On Board Online • February 23, 2026

By Dr. Neill Alleva

School employees face many pressures, and that can take a psychological toll. If an administrator, teacher or staff member feels overlooked or insignificant, that can lead to withdrawal, diminished performance and/or burnout. Negative mental states can escalate into depression, substance abuse or other conditions.

A book that addresses how we can avoid such outcomes is The Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of Significance, a 2025 book by Zach Mercurio. Mercurio has a doctorate in organizational learning, performance and change from Colorado State University and has worked with teams for the U.S. Army, Delta Airlines and the National Park Service.

Too often, people feel as if they don't matter. In one study cited by Mercurio, 85% of a sample of the global workforce said that they feel emotionally detached at work, and a smaller scale study put the figure at 60%. In a survey of 2,500 workers, one in five said they labor in toxic cultures full of disrespect and exclusion.

Other research cited by Mercurio found that employees who feel unsupported by their leaders operate at just 70% of their true capacity. And when staff feel invisible, there is a personal toll, as well. Loneliness and other negative psychological states take root when people believe they don't matter.

In contrast, when we feel valued in the workplace, people report "a higher sense of self-worth, are more confident, and develop healthier relationships," Mercurio writes. "As a result, they're more motivated and grittier, and experience greater well-being in life and at work."

According to Mercurio, people feel significant if they feel understood and valued by the people around them. Equally important, they feel significant if they perceive that they are adding value to the people around them.

In Westchester County, the Katonah-Lewisboro School District is embracing such ideas under the leadership of Dr. Ray Blanch, our superintendent. Last year, we asked stakeholders to determine what was important to us as a district. One of the outcomes of this campaign was the creation of Vision 2030: Empowering All, which includes six pillars to help guide our efforts and work as a community. Belonging and Well-Being were determined to be two of our six pillars.

As part of an administrative retreat in August, we dedicated time to exploring the concept of mattering, and The Power of Mattering has become a shared read among administrators. Our driving question: How can these concepts be woven into our daily workplace lives? Other administrators and I have been co-leading sessions on that topic during our regularly scheduled meetings.

Mercurio recommends that leaders intentionally seek out moments to tell people clearly and specifically that they are needed, e.g.: "Without you, this [initiative, outcome or experience] would not be possible."

This conveys two essential messages: (1) you care enough to notice their contribution, and (2) you recognize that they, not merely their output, are essential to the district's success.

I am among administrators who have tried using this from time to time, and it does seem to make a difference. One colleague who received this "you really matter" message shared that, in her entire career, no one had ever taken the time to acknowledge her in such a direct and personal way. She expressed a deep sense of gratitude for having been noticed and needed.

One private company that has embraced this kind of approach is St. Louis-based papermaker and consulting firm Barry-Wehmiller, which was the subject of a 2016 case study by Harvard Business School on how valuing employees can impact business results. The company's chief executive officer, Bob Chapman, is co-author of a book titled Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family. He argues that the "everybody matters" approach can improve job satisfaction and productivity, and, equally important, help employees be happier and healthier human beings.

You can do this in your school district, starting today. There are three simple steps:

1. Noticing - Seeing and hearing others.

2. Affirming - Showing people how their unique gifts make a difference.

3. Needing - Explaining to people how they're relied upon and indispensable.

According to Chapman: "This is how we heal our brokenness: sending people home as better spouses, parents, children, friends and citizens of their communities."

Dr. Neill Alleva is an assistant superintendent of human resources in the Katonah-Lewisboro School District.