Creighton Elementary District to roll out RULER emotional‑intelligence framework districtwide

Jay Mann, superintendent of Creighton Elementary District (4263), said the district will roll out the RULER social‑emotional learning framework to all schools next year and will begin by training adults so staff can model the skills for students.

Amy Burgess, director of student support services, said the district selected RULER after a review of options and site visits to other schools. "RULER is kind of like this unique program that I'm excited that we're working within our district," Burgess said, adding that "we get to roll it out next year to all of the schools." Burgess described RULER as a framework rather than a prescriptive curriculum: "There are certain skills that align with RULER," she said.

Burgess outlined the RULER steps—Recognize, Understand, Label, Express and Regulate—and emphasized adult training as the first phase. "The first step is really just, like, understanding and recognizing what those emotions are," she said. "The first step as a district is training the adults. There is not a lot of work that's gonna be happening right now with kids. It's really all about us as the adults understanding the framework, learning the tools, applying the tools to ourselves so that we can practice them and understand them." Mann said modeling by adults will help students notice different ways teachers respond to stress and emotion.

Burgess described specific tools the framework uses, including the "Meta Moment"—a brief pause, a deep breath and picturing one's best self before responding. She gave a personal example of using the Meta Moment at home and as a school leader to avoid reacting in stress. Burgess also explained the mood meter, a classroom and family conversation tool that helps people name where they are on dimensions of energy and pleasantness.

To illustrate classroom application, Burgess described a student who missed the bus and arrives anxious. Instead of opening with a punitive rebuke, she said, a teacher might greet the child, check the mood meter and ask, "Is there anything you need?" then offer supports or a short Meta Moment exercise to help the student regulate and rejoin class. Burgess said schools already using parts of the framework will get standardized training so "everyone's getting the same message." She said the district has been piloting RULER elements in some buildings but will consolidate training and materials districtwide.

Burgess, who said she has worked in the district about 20 years in roles including teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal and principal, told listeners the district plans a family preview of RULER at an upcoming community council meeting so parents can learn the mood meter and other strategies to use at home. Mann closed by thanking Burgess for her work implementing the framework and previewing the community event.

The district did not provide a calendar date for the staff trainings or the community council preview during the conversation; Burgess described timing only as "next year" and did not specify budget or external partners.