Robert Spicer is the CEO of Restorative Strategies, LLC based in Chicago, IL.  Restorative Strategies, LLC provides training and technical support to a variety of stakeholders throughout the country with a focus on eradicating the school to prison pipeline. Through the practices of Restorative Justice with an emphasis on teaching Social/Emotional Learning, Restorative Strategies, LLC focus is to build capacity around these practices and move away from criminalizing our most precious resource—our youth.

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          Robert Spicer started his career in education as an elementary school teacher at Sojourner Truth Elementary in Chicago, IL from August 1995 to August 2003. From 2003-2009, Robert joined the team of the Community Justice for Youth Institute where he managed a collaboration between the community and the Cook County States’ Attorney’s office to divert non-violent offenses to ‘Community Panel’. These panels used Restorative Justice to re-enter youth back into the community with the support of trained community members.  Robert was the managing director of this citywide project in Chicago, IL.

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          Robert Spicer later took the position as the Chief Dean of Discipline, Restorative Justice and Code Switching at the recently turned around Christian Fenger High School in Chicago, IL in 2009. After a traumatic school year, Robert‘s role shifted to the Culture and Climate Coordinator in 2010 to meet the needs of this high school.  In this new role and the first of its kind in a U.S. Public School, Robert supported the staff in sustaining a safe and stable school culture and climate through the effective implementation of Restorative Justice Practices and Social Emotional Learning. These programs, coupled with the utilization of Restorative Practice, reduced the school’s reliance on zero-tolerance policies and created a model for schools both nationally and internationally. His work was featured in the CNN docudrama ‘Chicago Land’ in 2013.

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          Robert Spicer has received numerous awards and honors for his work of bringing Restorative Practices to schools and creating an “ecosystems of care”. Robert has spoken widely about the power of Restorative Justice on major news networks like CNN, National Public Radio, WTTW, Chicago Sun-Times and the Associated Press.  Robert has received recognition for his work from numerous organizations and was recognized by the White House and received the President Obama’s National Volunteer Service Award in 2013.

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          Robert is a sought after national conference speaker and motivational speaker on Restorative Practices and has been a featured speaker and workshop facilitator at numerous Colleges and Universities. They include John Jay College, NYU, University of California at Berkeley, University of Chicago Law School, University of Chicago School of Social Work, Loyola University and Northwestern Law School. Robert was invited by the Obama administration to the White House to be apart of a Department of Education and Department of Justice initiative called Rethink Discipline and was a featured speaker on a Webinar hosted by the Department of Education on this initiative. He is a national trainer in Restorative Practices and trains school districts and Community based organization in Peace Building and Conflict resolution. He has trained over 100 Peace Circle Keepers in the Syracuse City School district where he continues to offer technical support and training for the teachers, youth support staff, and community members. He has also worked in the Peoria School District, Miami-Dade School district, Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, Prince George’s County Maryland School District, Oak Park/River Forest District, Roselle School District and the NYC school district. Robert earned his undergraduate degree with honors from Morehouse College in 1995 and his Master’s degree in Early Child Education with honors from Dominican University in 1997. Robert was the Senior Pastor at the Englewood Mennonite Church in Chicago. Robert is married to Chandra Spicer and they are the parents of four lovely children-BreAnna, Robert Jr., Bethaney and Brea. Robert is working on a book to recount his experience and lessons learned as the first Culture and Climate Specialist in a U. S. public school.