future-oriented, aiming to teach emotional regulation and build internal motivation. In contrast, punishment is reactive, retributive, and reliant on shame and fear—methods that alienate students and erode trust.
"The Stuff We Carry": Disciplinarians inevitably bring their own generational habits, past trauma, and implicit racial biases into disciplinary encounters. Subjective labels like "disrespect" or "defiance" frequently misinterpret cultural differences or emotional distress. Adults must prioritize impact over intention, examine power dynamics, and model accountability by apologizing when they cause harm.
Behaviors as Crises: Disruptive or aggressive actions are often acute stress responses or cries for support tied to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Educators must view misbehavior as a call for help rather than a character flaw.
The Restorative Approach: Replacing rigid zero-tolerance policies with restorative circles ensures that the harmed, the offender, and the community collaborate to repair harm with equal voice. Structured Restorative Reentry Meetings after exclusions are vital to restoring belonging, lowering repeat offenses, and protecting academic instructional time.
The 7-Step Response Model
To de-escalate situations and maintain student dignity during behavioral infractions, Cottrell outlines a practical intervention sequence:
Pause: Step back, breathe, check your own emotional triggers, and "tap out" to a colleague if you cannot remain objective.
Ask: Use open-ended, restorative questioning to let the student explain what occurred and what they need to regulate.
Listen Deeply: Get to eye level, offer wait time, and pay attention to underlying trauma or unspoken needs.
Empathize: Reflect on personal mistakes and consider the situation from the student's perspective.
Humanize: Look past the behavior to the child, picture the word MERCY across their forehead, and affirm their worth.
Teach: Treat the mistake as a learning opportunity; teach alternative coping strategies and role-play solutions.
Etch A Sketch: Forgive offenses, wipe the emotional slate clean, and welcome the student back to a genuine fresh start.
The "Know, Grow, Go" Action Framework
Know: Study the data on disciplinary disparities, systemic racism, and the impact of ACEs.
Grow: Practice de-escalation techniques, confront personal biases, and embrace cultural responsiveness.
Go: Act as an active bystander against exclusionary practices and advocate for dignity-centered policies districtwide.
The book couples these principles with self-assessments, discipline equity tracking logs, and student dignity feedback tools, delivering a practical roadmap for creating restorative, inclusive schools.
