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In a day and age where school protocols are changing rapidly, SEL (social and emotional learning)-focused classrooms are more important than ever. Parents are looking for educators to create a climate where students feel safe and are integrated within their peer community. The bottom-line goal is, for students, to feel supported and motivated but also challenged in their social and emotional learning.
Thanks to Rebecca Wilson Macsovits, the granddaughter of Kemmons Wilson (the entrepreneur who founded the hotel brand, Holiday Inn), innovative lesson plans are making their way into classrooms around the nation to achieve this goal.
Just as Rebecca’s grandfather changed the way American families road trip, Rebecca is committed to promoting change in American families by teaching children and parents the value of acceptance and kindness, regardless of someone’s abilities. The idea for the school curriculum all began with a book she authored.
When Rebecca learned that her first born child, Guion, had Down syndrome, she began her personal mission to help the world celebrate differences. She authored a children’s book called Guion The Lion, inspired by, and lovingly named after her son.
“The birth of my son profoundly transformed my outlook on life,” Rebecca shares. “Learning of his diagnosis was daunting and a bit scary, as it was a condition unfamiliar to me. However, his presence in our lives has been an incredible journey of learning about expectations, potential, and the biases we might unknowingly harbor.”
Through the colorful adventures of this imaginative little lion, the book creates an opportunity for conversations with children and reminds parents that they have the power to shift their perspective about those who may seem different to them, teaching the importance of community, despite differences. Serendipitously, actor Jeremy Renner was so moved by Guion after a fateful meeting that he lent his voice for the audiobook version.
Building on the success of Guion The Lion, Rebecca created the umbrella brand Curious B.E.I.N.G.s, which encompasses the book, lesson plans, and other products. The program is designed to equip educators with the tools and resources needed to cultivate empathy and understanding in young minds, empowering them to embrace and celebrate the beauty of diversity.
“We firmly believe that fostering understanding and empathy from a young age is crucial,” Rebecca emphasizes. “It encourages a future where everyone is seen, valued, and given the chance to thrive.”
Both the book and the broader Curious B.E.I.N.G.s initiative are actively changing how people perceive and interact with those who have special needs; highlighting the person first, not the disability, and emphasizing that everyone has different needs. By creating educational resources and narratives that emphasize empathy, curiosity, and courage, Curious B.E.I.N.G.sis teaching children—and by extension, society—to see and appreciate the wholeperson. In a nation that often feels divided, teaching youth to come together as a community with compassion, respect and a sense of belonging is of paramount importance.
To learn more about Curious B.E.I.N.G.s, visit www.CuriousBEINGs.org where you can also purchase Guion The Lion children’s book. Follow the mission on Instagram and Facebook at @curious_b.e.i.n.g.s
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