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Keynote: Scarlett Lewis tells Middletown educators to 'choose love' and practice short acts of compassion
Summary
Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, delivered a keynote emphasizing the "choice moment" model — brief pauses that allow caregivers and teachers to respond with courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion. She cited research and international reach for the program and urged staff to model those behaviors for students.
Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, delivered the convocation keynote, urging educators to make small, intentional choices that prioritize empathy and care.
Lewis told the audience her work grew out of personal tragedy and described the movement's "choice moment" model and four core character values — courage, gratitude, forgiveness and compassion in action. She said the program is in many schools and claimed it has spread by word of mouth to more than 50 states and over 130 countries; she urged attendees to practice brief, present acts of compassion and to prioritize relationships over immediately starting with academics.
Lewis illustrated practical steps including pausing before reacting, asking "How are you doing?" a second time, and using a simple gratitude practice to shift mindset. She cited a research-based finding she described as "40 seconds of present compassion" that can measurably improve outcomes for a person receiving care and the caregiver. Lewis framed these practices as both research-backed and applicable to teachers, support staff and administrators.
Context: The district's board chair earlier announced a districtwide rollout of the Choose Love program; Lewis's keynote described the program's foundations and classroom practices rather than committing the district to a curricular model in detail.
What to expect: Lewis encouraged staff to model the program's values daily. The convocation concluded with district leaders thanking attendees and dismissing schools by bus.
