Take Five with Dania Daoud, Restorative Justice Coordinator at Parker Community Academy

Take Five is a series that highlights some of the many members of the CPS community who are going above and beyond for our schools. If you know someone who is making a difference, nominate them to be featured here.

Before coming to CPS, Mrs. Daoud dedicated her time to community organizing and learning more about the Prison Industrial Complex through her work supporting people who were incarcerated. 

“I feel very lucky to have stumbled upon Restorative Justice work, as I definitely didn’t expect to go into education,” she says. “One thing led to another, though, and I started working in youth programming across many CPS schools. Then, when I was looking to be placed in a school full-time, Parker came into the picture.” 

Mrs. Daoud is described as a wonderful asset to the community, resolving scholar conflicts, training teachers and staff, leading scholar voice committees, reviewing data, and creating effective interventions, among many other contributions. Learn more about her work below! 

What does a typical day look like for a restorative justice coordinator? 

The work of a restorative justice coordinator varies based on the needs of the school community. At Parker, I support and lead different initiatives that shape the Climate and Culture of the building. Some days, that looks like leading a training on effective discipline, and other days, it means planning an unforgettable talent show. I also lead the Culture and Climate Team, work with the Behavioral Health Team, and lead our school’s Student Voice and Peace Ambassadorship programs. 

How do you approach restorative justice at Parker?

Something central to my approach is uplifting educators throughout the building. Prioritizing the social and emotional health of our staff is incredibly important due to the everyday demands of their job. If we want our students to want to come to school and put in the work, we as adults need to care for ourselves so that we can be their spark of motivation.

How would your school community describe you?

I think the students and staff at my school would describe me as patient and understanding. They know they can lean on me the same way I can lean on them. And for that, I would like to thank all of the staff who propel me forward at Parker.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Our student voice committee just closed out our Thanksgiving fundraiser, making and delivering “Give Thanks” baskets for students and staff to raise money towards beautifying our school bathrooms. The student voice scholars identified the bathroom atmosphere as something they wanted to change, and I am very proud of their hard work and of how far the student voice as a collective has come at Parker. It makes me glad that students are learning what advocacy looks like through student voice, as I want them to know they are capable of building the world they want to live in. 

We have also observed that students' behavior, grades, and attendance improve after they join various programs similar to Student Voice. Whether it’s the structure and discipline these programs provide or the sense of ownership that comes from being part of something important, the impact is significant. This is one of the greatest rewards of my job. Witnessing students grow and develop is a blessing, and describing our school’s 8th-grade graduation ceremony as emotional would be an understatement.

What makes your school community unique? 

Restorative Justice is all about building relationships, and if you were to take a walk in our hallways, those relationships would be the first thing you notice. Whether it's a teacher getting to know their students, the art on the walls, or the security guard motivating students to get to class, you can feel the love in our school. No matter who shows up at our doors, we welcome that family to the Parker way by holding them to a high standard, but also by loving and celebrating them.