Peer Mediator Program Grows Across BCP

Open, honest conversations with peers can make all the difference when faced with an issue. That’s the idea at the heart of Restorative Practices, the school-based strategy to build healthy, positive relationships when conflict happens.

It’s a pioneering approach to community building that Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) introduced to Baltimore City Public Schools and Maryland in 2006. Today, districts across the state have adopted the practice. 

In January 2023, BCP added a new aspect to the program: Peer Mediators. Beginning with City Springs Elementary/Middle School and expanding across the other five BCP neighborhood conversion charter schools, the program gives student leaders training to facilitate restorative conversations and resolve conflicts peacefully between students.

The program, created by Todd Wade when he was City Springs’ Director of Restorative Practices, now includes 104 Peer Mediators. This month, Govans Elementary School has added ten trained Peer Mediators. 

This fall, the program introduced an exciting new component: Peer Mediators now mentor and teach mini-lessons.  

While the main responsibility of the Peer Mediators continues to be leading restorative circles among students, they are working with Mr. Wade to create mini-lessons and mentoring upon teacher request. Lessons include:

• If you are not in it, you are not in it! (Mind Your Own Business)
• It’s OK! (How to handle when others mess up!)
• How to be a good bystander in a bullying or conflict situation. 
• There is no back and forth without a back.  (Stop the escalatory cycle.)

“The fact that there is a significant group of students in tune with their own issues and able to resolve low to mid-level conflicts can help change the dynamic of a classroom or school,” says Mr. Wade, who became BCP’s Coordinator for Peer Mediation and Co-Director of Restorative Practices at Wolfe Street Academy at the beginning of this academic year. “The de-escalation strategies that they learn and teach via mini-lessons could permeate through the school. This can be very powerful.”

The program continues to embrace the mission of Restorative Practices and strengthens BCP’s anti-bullying efforts. The Peer Mediators also serve as role models throughout the school community and significantly impact their own leadership and personal development.