At our school, the ROX Program is offered specifically to 6th-grade girls, giving them the opportunity to build essential life skills during a pivotal stage of their development. Meeting once or twice a week, the group created a safe and supportive space for open conversation, self-reflection, and skill-building.

I was inspired to teach the ROX program because I see firsthand how much today’s girls are navigating, from self-doubt and peer pressure to social media and academic stress. I wanted to be part of building their confidence and resilience.

Throughout the semester, the girls learned to manage friendships, set healthy boundaries, boost self-esteem, and develop positive body image. They also explored strategies for handling stress, staying safe, and becoming stronger communicators and leaders.

The impact was clear.

Watching them grow more confident each week was incredibly rewarding. It was a powerful reminder of how vital this program is for the future of our girls in our community.

We have been truly fortunate to be able to build an amazing community with the girls who have completed the ROX Program at our school. These girls develop a sisterhood and bond that truly empowers each of them to pursue their goals and to walk confidently through the spaces that they are in. 

Over the past 3 years, we have graduated 30 ROX Girls and the transformation in some of them has been night and day. They not only challenge and support each other, but I have seen them do the same for other girls in our school of 1900 students. Being part of ROX has become a big part of their identity and community, and they always ask to continue meeting and growing together. Each year they welcome the new group of girls, and spread encouragement to them as well. It has created such a powerful connection within our school.

Our district is a proud supporter of ROX, facilitating 9 groups in all 7 of our school buildings last year. After learning skills on communication, collaboration and leadership, our ROX Facilitators created an opportunity for all of our ROX leaders in grades 4 through 9 to work together on a food drive.

Our ROX Girls took the lead in advertising the food drive, and at the completion of the food drive, all of the ROX Groups in the district assembled food baskets at a local community center. 

The food drive produced 773 food items, and at least 56 area families received a full meal thanks to the the food drive. At our end of year parties, many girls shared that this was one of their favorite ROX experiences. It was truly amazing to see our girls' confidence and friendships grow by taking on this project as a team.

Last year I had the opportunity to run the ROX Program as a quarter long course. As a busy school counselor, I was nervous to take on teaching an additional course, but I am so glad I did! I had a cohort of 8th grade girls everyday. I watched this group learn, grow and become confident ROX Girls. The girls often told me ROX was their favorite part of their day. One day a girl came in and told me she had a really rough day, but knowing that she got to end her day with ROX made it okay.

My administrator stopped in another day and asked the girls what they liked most about ROX. Many of the girls said they loved ROX because it is a place where they can talk openly about what it is like to be a girl in middle school without feeling judged. ROX is a place where they can be themselves and be supported by other girls. 

Over the course of the quarter the girls and I laughed, cried and learned so much about ourselves. This group of girls was so special. They all bonded no matter what friend group they were in outside of ROX. They included each other and cheered each other on. I learned as much from them as they learned from me. I will forever be grateful that I was able to spend that time with them! 

ROX has been life-changing for me-not only as an educator and leader in my school, but also personally. Through the program as a Facilitator, I learned about the importance of healthy relationships, boundaries, self-defense, and having the courage to use my voice. 

These lessons gave me the strength I needed to leave an unhealthy situation in my own life, and begin building a safer, stronger future for myself and my children. Because of ROX, I not only found the courage to make positive changes in my life, but I am now able to share those lessons with my students.

My hope is that by empowering girls with confidence, self-advocacy skills, and knowledge about healthy relationships, I can help them avoid harmful situations and instead build lives filled with strength and respect. ROX didn't just influence my leadership-it saved my life. And now I get to pay it forward to the next generation of girls. What an honor and gift that is!

In a pioneering move for our state, Hurley proudly became the first school in Wisconsin to adopt the transformative Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX) program in 2023. This evidence-based curriculum, implemented and championed by Hurley's own Shannon Peterson (Licensed Teacher, ROX Facilitator), is opening doors and empowering our female students with invaluable life skills.

Shannon, whose dedication has been instrumental in bringing this program to life, recognized the profound impact ROX could have on the girls of Hurley. Shannon helped guide girls through critical topics, equipping them with practical tools, self-identified solutions for conflicts, basic self-defense techniques, and assertive communication skills. The ultimate goal is to significantly boost self-worth and self-confidence, preparing them not just for academic success, but for life.

Through Shannon's ROX groups, girls are actively learning to overcome challenges, gaining skills that will serve them currently, throughout their future endeavors, and for the rest of their lives. The vision is for every girl at Hurley to have the opportunity to complete this empowering course.

