Wickersham Elementary School is thrilled to announce that it has been named a 2025 RULER Spotlight School by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. This prestigious designation highlights our school’s exceptional dedication to creating a supportive and emotionally intelligent learning environment through the implementation of RULER. Wickersham is the only school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to receive this honor.
RULER, an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning (SEL), equips school communities with tools to value and manage emotions effectively. By embedding RULER principles into our curriculum, culture, and community engagement, Wickersham Elementary demonstrates a commitment to enhancing both educator and student well-being.
Principal Abby Rivera shared her pride in this achievement, stating, “We are incredibly honored to be recognized as a RULER Spotlight School. This recognition reflects our commitment to not only teaching academic skills but also fostering emotional intelligence in our students. The pilot group of second graders we worked with last year showed remarkable progress. At the beginning of the year, they were at 22% proficiency in math baseline and around 35% in English Language Arts. By the end of the year, their proficiency soared to 84% and 77% respectively. This significant improvement directly correlates with the social-emotional skills they acquired through RULER. Students were able to recognize, understand, and regulate their emotions, which translated into better academic performance and enhanced classroom behavior. It’s inspiring to see our students applying what they’ve learned to both their personal and academic lives.”
She continued, “Students learned to recognize, understand, and express their emotions, which helped them regulate their behavior and apply these skills in the classroom. We saw this growth not just academically, but in how students interacted with one another. They began using RULER language, even reminding each other to manage emotions in the hallway. The results speak for themselves, and we’re incredibly proud of our students.”
“The RULER approach has been a game-changer in how we approach student well-being and emotional literacy. The Wickersham team’s leadership in integrating RULER into classrooms is a model for all of us, showcasing how this program can improve students’ ability to recognize, understand, label, express, and regulate emotions,” said Superintendent Dr. Keith Miles, “we are also excited to see the implementation of RULER across all schools in the district. Our goal is to ensure that every student, teacher, and staff member benefits from the social-emotional learning framework that RULER provides.”
“RULER Spotlight schools, selected by the Yale Center of Emotional Intelligence, is an honor and privilege to showcase the power of social-emotional learning through the RULER approach. The RULER approach is for all of us and has the power to transform our community. Emotional well-being is a basic need, essentially a gift we can give to ourselves and each other,” says Korynn Wagner, Coordinator of School Climate and IT, “as you walk the halls and visit classrooms, you will see teachers setting a positive tone for the day using the RULER curriculum during morning meeting. The Mood Meter, a self-awareness tool, is used throughout the day and connected to learning in the classroom. Emotional intelligence is the heartbeat of Wickersham Elementary. The School District of Lancaster is so fortunate to have this opportunity to share the impact of this work.”
The RULER Spotlight School selection process involves a thorough evaluation by staff at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, examining evidence of RULER implementation, its impact on school climate, and the sustainability of SEL practices. Wickersham Elementary has stood out in these areas, demonstrating significant positive outcomes for both students and staff.
As a RULER Spotlight School, Wickersham Elementary will serve as a model for more than 5,000 RULER schools across 27 countries, sharing best practices and innovative strategies for effective SEL implementation. We look forward to continuing our journey with RULER and inspiring other schools to prioritize emotional intelligence and well-being.
We are proud to be a model for other schools nationwide, showcasing best practices and strategies for effective RULER implementation. Thank you for your continued support in helping us achieve this milestone! For more information about RULER and how you can continue to support this work at home, please visit https://www.rulerapproach.org/ruler-resources-for-families/.
About RULER and Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence researchers surveyed over 22,000 high school students nationwide about how they want to feel at school each day. Their responses were tired, stressed, and bored. The top responses from over 6,000 educators and school leaders were frustrated, overwhelmed, and stressed. If this is how members of our school communities feel, what impact might that have on how leaders lead, teachers teach, and students learn and grow?
RULER helps students and educators spend more time feeling how they want to feel: valued, connected, and inspired. RULER supports entire school communities in understanding the value of emotions, building emotion skills, and creating and maintaining positive school climates. Click here to learn more.