Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Shana Haines, Ph.D., to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Join us as Dr. Haines shares her expertise on the urgent need for meaningful connections in education with a focus on historically marginalized students and families, especially in a post-COVID landscape where isolation and technology-driven interactions are on the rise. Dr. Haines discusses the implementation of restorative practices, particularly tier-one restorative practices circles, as tools for fostering authentic relationships among students. She emphasizes how these practices can combat the increasing disconnect in classrooms, encouraging students to engage with each other on a deeper level. Dr. Haines explores the significant challenges educators face today, including the burnout of teaching professionals and the detrimental impact of efficiency-driven approaches. She highlights the importance of intentional relationship-building and community engagement through service learning, where students actively participate in addressing local needs while forming genuine connections with community partners. Dr. Haines research focuses on improving meaningful family, school and community collaborations to increase well-being and belonging especially for historically marginalized students and families. She has done this work in the US and abroad as a Fulbright scholar at the Universidad de Dos Ángeles. She is also a co-PI on Project RESILIENCY, an OSEP-funded leadership grant funding scholars pursuing a Ph.D. in social, emotional, and behavioral health and inclusive education. She recently co-authored two books, Humanizing Methodologies in Education Research and Families and Professionals: Trusting Partnerships in General and Special Education. Her record of a scholarship includes 45 published articles in peer reviewed journals, such as the School Community Journal, Exceptional Children, Teaching and Teacher Education, and Preventing School Failure and Qualitative Inquiry. Tune into gain valuable insights into Dr. Haines’ vision for an educational future that lays the foundations for thriving educational environments.