Mrs Brooks recently won the Ricoh Otago Primary Principals Association Prestigious Award, which will allow her to travel to Adelaide next year to study the use of restorative practices in schools, and the impact they have on the lifelong learning of pupils.
She hoped her research would give her the skills to become a facilitator or consultant to promote the use of restorative practices as an alternative method of managing behaviour in Otago schools.
"Basically, we're not going to help kids right their wrongs - we're going to help them do it themselves by getting them to talk through issues with their victims face to face."
Mrs Brooks said the management of misbehaviour in schools was of central interest to the culture and harmonious functioning of any school, including Cromwell Primary School.
"Restorative practices are increasingly acknowledged worldwide as a genuine and desired alternative to the more traditional retributive strategies still evident in many schools worldwide, including New Zealand."
Mrs Brooks said the New Zealand justice system was already using restorative strategies within the youth and criminal justice systems, with more young offenders and victims of crime having access to redress.
"Schools in New Zealand need to be moving in the same direction to avoid using traditional, conservative practices that are inconsistent with the more progressive moves of wider New Zealand society.
"These moves encourage the solving of conflict and wrongdoing in ways that invest in the future of individuals and society itself."
Mrs Brooks was excited about the award and looking forward to studying with practitioners and experts in the field of restorative practices in Adelaide for three weeks in term three next year.
"It's nice to be acknowledged by your peers. I feel honoured. It makes all the hard work worthwhile."
