The Three Pillars of School Safety with Jadine Chou

Restorative Works!

Claire de Mézerville López welcomes Jadine Chou to the Restorative Works! Podcast. Jadine joins us to discuss the importance of relationships in defining safety in schools. From morning greetings by security staff to hallway interactions with teachers, she explains how simple, consistent actions build trust and make students feel valued. Through proactive measures like these, Chicago Public Schools has significantly reduced incidents of misconduct and disciplinary actions. Jadine describes how restorative practices have shaped safety and discipline methods, including the use of peace rooms and structured conversations to resolve conflicts and restore harm. She emphasizes the importance of proper training for facilitators and the need for a culture shift from punitive approaches to solutions based in restorative practices. Claire and Jadine also discuss the critical role of self-regulation for adults working with students. Jadine shares compelling stories of students and staff navigating tense situations and underscores the importance of calm and empathy in fostering safe, supportive environments. As Chief of Safety and Security with Chicago Public Schools, Jadine oversees the safety operations for more than 380,000 students in more than 640 schools and is responsible for supporting school administrators in their efforts to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students and staff. Under Jadine’s leadership, the CPS Office of Safety and Security helps district schools plan and implement proactive practices to encourage calmer school climates and positive student behaviors. These efforts ultimately result in significantly fewer incidents of misconduct, out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, and police notifications. Prior to joining CPS, Jadine worked for the Chicago Housing Authority, where she was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the agency’s operations, including safety and security, for over 18,000 traditional public housing units across the city. Jadine holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Northwestern University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Tune in to discover how Chicago Public Schools is leading the way in rethinking school safety.