In an age of texting and emojis, students often write emails like instant messages — lowercase letters, slang, and no subject line in sight. The result? Frustrated teachers, confused admissions officers, and employers left shaking their heads.
Enter Propel, the first-of-its-kind teaching tool for email etiquette — a Chrome extension and Outlook Add-in that helps students craft professional, polished messages and build lifelong communication habits.
Guidance, Not Automation. Unlike AI writing assistants, Propel doesn’t do the work for students — it teaches them how to write. As they type, Propel provides gentle prompts and correction suggestions to improve clarity, tone, and professionalism.
Students must do the thinking, writing, and editing themselves — learning as they go. It’s not artificial intelligence; it’s authentic instruction embedded directly into the digital tools students already use every day.
Real Impact at Scale. Launched in January 2024, Propel is already transforming communication in classrooms across the country. As of this academic year, the platform is installed on nearly 30,000 student email accounts across 29 school divisions.
The impact is tangible:
11,000 times Propel reminded students to add a period.
5,700 times it helped them address a teacher formally (e.g., Ms. Smith).
2,100 times it guided them to capitalize the first word in a subject line.
Those small corrections add up to big growth in professionalism and self-awareness.
A Simple Example, A Major Difference.
Before Propel:
Subject line: [blank]
Email message: turned in
After Propel:
Subject line: Completed work
Email message:
Good afternoon Mrs. Roberts,
I hope you are doing well.
I wanted to let you know that I have completed my interview and turned it in.
Thank you,
Alyssa
That transformation, from “turned in” to a polished, courteous email, is the difference between a student who’s unprepared and one who’s ready for the world beyond school.
A Tool for Equity and Opportunity. Propel’s creators see email etiquette as more than grammar — it’s a gateway to opportunity. Whether applying for college, a scholarship, or a job, students who can communicate clearly and respectfully make a stronger first impression.
By teaching these professional skills to every student, Propel is also a tool for equity — ensuring that confidence and communication are not privileges, but universal skills.
Powered by Rubin: The Leader in Employability Skills. Propel is the newest innovation from Rubin, the premier provider of employability and communication skills training for grades 6–12, higher education, and beyond.
Rubin’s programs are trusted by some of the nation’s largest school systems — including Miami-Dade, Fairfax County, Raleigh, and Philadelphia — for their engaging, practical lessons on everything from email and phone etiquette to professional handshakes, project management, and workplace communication.
With more than 500 ready-made lessons, LTI 1.3 integration, and rigorous security and accessibility standards, Rubin offers the most comprehensive employability skills resources available today.
Propel doesn’t just fix emails — it builds confidence, professionalism, and self-expression. In a world where communication matters more than ever, Propel is helping students write their way into brighter futures. For these reasons and more, Propel earned a Cool Tool Award (finalist) for “Best Communication Solution” as part of The EdTech Awards 2025 from EdTech Digest. Learn more.
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