Scarlett Lewis founded the nonprofit Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement after her six-year-old son’s murder in the Sandy Hook tragedy on December 14th, 2012. She became part of the solution to the issues in society -- and that also caused the tragedy -- and advocates for social-emotional learning and character education. 

She's the author of Nurturing Healing Love: A Mother’s Journey of Hope & Forgiveness, a memoir of her journey toward choosing love and forgiveness, and From Sandy Hook to the World: How the Choose Love Movement Transforms Lives, an in-depth look at how Scarlett founded the Movement and its impact around the world today. The Movement's Choose Love for Schools Program is a no-cost, comprehensive, lifespan, next generation, SEL and character development program, empowering educators and students to choose love, handle adversity, and manage their emotions. Choose Love programming is extended into homes, communities, athletics, and the workplace, and has been accessed in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. 

Speaking across the US and internationally to diverse audiences, Scarlett urges everyone to become part of the solution, dedicating her life to helping children and adults around the world to thrive mentally, socially, and emotionally. She has also been instrumental in changing legislation to incorporate SEL into schools. 

In 2021, Scarlett was named a Forbes 50 over 50 Impact Honoree, one of 50 women leading the way with impact and changing their communities and the world in ways big and small through social entrepreneurship, law, advocacy and education.

Join us for this powerful conversation about tragedy, growth, and how choosing love can create safer schools and a kinder world.

In this episode, we cover:  

• How Scarlett’s tragedy moved her to create the Choose Love Movement
• Social Emotional Learning and essential life skills as the keys to flourishing at all ages
• Why we need to be taught the skills in both schools and homes
• How teaching essential life skills makes schools safer
• Post traumatic growth and learning from trauma
• The importance of courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion in action

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:  

• Visit chooselovemovement.com to learn more about the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement and how you can use it at home, school, or work
• Find Scarlett’s books, From Sandy Hook to the World: How the Choose Love Movement Transforms Lives  and Nurturing Healing Love: A Mother’s Journey of Hope and Forgiveness,  here
• Learn more about Rebel Educator, explore our professional development  opportunities for educators and students, and check out our project library 
• Visit us at UP Academy to learn more about our personalized and inclusive  learning environment 
• Connect with Tanya and UP Academy on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and learn more about her journey here 

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MORE ABOUT THE REBEL EDUCATOR PODCAST:  

In each episode of the Rebel Educator podcast, I deconstruct world-class educators,  students, and thought leaders in education to extract the tactics, tools, and routines  that you can use as teachers and parents. Join me as we discuss how to shift the  classroom, the learning environment, the mindset, and the pedagogy, to resist tradition,  reignite wonder, and re-imagine the future of education. 

This podcast is dedicated to all of the educators who work thankless hours to make  our next generation the best it can be. It was designed to begin conversations on how  we can redesign education for the future of work and the success of our students. It is  meant for teachers, students, administrators, homeschoolers and anyone who interacts  with and teaches youth.

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