Success Stories

Since 1998, Ripple Effects has positively impacted millions of student lives in multiple ways. Read just a few of those stories below.

From the mountains of Colorado to the hollers of Kentucky, to rural, suburban and urban centers, on reservations, in private and public schools, Ripple Effects offers an accessible, scalable set of tools to build personal strengths, relieve distress and promote success for all. In the face of a global pandemic, natural disasters, racial conflict and economic uncertainty, Ripple Effects is here, without blame or shame.

We invite you to create your own stories of transformation, empowerment and academic success and hope that you will share them with us.

Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative (KVEC)

A leader in rural education helps adapt Ripple Effects to leverage cultural strengths.

Serving more than 54,000 students across 24 school districts, KVEC is committed to providing systems of support to lift the region out of generational poverty and poor educational outcomes. Recognizing that trauma linked to pervasive poverty is a barrier to

school success for many of their students, KVEC partnered with Ripple Effects through a Project Prevent Grant to adapt the look, feel and content of Ripple Effects for Teens to their rural context, providing real world employment opportunities for youth in the process.

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quote-right Caring teachers and Ripple Effects can have a profound and positive impact on the lives of students, caregivers, and teachers. As I work with K-12 educators across the region I have seen the impact of Ripple Effects in helping students find the grit and determination to stand tall against the demoralization of the home environment in which they have been born.  quote-right

Dr. Dessie Bowling, KVEC Associate Director

Ripple Effects lifts users up in the harshest of circumstances

“Parental substance abuse and being removed from that environment can be difficult for children to understand. Ripple Effects is a resource we put in place at schools across eastern Kentucky to help students understand their feelings and learn coping strategies. One middle school teacher needed help with a student who had been taken from his home and placed with his grandmother when his mother was jailed for substance abuse. The student was angry and withdrawn. She called me for ‘help’. Ripple Effects is my go-to resource!

We reviewed the Ripple Effects modules and selected those appropriate for the home environment that was impacting many of her students and specifically this young man. We did whole group instruction with the students just talking about social emotional learning and skills we can learn. We then introduced Ripple Effect and allowed students time to set up an account and take a tour of the topics. During whole group, students were taught skills to manage their feelings and connecting with others instead of feeling isolated. After the second week, the young man talked with the teacher and told her that he used Ripple Effects at night and hearing the stories from kids on the videos helped him with his feelings. After a couple more weeks, he stated that his grandmother was “mad at his mother just like he was” and he shared Ripple Effects with his grandmother. They began to talk about his mother and how her choices impacted them.Over time, using Ripple Effects allowed him to work through his anger and feelings of being abandoned by his mother. At school, he became more outgoing. His teacher reported that, “his whole demeanor changed from angry and withdrawn to actively engaged and involved with extra-curricular activities.” During a school open house/caregiver meeting, the grandmother thanked the teacher and told her that, “he went from staying in his room angry at the world to watching television with her in the living room, going to the store and helping around the house.”

“I didn’t want to suspend the students, but they needed something. My buy-in started when I heard the kids using the language of the program throughout the school, then I knew something special was going. quote-right

Kimberly Motley, Distict Counseling Coordinator, Victoria ISD, TX

Stagg School of Excellence, Chicago Public Schools, IL

Miyoshi Knox talks about using Ripple Effects when she was AUSL Turnaround Principal at Stagg.

Stagg School of Excellence is located on the south side of Chicago, and serves 500 preK-8 students. 96% qualify for free and reduced lunch and 92% are African American. Miyoshi has a deep commitment to instilling in her students

that each is destined for greatness; each is valued and brings value. Every day she greets them with the message: “you are the good in the hood.”

Ripple Effects is really awesome because it’s learner-directed, so students can direct themselves to topics that are important and personal to them. Having a program that students can actually utilize without the teacher mandating the lesson (though important at times) is also important so that they can explore topics meaningful to them. quote-right

Miyoshi Knox, AUSL Turnaround Principal at Stagg

quote-rightRipple Effects helps my students be more socially aware about how their actions affect themselves and others. It causes them to take a step back and really analyze the way that they are acting.quote-right

Dylan Weller, Nazareth Area Intermediate School, PA

Users love it. They trust Ripple Effects because it meets and respects them where they are, builds strengths, and offers real-time practical support for challenges they are facing in the moment.

The faculty members who use Ripple Effects love it! The program is easy to navigate and to add relevant topics for students. Twice a week during P.E. classes, students are using the program in a classroom environment where open discussion is encouraged throughout the sessions. I have witnessed lively, real-life discussions as the educator guides the students through the scenarios. I was very impressed with the students’ connection between their experiences and the characters in the scenarios.

I find we have established a strong foundation in addressing the social emotional needs of our students in Tensas Parish using the Ripple Effects program.

Susan Carpenter, Behavioral Strategist/PBIS Coordinator Tensas Parish School Board, LA

Because Ripple Effects allows students to address many of their own concerns, and it focuses on building strengths, it empowers them to become strong decision-makers on their own and learn more about their own troubling concerns. Students were able to build agency and problem-solve their issues through the use of Ripple Effects.

Dr. Dessie Bowling, KVEC Associate Director

I didn’t want to suspend the students, but they needed something. My buy-in started when I heard the kids using the language of the program throughout the school, then I knew something special was going.

Kelly Schuler, Perry SD, Ohio

What I like about this program is it EMPOWERS STUDENTS by providing so many ways for them to access support through the topics that matter the most to them.

School counselor, Spokane ISD, WA

I thought Bouncy would be a great resource for my students. I had no idea, Bouncy would be even more of a help to me. Bouncy has become a wonderfully, effective classroom assistant to help with individual behavioral challenges, so I can continue with the group.

Ms. Anita Compart Special Education, Jane L. Westerhold Early learning Center, District 62, Desplaines IL

After Hurricane Harvey teachers and counselors were so happy to have your software and be able to use it with any student that needed help. It really made a difference.

Kimberly Motley, Distict Counseling Coordinator, Victoria ISD, TX

Your success story will be as unique as your school and community

Adapted to your context

No two schools, or teachers, or district plans are exactly alike. Ripple effects is designed for adaptation and implementation to fit each layer of context and align with classroom, site and district goals.

Tailored to your students

Each student is unique. All need social emotional training and supports, but not all need the same ones the same way at the same time. Ripple Effects enables you to offer universal SEL and learner-directed, personalized individual supports.

With the ending you design

Tell us the one to three most important outcomes you want to see, and we’ll share how Ripple Effects can be an effective toolset for achieving them: whether academics, social-emotional competencies, changed attitudes, or specific behavior.

Ripple Effects builds resilience and post-traumatic growth for both students and staff.quote-right

Joshua Steinfeld, Dutchess BOCES, NY