Bettina’s Bio

Bettina began her career in education 20 years ago as a high school counselor and quickly moved to the administrative position of assistant principal at a local continuation high school. It is here in this experience of being in charge of discipline that she began her journey in restorative practices – looking at and implementing a restorative way of discipline and stopping the school to prison pipeline. 

Bettina is a facilitator, trainer and consultant in Restorative Justice Practices. She facilitates restorative circles and conferences primarily in grades K-12. Since 2016 she works directly with newly incarcerated youth at the juvenile facility facilitating restorative circles to work “WITH” these youth to own their accountability in their actions, to recognize and repair relationships with those they have harmed and to remove their shame and begin the process of self-honor and positive change.

Earning 2 Master degrees – Educational Counseling and Educational Administration and a Graduate certificate in Restorative Practices from the International Institute of Restorative Practices in Bethlehem, PA, she has also been trained in trauma informed practices, cultural humility and implicit bias as it pertains to education and the classroom setting.

Born and raised in California, Bettina developed an early passion for justice in the school disciplinary system as well as the need for separating “the deed from the doer, recognizing the separation of the unacceptable behavior while acknowledging the intrinsic worth of the person and their potential contribution to society” (Braithwaite). She served as a public member of the San Mateo County Criminal Justice Council for 2 years. Currently, she is on an exploration team with the Department of Juvenile Justice in Sacramento investigating the need for follow up support and counselor for juvenile offenders upon re entry back to their community.

Bettina brings to her work a great deal of “on the ground running” experience as well as a multitude of wonderful, deep and healing stories of working with students of all diversities and ages. She adds to her trainings a colorful sense of humor and passion and effective dialogue in her teaching.