On the first day of school Klaire came up to me and said, "Are we going to have ROX this year, because I heard we weren't. It made me really sad to think we weren't because it was the first time I ever felt included in a group and was able to talk about situations that have hurt me." After reassuring Klaire that ROX was going to start after Labor Day, she began to smile and say, "Oh thank you, I have really missed having a place to talk to a safe adult all summer when we weren't in school. I am really excited because this year I already know what ROX is about, and I am ready to start!"

"’Mrs. Carns, are you still doing the ROX program? It was my favorite thing you did with us!’ This is a typical response I hear when I see my elementary alumni. I have been implementing the ROX curriculum for 15 years.

ROX days always enhance school attendance. The girls look forward to having a safe space to talk about things they are experiencing and struggling with. There is no doubt ROX has impacted the futures of our 5th grade girls. It is a rite of passage and has outlasted many other school programs. It has changed my life as a teacher, counselor and woman.  I look forward to continuing many more years of facilitating ROX!

In her own words, ROX has given her the confidence she needs to make good choices and step into leadership roles.

Lily has shown tremendous growth and leadership in our school. One example was when she volunteered for the school beautification project, planting flowers in front of the building. She not only showed initiative but also invited her mom and grandmother to join her, turning the project into a multi-generational effort of love and pride for the school community.

This year, Lily is taking her leadership even further by participating in our new “Accountability Buddy” program. In this role, she encourages and supports students who have struggled with chronic absenteeism, using her ROX skills to cheer them on, build connections, and create a sense of belonging. Even though the program just started, Lily is already thriving as a role model, showing kindness, empathy, and encouragement every week.

Beyond structured programs, Lily naturally uses her ROX tools daily. She practices empathy, active listening, and emotional support for peers who may be going through difficult times. Whether it’s reminding a friend to breathe, offering a listening ear, or helping others feel safe online, Lily consistently models what it means to be a confident, compassionate leader.

We absolutely love Lily and are so proud of her growth through ROX. From a quiet sixth-grader to a confident seventh-grade leader, Lily is a true example of how ROX helps girls step into their power. As she prepares for her final year at our school, we know she will continue to shine brightly and inspire others along the way.

Kadence was a quiet, shy 5th grade student. She had things to say, but wasn’t always the most confident to say them. Kids would say mean things to her, she would report them - but never wanted them to be addressed by an adult and especially not with her present! By the end of ROX, she was willing for an adult to intervene. 

Fast forward to half way through ROX Leadership programming… a student was saying rude things to her. She reported it to me and chose to address the student with me present. It was so inspiring to watch her use her voice, for the other student to actually hear from her how their words were impacting her! When they told her they were sorry and would stop making comments …. I thought she was going to burst! As soon as the student walked out of the office she smiled a smile I had never seen before! She was so excited, proud, and confident that the student would stick to their word! What an amazing moment to be able to witness her use her voice!

A Story About: A Georgia ROX Cohort
Submitted By: Gabrielle Brundidge, Licensed School Counselor, ROX Facilitator, ROX Dr. Patty Fellow
Key ROX Program Outcomes: Increased confidence, academic improvement, improved leadership
Did You Know? 3 out of 4 ROX Programs that start with philanthropy become self-sustaining due to demonstrated impact and effectiveness.

I’ve had the privilege of facilitating over 50 young women through ROX’s powerful curriculum. While I’ve watched their academic confidence grow, what’s been even more inspiring is how they’ve stepped into leadership roles and begun to carry themselves with a sense of pride and purpose.

This past year was especially meaningful. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Witt, a new donor who believed in our mission, almost every eighth-grade girl was able to complete the ROX program. Her support didn’t just fund a curriculum, it created a ripple effect. 

ROX has become more than a program, it’s a movement. These girls are learning to lead, to speak up, and to advocate not just for themselves but for one another. That’s the true impact of ROX.

A Story About: Akasha, a 9th grade ROX Girl from Maine
Submitted By: Erin Muller, School Counselor, ROX Facilitator
Key ROX Program Outcomes: Improved school attendance, learned about healthy relationships
Did You Know? 78% of girls who participated in ROX have improved school attendance or feel an increased connection to school.

Thanks to ROX, Akasha went from missing 4 days of school each week to 1 day. Her grades improved, and she tested out of intervention. She graduated 8th grade and is now in 9th grade! Additionally, towards the end of the school year she decided to break up with her long-time boyfriend because she started to realize it wasn't a healthy relationship for her. She is a strong and fierce young lady!

