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.

Doug Harrison

Doug built and successfully exited a top 50 global market research and consulting company and has helped to guide the go-to-market strategies for over 1,000 brands and business. His company built the leading source of insights of wealth and affluence globally with American Express and most video games entering the world are optimized through the systems his firm built. His companies have been Vendor of the Year at Coca-Cola, and a Finalist at Microsoft.

Doug is also CEO of The Rise Club which is designed to help people and businesses to Become their Best Version. It encompasses brand and business building tools along with a best in class platform where Advisors of all types can help nurture new habits and practices their clients will want to choose for a lifetime. He also recently published his third book, titled The Rise Framework that shows how people and businesses can develop and own their best qualities in distinctively wonderful ways.

Patrick Kerrigan

Born and raised in Connecticut, Patrick taught in three different Massachusetts school systems before returning to his home state to work for the Choose Love Movement. He graduated from College of the Holy Cross with a B.A. in psychology and philosophy. While teaching at his first school, he completed his M.B.A. at Assumption College.

Patrick fell in love with teaching and wanted to leave an impact on as many students as possible before utilizing his business degree. He taught math, science, religion, and health at the Nativity School in Worcester, Massachusetts. On top of coaching basketball and soccer, he helped the fundraising team to cover the school budget and outreach needs. After his fellowship, he transitioned to KIPP Academy in Mattapan where he also worked at the program’s extended school day and summer classes.

Patrick’s final teaching stint was in Dedham, Massachusetts at the Rashi School. While teaching math and science, he helped create and develop the schools first makerspace, and coordinated the end-of-year capstone projects. He continued to coach basketball and soccer and ran the schools first a capella and chess clubs. He was able to draw on his experience from planning the eighth grade D.C. field trip at his first school during his three visits to Israel with the graduating class.

Inspired by the message and the incredible work already being done at Choose Love, Patrick knew this was the perfect opportunity. Regardless of what the future holds, emotional growth and well-being will always be essential skills we need to develop. This work will allow all of us to lead more happy, successful lives that are full of love.

Kim Harrison

Kim Harrison is one of the curriculum writers for the Choose Love for Schools Program. Kim was a twenty year resident of Newtown, CT before moving to San Diego in 2015. Kim has a BA in Communication Studies, a MA in Elementary Education, and a MS in School Counseling, and has taught at the Elementary and Middle School levels.

Kim had regional and statewide responsibilities for exploring new educational approaches to advance curriculum and was the recipient of several awards and grants including “Outstanding Prospective Teacher” from a pool of over 200 applicants.

Kim is also a volunteer and Board Member of Words Alive, a local literacy based organization helping students to become lifelong learners through literature.

Lisa Mackenzie

Lisa MacKenzie is one of the curriculum writers for the Choose Love for School Program. While piloting the original Choose Love Enrichment Program several years ago, Lisa developed a Social Emotional Learning/Trauma Sensitive program to serve students with extreme social-emotional and behavioral needs, which earned the Distinguished Schools Award for her school.

Lisa has spent her entire career, of over 30 years, helping struggling students become successful in school and life. She is a special education teacher, author, speaker, and nationally recognized educator. Lisa has her Master’s Degree in Special Education. She holds her Mild/Moderate and Multiple Subject credentials, a supplementary autism credential and single-subject science credential. In addition, she is a certified behavior specialist & mindfulness instructor.

Shannon Desilets

Shannon’s journey is an example of when one’s passion and purpose come together. At her core is the desire to help others. Shannon’s expertise in brain-based trauma therapy is what first introduced her to the Choose Love Movement, as she has provided therapy to the Newtown/Sandy Hook CT community for the last 10 years. She has been an instructor of this specialized therapy (MNRI), teaching and providing therapy worldwide. With a strong desire to work to bring the Choose Love Movement to her son’s school in NH, she became a Choose Love Ambassador, but things didn’t stop there.

Shannon was appointed by and has worked directly out of the office of Governor Chris Sununu since August of 2018  Since this time, she has led the nation through the efforts and example being set by the state of NH, utilizing this Character Social Emotional Development lifespan program. She is a pivotal member of the School Safety Preparedness Taskforce, working directly with Homeland Security. Further, under her direction, New Hampshire has become the first in the nation to launch Choose Love for Caregivers (designed for foster parents and workers in the field), as well as Choose Love for Corrections.  She provides workshops for every division within the Department of Safety and various other state departments.

Shannon is a published author for STRIVE magazine, sharing what NH has made happen with the Choose Love Movement. Shannon also leads the Choose Love Youth and College level Ambassadors.  In addition, she serves 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!

Betsy Carlson

Jan Pierret

Jean Rossi Wergeles

Jean received her B.A.. in journalism from the University of Rhode Island. She started her career in advertising and then worked for nonprofit organizations in corporate communications and cause-related marketing. She is able to combine all of that experience in our communications department at the Choose Love Movement spreading awareness of our programs and promoting events on social media as well as sharing inspiration in our Daily Dose newsletter. Jean also serves on the board of the National Charity League volunteering for philanthropies in Fairfield County, CT.