Choose Love Certification
Frequently Asked Questions
It says we need to have a student on the Champion Team. How does this work?
The requirement of a student on the Champion Team exists because it is in line with CHOOSE LOVE principles that student voice and agency is of necessary importance, not just in the certification process, but in the practice of CHOOSE LOVE learning, and within the wider community of the school/organization.
That said, it is obvious that the student selected should be mature and confident enough to join in the Champion Team round table with adults.
So, if your school is an Infant/Toddler Center, Preschool, or Pre-K only, you may skip this requirement. For elementary schools, it is highly recommended that the student selected be from an upper grade level (5th or 6th grade) and have the cognitive ability and maturity to function on the champion team as an authentic team member. This is a fantastic opportunity for leadership development for the selected student(s).
Student Champion Team Members should be given equal time and acknowledgement as they express their views and opinions.
Other Champion Team members may assist and help the student in any way necessary to understand import and meaning of the process, standards, and indicators so that they may authentically participate in the certification process. Student members should not be forced or coerced into giving ratings to any indicator that they do not understand (simply adjust average scores accordingly if this is the case).
What if our rating scores are all (or mostly) very low? Will our certification be rejected?
It is of absolute importance to understand that the certification process is not about high scores. It is not about achieving “5”s on every indicator. No school is perfect (at least none that we’ve found yet!)… your certification is based on the journey – your engagement with the CQI process. In short, certification is about the journey, not the destination. The main benefit of engaging in the certification process is that you will create a community that is actively seeking continuous improvement. No one will be looking over your shoulder and judging you for scores that are not perfect. The self-study tool was designed to help you identify areas that can be improved, and it is in that process of improvement that the school/organizational benefits reside.
We joined the certification process after the start of the school year. Can we participate now, or do we have to wait for the next school year to begin?
You may join the certification process at any time. This is the beauty of the CQI model… we are always looking ahead at improvements. If you join mid-year, then simply begin with the mid-year or end-of-year ratings and CQI process (each self-study/CQI process is identical to the other two). If you have any questions as to specific implementation strategies, simply ask your CHOOSE LOVE coach.
We are going through the certification process, and we have questions. Is there support available?
Each Champion Team has access to a certification coach as well as the support of the entire CHOOSE LOVE team! If questions arise (and they probably will), please don’t hesitate to connect with your coach or email us at certification@jesselewischooselove.org. We are here to love and support you!