This past spring was our first cohort. 10 6th grade girls were selected. At first the girls struggled to share their true feelings, but as time went on they gained skills that allowed them to express their own needs, support the needs of others, and to make decisions.

They grew in their confidence, leadership, and sharing their own voices. As the group continued to learn, they expressed that they wanted to make a video to share their experiences with what they had been learning by being ROX girls and also also the importance of what they had been learning. 

They decided what they wanted to share in the video and then recorded it (and faced their fears about talking on camera). Our district communications director and I worked to piece it all together and then the video was shared district-wide and on social media (see the video below!)

The girls were so proud of their work. Their teachers, principal, and counselor all commented that they saw the growth and learning in the girls. We are looking forward to continuing to build skills in our girls going forward.

I began with a pilot group as the only facilitator running an after school group for about 13 girls. My own daughter talking about what stuck with her from ROX motivated me to reach out and find a way to increase our footprint. We now have 8 certified ROX facilitators, offer ROX during school hours, and I have transitioned into admin. Our funding has evolved from community donations to school funding, and we strive to provide the ROX curriculum to every female by the time they graduate.

We now teach self-defense with all levels together on ROX day. On this day, community members lead the girls through career sessions as well as self-care. Older girls are paired with younger girls as mentors, and ROX alumni speak about what it means to be a ROX Girl beyond high school.

We have completed community outreach projects focused on beauty, invited role models in to share in self-defense, and extended our district's goal for place-based learning. We have established a reciprocal relationship with our community in which we value our resources, and they value our girls.

The way my ROX Girls bonded and opened up within the group was something I never imagined was going to happen! They were girls who ran with different social groups, but within ROX they were their own. They respected each other, lifted each other up, complimented each other outside of those specific activities.

My teachers saw such a positive impact within those 10 girls, the impact even started to spread throughout the grade. My girls gained confidence in the way they thought about themselves and spoke up for themselves. I had a couple parents reach out at the end of the school year to tell me that they loved the positive change/impact they saw in their daughter.

We had 27 girls, along with their caregivers. The vision behind this event was twofold: I wanted to empower our girls to speak up about the challenges they encounter, while also ensuring their parents didn't leave empty-handed. By providing a specific session for guardians on how to talk to their girls, we’ve helped bridge the communication gap between school and home.

We had incredible professional presenters who led breakout sessions for the girls and their guardians. The topics included: social media/online safety, the benefits of yoga, body positivity, building social and emotional confidence, stress management and self-care, entrepreneurship, positive communication and positive parenting.

“On behalf of a grieving family, we honor the legacy of my daughter Amber Marie (Acheson) Anderson by supporting ROX. Amber was a smart, personable, kind and loving person who succumbed to health afflictions she just could not conquer.

Amber’s challenges were rooted in self-doubt, low self-esteem and self-confidence. Using the energy of our grief, we are determined to help Amber realize her purpose by promoting her mantra that “kindness matters” by supporting ROX’s efforts to help girls be better prepared for what their future holds.”

-Jeff Acheson, Founder of Amber’s ACES and ROX Board Member

"I was fortunate to receive a scholarship from ROX via Bread Financial to get ROX started at my school.

ROX has given me a new outlook on women and the strength we hold. ROX has inspired my students and helped me find a stronger voice in all aspects of my life. My first ROX group showed me what resilience truly looks like. Seeing my students grow in confidence and self-belief is proof of how powerful this program is."

-Kate Manovill, LSC, ROX Facilitator

“I took my ROX girls to a mental health conference at Gillette Stadium. Their biggest lessons learned? You are not alone. It’s okay to not be okay, and mental health is just as important as physical health.

The girls emphasized the importance of talking openly, seeking help without shame and showing empathy because mental health affects everyone differently. I’m so proud of this incredible group of young women.”

-Lisa Tenreiro, LSC, ROX Facilitator

“My ROX Girls developed the skills to communicate more effectively, stand up for themselves and work through disagreements with respect. Conflicts became opportunities for problem-solving and understanding. Their ability to listen to one another and seek solutions grew exponentially.

Perhaps the most powerful outcome was the bond they formed. They shared experiences in ROX and created a space where they felt safe to be authentic and vulnerable, which laid the foundation for genuine friendships.”

-Olivia Carter, LSC

ROX Facilitator