Circle Experience and Services
My work with restorative circles and other restorative practices has included school districts (i.e., Lee County School District, Charlotte County School District, Collier County School District, Sarasota County School District, District of Columbia Public Schools, among others) and communities (i.e., Ft. Myers, FL, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Gainesville, FL, Dubuque, IA, among others). In addition, I have provided circle training to PACE Center for Girls, Boys and Girls Clubs of Lee County, Children”s Services Council of Broward County, and Dubuque Community YMCA/YWCA, and the Ft. Myers Police Department.
This important work is based upon building relationships, repairing harm caused by wrongdoing, and building a restorative culture in educational settings, justice systems, and communities.
Areas of Interest and Service
I have provided consultation, training and technical assistance with legislators, policymakers, justice system and educational stakeholders, victim advocates, nonprofit and community organizations in the development and implementation of restorative justice principles, practices, legislation, policies, strategic planning, and evaluation. I have also served as keynote speaker and presented at national and international conferences on these topics.
Bio
Dr. Sandra Pavelka is President and CEO of Community & Restorative Justice Associates and Pavelka Consulting Group. Dr. Pavelka serves as Professor and Founding Director of the Institute for Youth and Justice Studies at Florida Gulf Coast University. Dr. Pavelka previously served as Project Administrator of the Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) Project, funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice.
Prior to her appointment at Florida Atlantic University, she served as the Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Youth Policy at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center. In this position, she administered the Florida and National Juvenile Detention Initiatives funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and served as Research Director for the Center.
Dr. Pavelka received her Ph.D. in Public Administration with a specialization in Justice Policy from Florida Atlantic University. Her dissertation, Practice to Policy to Management: A Restorative Justice Framework, focused on system reform and policy implementation of restorative justice nationally. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Florida International University and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Florida.
Dr. Pavelka is an internationally known restorative justice expert. Dr. Pavelka serves on the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice Advisory Council and is Chair of the Law and Policy Working Group. She is a member of the Advisory Committee for the U.S. Congressional Victims and Survivors Rights Caucus. Dr. Pavelka is a Certified Family Court Mediator and Certified Restorative Justice Trainer. Dr. Pavelka has authored numerous books, book chapters, publications, and conference presentations. She has provided consultation, training and technical assistance with legislators, policymakers, justice system and educational stakeholders, victim advocates, nonprofit and community organizations in the development and implementation of restorative justice principles, practices, legislation, policies and evaluation.
Dr. Pavelka is Chair of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, Twentieth Judicial Circuit, State of Florida.
Dr. Pavelka was honored to receive the National Points of Light award. Dr. Pavelka is the recipient of the McTarnaghan Teaching Award at Florida Gulf Coast University. She has received the Leadership and Service award by the Florida Department of Justice. She is actively involved in service through her work in the community with the PACE Center for Girls, Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida, Impact Initiative of Southwest Florida, as well as other organizations.
She is actively involved in service through her work in the community with the PACE Center for Girls, Coalition for a Drug-Free Southwest Florida, Impact Initiative of Southwest Florida, as well as other organizations.