Choose Love Team

Scarlett Lewis

Scarlett Lewis founded the nonprofit Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement in honor of her son, Jesse, who was murdered during the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy in December 2012. Shortly after his death, Scarlett decided to be part of the solution to the issues that we’re seeing in our society — that also caused the tragedy — and turned it into an opportunity to build a culture of love, resilience, forgiveness, and connection in our communities at a time when it is needed the most.

Scarlett became a Character Social-Emotional Development Advocate to help children manage their emotions, feel connected, and have healthy, meaningful relationships. She created the Choose Love For Schools program, a no cost, comprehensive, lifespan, next generation character and social emotional development (CSED) program that teaches children how to thoughtfully respond with love in any situation by using the Choose Love Formula (Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion-in-Action), and offer ways for children to handle adversity, have courageous conversations, and to respond with love. Choose Love extends beyond the classroom through additional no-cost programs, including programs for the home, communities, athletics, and the workplace, as well as multiple extension programs. The Choose Love programs have been accessed in all 50 states and in 120 countries, reaching 3 million children.

Shannon Desilets

Shannon’s journey is a powerful example of what happens when passion aligns with purpose. As one of the first leaders in the Movement which would become Choose Love, Shannon found her calling helping individuals and communities heal, grow, and flourish through the power of Choosing Love.

Working out of both the Governor’s Office and NH Department of Health and Human Services, Shannon went on to spearhead New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation, statewide Choose Love initiative, embedding the Choose Love Formula (Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion-in-Action) across schools, corrections, juvenile diversion, law enforcement, first responders, municipalities, and community programs. Her unique background bridges trauma-informed practice, state-level leadership, and grassroots relationship-building. Through providing post-trauma therapy to the Newtown/Sandy Hook community for 12 years, along with her dedication for Choose Love, Shannon brings extensive experience and unwavering commitment to post-traumatic growth (PTG), safety and connection.

Shannon is a published author for STRIVE magazine, sharing what NH has accomplished through the Choose Love Movement. In addition, she has served as the Choose Love liaison for governmental departments nationwide. Her heart shines when bringing the Choose Love Movement forward, and she is fueled to bring this to all.

In this new chapter, and with Shannon’s leadership, the Choose Love Movement will expand its reach and deepen its impact, continuing to build safer schools and communities while fostering resilience, and a culture where love is the default choice!

Betsy Carlson

Jan Pierret

Rick Rood

Rick Rood has been on the front lines of Education for nearly 30 years, working directly with children and front-line staff.  With degrees in Education, Afterschool Care, and Applied Mathematics, Rick is a student of the thought leader movement, distilling lessons from master teachers like Jack Canfield, Tony Robbins, and Brendon Burchard – giving them practical application to education professionals.  Participants have described his workshops as “fascinating” and “life-changing.”

Rick is a classroom teacher, and in the past he has run afterschool programs, taught music, computer programming, and youth leadership workshops.  Rick is a contributor to “Youth Today!” and is the author of “Games Teachers Play Before the Bell Rings”.  Rick is a Certified High Performance Coach^TM and works privately and in groups with education professionals to help them achieve higher levels of performance in their work and personal lives.

Rick is the driving force behind Transforming Teachers, Transforming Education, an organization rooted in the Positive Youth Development philosophy dedicated to training and inspiring youth-serving professionals.  Through Transforming Teachers, Rick has delivered workshops and keynotes to thousands of education professionals, helping teachers transform their “inner game” of teaching to better serve youth, children, and families.

Rick and his team created the Beyond School Time Conference for Out-of-School-Time Professionals in 2018 as a way for California’s OST Professionals to connect, learn, and gather inspiration.

Phyllis Unebasami

Phyllis Unebasami is a retired state deputy superintendent for the State of Hawaii and currently supports educational partnerships throughout Hawaii at the policy and point of implementation levels.   As a 40+ educational leader and teacher at all levels, she has been a principal, special education teacher, literacy director, and professional development designer and trainer for leaders and educators for K-12 private and public schools.   Phyllis has a B.Ed. in early childhood/elementary education, MS in special education and educational administration, and MA in Global Leadership.   

Her work spans beyond education into the community through her participation on community boards, such as Hawaii Association of Secondary School Administrators (state chapter of NASSP), Delta Kappa Gamma (Hawaii’s Mu Chapter) for women educators, and Feeding Hawaii Together/The Pantry, a Hawaii-based food distribution non-profit providing nutritious food to individual vulnerable to hunger.  

Sarah Caro

Sarah Caro brings more than two decades of nonprofit fundraising leadership to her new role as Director of Development with The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement. Throughout her career, she’s led transformative growth for organizations across public health, education, and conservation—building trusted partnerships with foundations, Fortune 500 companies, and individuals who want to make a difference.

Most recently, Sarah served as Director of Charitable Giving for the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation, where she helped grow annual giving from $370K to more than $1M, spearheaded major campaigns, and created fundraising events that exceeded goals, all to help support drowning prevention initiatives. She’s also held leadership positions with Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, Food Bank for New York City, and the National Audubon Society, always with a focus on creating meaningful connections and turning bold visions into reality.

At the Choose Love Movement, Sarah is excited to meet our incredible donors and partners and to welcome new supporters into the family as we expand our impact.

When she’s not building relationships for a cause she loves, Sarah enjoys life in Westport, CT with her husband, their two kids, and a spirited rescue schnoodle. She’s happiest cheering from the sidelines at her kids’ soccer games, having dinner at the beach with friends, planning her next travel adventure, or tracking down the perfect slice of pizza.

Megan Marques

Megan comes to the Choose Love Movement after 30 years of banking, bookkeeping, accounting, and management experience. As a former outsourced Accounting Manager & COO at a local CPA firm; she is knowledgeable in dozens of different industries, and brings an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset to the table. With a B.S. degree in Organizational Leadership and as a compliance and systems design specialist, she’s a key part of a core leadership team driving strategy and communication.

Having grown up in Southbury CT, and with her only son born just four months before the tragedy, once she heard Scarlett speak in person – Megan knew The Choose Love Movement was where she needed to be. Since coming on board in 2024 she’s never felt more inspired or more grateful to be part of the team empowering others and fostering well-being in the kids, educators, and parents we support across the world.