Bridging the Gap: A Partnership Between Choose Love and Peers Not Fears

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is a cornerstone of student development, equipping young people with the skills to navigate life’s challenges with resilience, empathy, and confidence. The Choose Love curriculum has made significant strides in fostering SEL in elementary schools, where educators seamlessly integrate relationship-building into their daily routines. However, as students progress into middle and high school, the implementation of SEL programs often has additional obstacles to overcome for all the stakeholders, but especially educators and students. This is where the partnership between Choose Love and Peers Not Fears aims to make a transformative impact.

The Challenge of SEL in Middle and High School

At the elementary level, SEL is naturally woven into the student-teacher dynamic. Teachers feel comfortable fostering relationships and instilling these vital skills because the classroom culture supports this approach. However, as students enter middle and high school, the focus shifts toward academic content. Many educators at these levels feel less equipped to lead SEL instruction, fearing they lack the expertise to guide students in these areas.

Moreover, students often sense when a program is being imposed rather than embraced. If teachers are hesitant or disengaged, students may perceive SEL lessons as obligatory rather than beneficial. This reluctance can create barriers, preventing students from fully engaging with the skills they need to become strong, capable leaders in their futures.

A Shared Struggle and a Unique Solution

Lorraine Connell, founder of Peers Not Fears and a former high school educator, understands this struggle firsthand. She experienced the challenges of implementing SEL curricula in her own advisory periods, feeling the tension between content delivery and meaningful relationship-building. This disconnect is common among middle and high school teachers, who often feel that their primary role is to deliver subject matter expertise rather than facilitate social-emotional growth.

The key issue is not authority over students but rather the authority of subject knowledge. When teachers feel uncertain about their own SEL competencies, being positioned as the expert in this area can feel uncomfortable and inauthentic. This, in turn, impacts their ability to genuinely connect with students on social-emotional topics.

Choose Love is designed to empower students by fostering essential life skills that help them thrive as they navigate challenges, build healthy relationships, and prepare for their futures. The program not only enhances academic success but also creates safer environments, strengthens emotional well-being, and equips students with the skills needed for successful employment. Peers Not Fears is a firm believer in the power of SEL curricula like Choose Love, as they cultivate empathy, resilience, and emotional intelligence—qualities that are crucial both in school and beyond. By fostering leadership and emotional growth at all ages, these programs create a ripple effect, strengthening individual students, school culture, and the broader community. Combined with the leadership development work that Peers Not Fears provides, these skills become essential tools that students will carry with them into college, careers, and lifelong leadership roles.

Empowering Students as Partners in SEL

Rather than placing the entire burden on educators, Peers Not Fears advocates for a student-centered approach. By empowering students to take an active role in SEL development, the program removes the pressure from teachers while fostering authentic student engagement.

This approach is not about simply delegating responsibility to students but rather about guiding them into leadership roles where they can support each other in meaningful ways. Middle and high school students are incredibly capable when given the opportunity, and by treating them as partners rather than passive participants, we can dismantle the barriers that often hinder SEL success at these grade levels.

How Peers Not Fears Supports Choose Love

Peers Not Fears specializes in helping schools implement SEL initiatives in a way that resonates with older students. Through mentorship, leadership development, and guided student facilitation, the program ensures that SEL becomes an integral and sustainable part of the school culture rather than a top-down directive.

By working alongside Choose Love, Peers Not Fears will help middle and high schools create opportunities for students to engage deeply with the curriculum. This collaboration will provide educators with the tools and strategies needed to foster authentic relationships, empower student leadership, and create an environment where SEL is not just another lesson—but a vital part of students’ growth into strong, compassionate leaders.

Looking Ahead

This partnership holds the potential to reshape how SEL is approached in middle and high schools. By addressing the challenges that educators face and harnessing the strengths of student leadership, Choose Love and Peers Not Fears are working together to ensure that social-emotional learning is not just taught, but truly embraced.

Stay tuned for more updates as this collaboration unfolds and learn how your school can be part of this transformative movement.