JumpStart National Devil's Food Cake Day (5/19/25)

QUOTE:  "When people feel like they matter, they act like they matter." (John Mecurio)

MESSAGE: I had an email conversation with my former superintendent this week about her article on preventing burnout that appeared in the April edition of the AASA publication.  She mentioned that Mattering at work is a current focus of hers.  That reminded me of the work I’ve done with Mindful Practices to reconstruct the Surgeon General’s Workplace Mental Heath Framework into a Collective Well-Being Framework that works for schools. In this framework, mattering at work is a key pillar.

Mattering at work is a combination of two things:

I FEEL VALUED:
You know my full name.
You ask about my life.
You know my struggles.
You remember me.
You miss me.
You check in on me.

I ADD VALUE:
You show me how I make a difference.
You affirm my unique gifts.
You ask for my opinion.
You give me responsibility.
You show me I’m relied on.

(Zach Mercurio, PhD)

Like many other things, mattering is a matter of give and take, a cycle of self and others that enables people to really feel as though they belong.  Have you ever wondered why some people is super stressful occupations don’t seem to be burned out and looking for a way out?  It’s probably because they feel like they matter.

THIS WEEK TRY THIS: As you think about the end of this year and the beginning of next, think about how YOU feel.  Do you think you matter at school?  Then think about how you make your students and/or staff feel.  Do they feel like they matter to you and to the school?

DAD JOKE:  I have a chess set that is missing some pieces.  Guess I need to find a pawn shop.