In October of 2020, Wyoming Public Schools (WPS) received a $54,000 grant to support implementation and planning for RULER, an evidence-based practice developed by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to transform communication between students, teachers, and staff through education in emotional intelligence. WPS, like many districts in Kent County, recognizes that its teachers and staff do not reflect the vibrant diversity of its student population (of its 4,200 students, 44 percent are Latinx, 16 percent African American/Black, 8 percent multiracial, and 23 percent are English Language Learners). The district wanted a tool to develop emotional intelligence and soft skills among students and teachers to bridge cultural differences and build a positive and inclusive environment.

RULER, which stands for Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating emotions is used in over 2,000 schools nationally and internationally and “is a systemic approach to social-emotional learning that aims to infuse the principles of emotional intelligence into the immune system of Pre-K to 12 schools, informing how leaders lead, teachers teach, students learn, and families support students” (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence). Schools using RULER have reported students feel less stressed, experience fewer instances of depression, are better able to recognize and regulate their emotions, experience fewer distractions during the school day, and perform better academically.

This school year, teams from each of the WPS elementary schools, the intermediate school, and district officials will be trained by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence on RULER and develop a plan for district-wide implementation during the 2021-2020 school year. We’re excited to walk alongside Wyoming teachers and staff as they set the groundwork for launching RULER to build a school culture that makes kids feel safe, welcome, and supported emotionally and physically.

Click here to learn more about RULER.